IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread
- TheInverseKey
- Location: Great White North
- Main mouse: M570
- Favorite switch: Hi-Tek 725 Linear
- DT Pro Member: 0216
- Contact:
Hi,
Just got this but there was little to no information on the Wiki about it.
Front of the Keyboard
Back of the Keyboard
Any information would be amazing.
Just got this but there was little to no information on the Wiki about it.
Front of the Keyboard
Back of the Keyboard
Any information would be amazing.
- TheInverseKey
- Location: Great White North
- Main mouse: M570
- Favorite switch: Hi-Tek 725 Linear
- DT Pro Member: 0216
- Contact:
No idea it hasn't shipped yet but all I got from the Wiki was that it comes with ALPS.fohat wrote: ↑Is that the one with blue Alps?
- Moosewing
- Location: Arizona
- Main keyboard: None yet
- Main mouse: Logitech MX Master 2S
- Favorite switch: Omron B3G-S Amber
- DT Pro Member: -
I was curious about that one too since I couldn't find any info on it. I messaged the seller and all he said was that it has Alps, but he didn't say what kind.
- TheInverseKey
- Location: Great White North
- Main mouse: M570
- Favorite switch: Hi-Tek 725 Linear
- DT Pro Member: 0216
- Contact:
Yeah I will post pics to the Wiki when I get it.Moosewing wrote: ↑I was curious about that one too since I couldn't find any info on it. I messaged the seller and all he said was that it has Alps, but he didn't say what kind.
-
- Main keyboard: Model M
- Main mouse: hmm.
- Favorite switch: buckling spring or alps
- DT Pro Member: -
I found this while helping out a friend with his Commodore repair shop (continuous operation since 198x!). I bought a few things from the owner over the years and now he's trying to get a handle on 30+ years of hardware and software. Most of it is Commodore/Amiga (he was a Commodore tech), but this is basically a small warehouse, and there is quite a variety of other stuff that turns up (Ohio scientific, IBM PCjr, Mattel, TRS80, Mac, etc. ).
This was in a box with some other stuff, and looked interesting so I took it home and cleaned it up. Here's what I think I know:
- Key Tronic
- Manufacture date is Feb 1978, serial # is 08754.
- 20 pin connector
- appears to have been part of some larger machine, but could have just been in a keyboard case, and half is missing. I suspect maybe part of an all-in-one terminal, the rest of which is lost).
- There is a wood grain veneer. I can't tell if it's factory or just somebody wanted to put that on.
- Keys are double shot, even some of the blank ones!
- For some reason, the springs on the numeric keypad appear to be a different strength.
- Foam and foil
Any ideas what it could be from? I looked at a lot of images in google, didn't turn up anything.
Is there anything like a Soarer for Key Tronics of this age/manufacturing style? The feel is definitely linear, but it's kind of fun. Has a lot of keys, and the numpad keys could be rearranged to allow for an inverted T cursor cluster (I do that with my Model F AT, and it makes it an excellent daily computer). Not that this has anything over an F
Key names include:
- "Clear Field", "Click", "Rev Tab", "Send", "Rept","Cur Ret","Delete Char","Reset","Clear Input", "Clear Screen"
This was in a box with some other stuff, and looked interesting so I took it home and cleaned it up. Here's what I think I know:
- Key Tronic
- Manufacture date is Feb 1978, serial # is 08754.
- 20 pin connector
- appears to have been part of some larger machine, but could have just been in a keyboard case, and half is missing. I suspect maybe part of an all-in-one terminal, the rest of which is lost).
- There is a wood grain veneer. I can't tell if it's factory or just somebody wanted to put that on.
- Keys are double shot, even some of the blank ones!
- For some reason, the springs on the numeric keypad appear to be a different strength.
- Foam and foil
Any ideas what it could be from? I looked at a lot of images in google, didn't turn up anything.
Is there anything like a Soarer for Key Tronics of this age/manufacturing style? The feel is definitely linear, but it's kind of fun. Has a lot of keys, and the numpad keys could be rearranged to allow for an inverted T cursor cluster (I do that with my Model F AT, and it makes it an excellent daily computer). Not that this has anything over an F
Key names include:
- "Clear Field", "Click", "Rev Tab", "Send", "Rept","Cur Ret","Delete Char","Reset","Clear Input", "Clear Screen"
- Attachments
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- IMG_1750.jpg (221.6 KiB) Viewed 6702 times
- snufflecat
- Location: Norway
- Main keyboard: Model M
- DT Pro Member: -
I have a contact that on a regular basis sells me boards, the most recent loot looks promising but I need some help identifying some of them (other than the ASK M4-1) to see if they're worth paying anything for.
-
- Location: Canada
- DT Pro Member: -
Going from memory, the Acer has Acer membrane switches and the Datacomp may have Blue Alps.snufflecat wrote: ↑I have a contact that on a regular basis sells me boards, the most recent loot looks promising but I need some help identifying some of them (other than the ASK M4-1) to see if they're worth paying anything for.
