IDENTIFY THE KEYSWITCH thread

[//gainsborough]

chip chop tipped me in on this board on ebay. I was expecting alps but got this instead. Has anyone ever seen this switch before? It's linear - and in fact I thought it was alps before removing a cap.

[Muirium]

Maybe Hosiden?

wiki/Hosiden_switch

Can't say I've heard of them. Just the closest to a match I can spot on the Wiki's switch ID gallery. The notch at the top was for LEDs…

Spoiler:

[//gainsborough]

That looks the same to me, thanks! I'll read up on them a bit!

[digital_matthew]

I recently bought this keyboard hoping for Alps, but no dice (I think). The switches are very clicky and rather course. Not terrible, but not great. The keycaps are pretty nice. They're double-shot MX mounts. Any idea as to what the switches are?

[ZedTheMan]

I recently bought this keyboard hoping for Alps, but no dice (I think). The switches are very clicky and rather course. Not terrible, but not great. The keycaps are pretty nice. They're double-shot MX mounts. Any idea as to what the switches are?

Hi! I ended up getting one of these just recently as well. It's a shame, I was also hoping for Alps. It's Deyi Clicky Foam and Foil, and unfortunately for me the keyboard didn't even properly function because Foam and Foil fails over time.

I just scrapped it and kept the caps and the dust cover that came with it.

[zrrion]

The caps look fun though so its not all bad.

[TNT]

Hi guys,

this is my first post here and I hope I'll have a good time and learn a lot on this forum.

To the cause. I'm dreaming of modifying an old Nixdorf Softkeys to work on a modern computer. I know people tried it and didn't manage to get it working, but since some other guys managed to successfully rewire the weird 6 pin DIN plug on other keyboards I wan't to give it a try myself. I don't care much for the Nixie-switches or rather can not afford them tho...
While searching the internet I stumbled upon a Nixdorf board with those weird switches that I struggle to identify. They seem to have a weird, very distinct shape. Maybe you guys can help out? Because of the keycaps they're probably similar to MXs, right?

I'm sorry for the terrible image quality. Those are just the pics from the seller and that's all he got so far.

Cheers in advance.

[Muirium]

Looks to be related to this:

wiki/Nixdorf_SM_8890

Those switches are most definitely *not* MX!

[TNT]

Oh my, how could I not see this. That's the first thing to look up.

Sorry and thanks a bunch!

[Muirium]

Hey, no worries. I’ve never seen them before either. Nixdorf made quality kit, right down to their custom clear topped MX switches. But the board you’re looking at is a different beast.

Anyone know what those feel like?

[digital_matthew]

I recently bought this keyboard hoping for Alps, but no dice (I think). The switches are very clicky and rather course. Not terrible, but not great. The keycaps are pretty nice. They're double-shot MX mounts. Any idea as to what the switches are?

Hi! I ended up getting one of these just recently as well. It's a shame, I was also hoping for Alps. It's Deyi Clicky Foam and Foil, and unfortunately for me the keyboard didn't even properly function because Foam and Foil fails over time.

I just scrapped it and kept the caps and the dust cover that came with it.

Thanks! I thought some fellow Deskthorians would have bought one of these. Actually this one works just fine. I have better keyboards, so I'm not sure what to do with this one. If anyone is interested in the keycaps please let me know.

The caps look fun though so its not all bad.

Yep, they're the FK layout, which is my favorite. Bigass Enter with the pipe next to the right Shift key.

[Chyros]

Hi guys,

this is my first post here and I hope I'll have a good time and learn a lot on this forum.

To the cause. I'm dreaming of modifying an old Nixdorf Softkeys to work on a modern computer. I know people tried it and didn't manage to get it working, but since some other guys managed to successfully rewire the weird 6 pin DIN plug on other keyboards I wan't to give it a try myself. I don't care much for the Nixie-switches or rather can not afford them tho...
While searching the internet I stumbled upon a Nixdorf board with those weird switches that I struggle to identify. They seem to have a weird, very distinct shape. Maybe you guys can help out? Because of the keycaps they're probably similar to MXs, right?

I'm sorry for the terrible image quality. Those are just the pics from the seller and that's all he got so far.

Cheers in advance.

They're Nixdorf magnetic valve. The Nixie MX-type switches were found in other models.

[JP!]

Here's an interesting one. Switches are super smooth and linear.