- snufflecat
- Location: Norway
- Main keyboard: Model M
- DT Pro Member: -
*breathing intesifies*xxhellfirexx wrote: ↑Going from memory, the Acer has Acer membrane switches and the Datacomp may have Blue Alps.snufflecat wrote: ↑I have a contact that on a regular basis sells me boards, the most recent loot looks promising but I need some help identifying some of them (other than the ASK M4-1) to see if they're worth paying anything for.
Edit: Did of course mean SSK, typing on mobile is hard.
-
- Location: CZ
- Main keyboard: Kinesis Advantage2, JIS ThinkPad,…
- Main mouse: I like (some) trackballs, e.g., L-Trac
- Favorite switch: #vintage ghost Cherry MX Black (+ thick POM caps)
- DT Pro Member: -
Yeah, it's written on the sticker. Without that information, I don't think it's possible to distinguish those old G83s from G80s or G81s. There's a thread about it on Geekhack.mike52787 wrote: ↑AT&T is obviously a cherry g83 rubberdome
I got one. Hopefully, the case is G80-compatible at least.
-
- Location: Ukraine
- Main keyboard: Topre Realforce 87UB 55g uniform
- DT Pro Member: -
I thought that there is a way to distinguish them, in my experience G83 always has bars for homing on numpad.davkol wrote: ↑Yeah, it's written on the sticker. Without that information, I don't think it's possible to distinguish those old G83s from G80s or G81s. There's a thread about it on Geekhack.mike52787 wrote: ↑AT&T is obviously a cherry g83 rubberdome
I got one. Hopefully, the case is G80-compatible at least.
- Keybug
- Location: Germany
- Main keyboard: so many!
- Main mouse: Logitech G700s; trackballs suck
- Favorite switch: Kailh box royals, trampoline-modded
- DT Pro Member: 0208
What's this Tandon (Tandy 1200) board? My guess is Fujitsu 3rd gen. LS or Peerless, but the caps might suggest something else I can't quite put my finger on...
- Attachments
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- 9c1c9447df95b15627167856683a43eccd0ac0ca.jpg (118.4 KiB) Viewed 6591 times
- mike52787
- Alps Aficionado
- Location: South-West Florida
- Main keyboard: G80-5000HAAUS
- Main mouse: Zowie EC1-A
- Favorite switch: Vintage MX Black
- DT Pro Member: 0166
barred homing as well as in the right light you can see white plastic between the keycaps.davkol wrote: ↑Yeah, it's written on the sticker. Without that information, I don't think it's possible to distinguish those old G83s from G80s or G81s. There's a thread about it on Geekhack.mike52787 wrote: ↑AT&T is obviously a cherry g83 rubberdome
I got one. Hopefully, the case is G80-compatible at least.
Also I dont believe the case is compatible, atleast not the bottom case. possibly the top part.
- Blaise170
- ALPS キーボード
- Location: Boston, MA
- Main keyboard: Cooler Master Quickfire Stealth
- Main mouse: Logitech G502
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Blue
- DT Pro Member: 0129
- Contact:
The LED cutouts suggest foam and foil in my opinion. Definitely not peerless, could be leaf spring but I don't think so.Keybug wrote: ↑What's this Tandon (Tandy 1200) board? My guess is Fujitsu 3rd gen. LS or Peerless, but the caps might suggest something else I can't quite put my finger on...
- snufflecat
- Location: Norway
- Main keyboard: Model M
- DT Pro Member: -
Thanks. All in all I have a feeling the loot is definitely worth getting with 3/4 interesting boards.mike52787 wrote: ↑Acer is Acer switches (hammer over membrane)
AT&T is obviously a cherry g83 rubberdome
Datacomp is most likely SMK 2nd gen Alps mount
- TheInverseKey
- Location: Great White North
- Main mouse: M570
- Favorite switch: Hi-Tek 725 Linear
- DT Pro Member: 0216
- Contact:
Keybug wrote: ↑What's this Tandon (Tandy 1200) board? My guess is Fujitsu 3rd gen. LS or Peerless, but the caps might suggest something else I can't quite put my finger on...
I am thinking possibly NMB because of those caps and the layout. Also the LED on the lock light is to the far left side of the cap.
- Chyros
- Location: The Netherlands
- Main keyboard: whatever I'm reviewing next :p
- Main mouse: a cheap Logitech
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
I'm thinking NMB too. The centred arrows are very NMB, as well, as is the PBT spacebar. Moreover, Tandon have a history with NMB, as my XT one shows.TheInverseKey wrote: ↑Keybug wrote: ↑What's this Tandon (Tandy 1200) board? My guess is Fujitsu 3rd gen. LS or Peerless, but the caps might suggest something else I can't quite put my finger on...
I am thinking possibly NMB because of those caps and the layout. Also the LED on the lock light is to the far left side of the cap.
- mark201200
- Location: Italy
- DT Pro Member: -
Hey, i got this keyboard alongside some (original) apple boards. Considering that it's an AEK Clone, and that green ALPS have the LED hole, I'm pretty sure that those are probably ALPS clones. Can simeone identify them? Is the keyboard worth restoring? Also, how do you remove that piece of keycap stuck in the slider?
I don't have better pics, I'll post them when i get it in the mail, if necessary.
I don't have better pics, I'll post them when i get it in the mail, if necessary.
- Keybug
- Location: Germany
- Main keyboard: so many!
- Main mouse: Logitech G700s; trackballs suck
- Favorite switch: Kailh box royals, trampoline-modded
- DT Pro Member: 0208
So that should mean yummy space invaders? Mmmmh...
Chyros wrote: ↑I'm thinking NMB too. The centred arrows are very NMB, as well, as is the PBT spacebar. Moreover, Tandon have a history with NMB, as my XT one shows.TheInverseKey wrote: ↑Keybug wrote: ↑What's this Tandon (Tandy 1200) board? My guess is Fujitsu 3rd gen. LS or Peerless, but the caps might suggest something else I can't quite put my finger on...
I am thinking possibly NMB because of those caps and the layout. Also the LED on the lock light is to the far left side of the cap.
- Chyros
- Location: The Netherlands
- Main keyboard: whatever I'm reviewing next :p
- Main mouse: a cheap Logitech
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
The only green-slider Alps clones I can think of off the top of my head are Tai-Hao APC and Xiang-Min KSB. So get rid of that piece of plastic, just push it out from the other side with tweezers (Alps sliders have holes there).mark201200 wrote: ↑Hey, i got this keyboard alongside some (original) apple boards. Considering that it's an AEK Clone, and that green ALPS have the LED hole, I'm pretty sure that those are probably ALPS clones. Can simeone identify them? Is the keyboard worth restoring? Also, how do you remove that piece of keycap stuck in the slider?
I don't have better pics, I'll post them when i get it in the mail, if necessary.
- mark201200
- Location: Italy
- DT Pro Member: -
I'm leaning towards APC, as according to the wiki the KSB series is relatively modern. I'll see when I get them in the mail.
- Blaise170
- ALPS キーボード
- Location: Boston, MA
- Main keyboard: Cooler Master Quickfire Stealth
- Main mouse: Logitech G502
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Blue
- DT Pro Member: 0129
- Contact:
It looks like the Tai Hao switches I have, so I'd assume those.
- Felima
- Location: Czech republic
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F
- Main mouse: Ozone Exon F60
- Favorite switch: Buckling Spring, Hall Effect
- DT Pro Member: -
Hello can anyone help me identify these switches? The keyboard is Chicony KB-5191 from mid 80s
- Attachments
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- 20180712_142703_HDR.jpg (3.81 MiB) Viewed 6374 times
- Keybug
- Location: Germany
- Main keyboard: so many!
- Main mouse: Logitech G700s; trackballs suck
- Favorite switch: Kailh box royals, trampoline-modded
- DT Pro Member: 0208
Two better pictures of the mystery Tandon board. Keycaps could indeed say NMB (Space Invaders)? I do have another Tandon board with them... Sadly the bottom re-label appears to be useless. Thanks for all your input so far!
- Attachments
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- 9e96e2d7-56a6-4d69-9a9f-8b9f9c6a0fe3.jpg (740.67 KiB) Viewed 6338 times
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- 3d919298-4b4a-48b2-84ce-1b69b415cf0e.jpg (1011.64 KiB) Viewed 6338 times
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- Location: UK
- Main keyboard: Planck
- Main mouse: Cyborg Rat 7
- Favorite switch: Alps skcm white
- DT Pro Member: -
shame about that spacebar, looks like someone tried to get it off previously without much successKeybug wrote: ↑Two better pictures of the mystery Tandon board. Keycaps could indeed say NMB (Space Invaders)? I do have another Tandon board with them... Sadly the bottom re-label appears to be useless. Thanks for all your input so far!
- TheInverseKey
- Location: Great White North
- Main mouse: M570
- Favorite switch: Hi-Tek 725 Linear
- DT Pro Member: 0216
- Contact:
Anakey wrote: ↑shame about that spacebar, looks like someone tried to get it off previously without much successKeybug wrote: ↑Two better pictures of the mystery Tandon board. Keycaps could indeed say NMB (Space Invaders)? I do have another Tandon board with them... Sadly the bottom re-label appears to be useless. Thanks for all your input so far!
Yup the stab inserts broke the pbt right off. They should have pried the space bar towards the bottom of the board so that the spacebar doesn't break.