600A22E3-0B6A-45F3-A273-483903904195.jpeg (614.25 KiB) Viewed 10357 times

7EBFEFE8-69D6-4F88-8034-40EDDC078C73.jpeg (125.09 KiB) Viewed 10357 times

[Chyros]

Looks like Key Tronic magnetic reed or a clone (caps look KT though), or possibly their block-mount foam and foil switches.

[JP!]

Another odd one. Edit: This keyboard goes with an Amiga 1000.

D4E28E65-6FBC-47D6-8D96-B680AB3DD422.jpeg (122.06 KiB) Viewed 10359 times

184ABB3C-8A37-4FF7-85D1-BF62FC914A2A.jpeg (58.28 KiB) Viewed 10359 times

[Noobmaen]

Mitsumi standard mechanical

[JP!]

Mitsumi standard mechanical

Oh thanks! Never seen one or tried in person so I'll see if I can find a review. I probably won't pick this one up unless someone has interest. Also that board sure does have a funky layout.

[Chyros]

You might want to give them a try if you like tactile switches. Mistumi standard aren't bad from what I've tried, and that board looks like it's not that dirty (just banana'd).

[JP!]

Actually I love how the spacebar and case are color coordinated.

[abrahamstechnology]

What Alps (or clones) are these?

[mcmaxmcmc]

What Alps (or clones) are these?

Seems like plain old Yellow Alps to me. I believe some of them can come without the LED cutout.

[kakan]

What Alps (or clones) are these?

Seems like plain old Yellow Alps to me. I believe some of them can come without the LED cutout.

If that is from the taobao guy that sells alps I think someone bought them and they were clones. I might be mistaken tho.

[abrahamstechnology]

What Alps (or clones) are these?

Seems like plain old Yellow Alps to me. I believe some of them can come without the LED cutout.

If that is from the taobao guy that sells alps I think someone bought them and they were clones. I might be mistaken tho.

Know if they are clicky, tactile or linear?

[kakan]

Seems like plain old Yellow Alps to me. I believe some of them can come without the LED cutout.

If that is from the taobao guy that sells alps I think someone bought them and they were clones. I might be mistaken tho.

Know if they are clicky, tactile or linear?

I might be wrong, you should pm Drclick. Have you contacted the seller if they have any SKCLFQ left?

My order arrived today. They are ALPS linear yellow switches(SKCLFQ).


The seller also have the other two kinds of Fuhua ALPS switches, Yellow(soft linear) and Black(tactile). But they are all later simplified version.

[JP!]

Looks like Key Tronic magnetic reed or a clone (caps look KT though), or possibly their block-mount foam and foil switches.

Looks like Key Tronic magnetic reed variant #2. I believe this is now the oldest keyboard in my collection since this teleterm seems to date to around 1973. I plan to do a full teardown and clean up of this one.
wiki/Key_Tronic_magnetic_reed

1.JPG (138.44 KiB) Viewed 10353 times

Additionally there is a single switch with a light bulb.

2.JPG (74.7 KiB) Viewed 10353 times

[Kacperum]

I recently found a Facit 7800 electronic typewriter. I searched for it on the web but no useful information came up. The switches are quite tactile. The caps are double shot. It says "made in Japan" on the keyboard module. Any Idea as to what the switches could be? I can provide more pictures if it's necessary.

[Lbibass]

I recently found a Facit 7800 electronic typewriter. I searched for it on the web but no useful information came up. The switches are quite tactile. The caps are double shot. It says "made in Japan" on the keyboard module. Any Idea as to what the switches could be? I can provide more pictures if it's necessary.

Looks like NEC Vintage linear. wiki/NEC_vintage_linear

[Kacperum]

I recently found a Facit 7800 electronic typewriter. I searched for it on the web but no useful information came up. The switches are quite tactile. The caps are double shot. It says "made in Japan" on the keyboard module. Any Idea as to what the switches could be? I can provide more pictures if it's necessary.

Looks like NEC Vintage linear. wiki/NEC_vintage_linear

Not likely since they're tactile.

[abrahamstechnology]

Additionally there is a single switch with a light bulb.
2.JPG

Looks like Logitech ripped off this idea.

[uttindar]

Received old CodeGen Technologies keyboard (FCC HMN2YZ) with linear amber four-tab clones:



Are those alps.tw Type T8?
Some switches have S:#A## mould numbering and some other are S:#C## (as on the picture)