IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread

[anmq91]

This is my doctoral advisor’s keyboard. I don’t know that much about vintage keyboards, but it doesn’t look like any apple keyboard I’ve ever seen before, especially since it’s 65%. It connects via USB, and I think it might have two ports on the side.

I do think it’s made by apple considering the font and the presence of an eject key.

I’ve only typed on it for a minute while fixing his computer but it feels quite nice. I can’t find a reference to this keyboard anywhere, but I’m probably looking in the wrong places.

P.S. sorry for the bad picture, I had to snap one quickly when he very briefly left the office so he wouldn’t think I’m a weirdo. I didn’t get the chance to flip it over and it might be months till I get the chance to be in his office unaccompanied again.

Holy fu*k that keyboard is filthy! I wouldn't type on that unless I had a Hazmat suit on! XD Aside from that, it's interesting because the homing bumps are on the 'F' and 'J' keys instead of the 'D'and 'K'. As far as I know, for as long as Alps electric made the Apple keyboards, the homing bumps stayed on the D and K keys. Which would point to this being a much newer board as compared to the Alps electric's (AEK and AEK2) time, despite the fact that the keycaps bear a strong resemblance with the AEK's ones. It's also interesting that it has 15 F keys. I think it's most prob a clone board but would be super interested to find out more about it.

[Egnomic]

This is my doctoral advisor’s keyboard. I don’t know that much about vintage keyboards, but it doesn’t look like any apple keyboard I’ve ever seen before, especially since it’s 65%. It connects via USB, and I think it might have two ports on the side.

I do think it’s made by apple considering the font and the presence of an eject key.

I’ve only typed on it for a minute while fixing his computer but it feels quite nice. I can’t find a reference to this keyboard anywhere, but I’m probably looking in the wrong places.

P.S. sorry for the bad picture, I had to snap one quickly when he very briefly left the office so he wouldn’t think I’m a weirdo. I didn’t get the chance to flip it over and it might be months till I get the chance to be in his office unaccompanied again.

Holy fu*k that keyboard is filthy! I wouldn't type on that unless I had a Hazmat suit on! XD Aside from that, it's interesting because the homing bumps are on the 'F' and 'J' keys instead of the 'D'and 'K'. As far as I know, for as long as Alps electric made the Apple keyboards, the homing bumps stayed on the D and K keys. Which would point to this being a much newer board as compared to the Alps electric's (AEK and AEK2) time, despite the fact that the keycaps bear a strong resemblance with the AEK's ones. It's also interesting that it has 15 F keys. I think it's most prob a clone board but would be super interested to find out more about it.

It is indeed quite filthy, had to wash my hands pretty well. Academics are weird people.

I didn't know about the homing bumps being on 'D' and 'K' on Alps-made Apple keyboards. He has an AEK II and Model F XT collecting dust in his office, maybe I can ask him for one of them...

I'll post an update some time in the future if I figure out more information. I'm replacing his monitor cable when the new one is delivered in a couple of weeks (the academia machinery turns Amazon's 2 day delivery into 2 weeks, apparently). I'll try to come up with an excuse to flip it over, but I'll have to get quite innovative.

[EnthusiastDude]

A weird thing. I haven't found it's model number anywhere and I don't recognize the switch at all.
Maybe one of you can help:
Edit: It's NMB dome with slider, I just read that it says NMB on the sticker.

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[Cubelia]

This is my doctoral advisor’s keyboard. I don’t know that much about vintage keyboards, but it doesn’t look like any apple keyboard I’ve ever seen before, especially since it’s 65%. It connects via USB, and I think it might have two ports on the side.

I do think it’s made by apple considering the font and the presence of an eject key.

I’ve only typed on it for a minute while fixing his computer but it feels quite nice. I can’t find a reference to this keyboard anywhere, but I’m probably looking in the wrong places.

P.S. sorry for the bad picture, I had to snap one quickly when he very briefly left the office so he wouldn’t think I’m a weirdo. I didn’t get the chance to flip it over and it might be months till I get the chance to be in his office unaccompanied again.

DSI SMK-88

These came with Cherry MX switches.

Look for DSI/Strong Man. There is a different variant which had the volume keys moved to left side. Tough to find more info(with pictures) other than some Japanese and Korean sites despite the fact that it was made in Taiwan.
Close relative is DSI SUN88.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5Sx_da-5SI
viewtopic.php?t=10379

[anmq91]

Just out of interest, has there ever been a keyboard on here that we couldn't identify? The ability of the community to identify even the rarest of keyboards is uncannily good!

[Mehridian]

I think this is rubber dome. Heavy as a mechanical but it was delivered and wasn't able to open it yet.

Unable to find much online or on the wiki. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Ok, here is the interior board. It is rubber dome. Any idea as to the pinout?

Hewlett Packard
C1404-80002
Rev. A
24.8.87 (assuming date : 08/24/1987)

Circuit Board is G9140
40 pin dip is :
HP
1LR5-0002
91291 (assuming date : 12/09/1991)
SINGAPORE

[Mehridian]

trying to get this converted using Soarer's and a 16mhtz Pro Micro. I got the Pro Micro programmed:
In Looking at the PCB ... Fairly certain I found GND.

Code: Select all

	ORIENTATION {Facing Male end of plug going into keyboard}
		 ═════
	┌---------------┐
	|		|
	|		|
	|  | | | | | |  |
	└ -┴-┴-┴-┴-┴-┴- ┘ 
 	   1 2 3 4 5 6	
	    \ \ \ \ \ \ 
	     ? \ \ \ \ \ 
		? \ \ \ \ 
		 GND \ \ \
		      ? \ \
			 ? \ 
			   ?

1 : ? 
2 : ? 
3 : GND Pin to first GND on Pro Micro
4 : ?
5 : ? 
6 : ?

From Pro Micro to Pinout:

VCC		to : ?
SCLK	to : ?
MOSI	to : ?
MISO	to : ?
RST		to : ?
GND 	to : Pin 3

The GND orientation makes me think of the IBM Model M:



That and the general Layout of the board.

But Which pins to which? Sorry, I guess I had to pick the hardest one first .... terminal keyboard lol.

[Mehridian]

For general reference

[Egnomic]

This is my doctoral advisor’s keyboard. I don’t know that much about vintage keyboards, but it doesn’t look like any apple keyboard I’ve ever seen before, especially since it’s 65%. It connects via USB, and I think it might have two ports on the side.

I do think it’s made by apple considering the font and the presence of an eject key.

I’ve only typed on it for a minute while fixing his computer but it feels quite nice. I can’t find a reference to this keyboard anywhere, but I’m probably looking in the wrong places.

P.S. sorry for the bad picture, I had to snap one quickly when he very briefly left the office so he wouldn’t think I’m a weirdo. I didn’t get the chance to flip it over and it might be months till I get the chance to be in his office unaccompanied again.

DSI SMK-88

These came with Cherry MX switches.

Look for DSI/Strong Man. There is a different variant which had the volume keys moved to left side. Tough to find more info(with pictures) other than some Japanese and Korean sites despite the fact that it was made in Taiwan.
Close relative is DSI SUN88.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5Sx_da-5SI
viewtopic.php?t=10379

Thank you! I'd never even heard of DSI before.

[Mehridian]

For general reference

So if the keyboard requires 5v 50mA, wouldn't that mean it needs it's own regulated supply ? Cause the promicro is gonna take some of that

[John Doe]

Got new package yesterday, unfortunately I don't know too much about the keyboards, anybody could do a favor?

Appreciate it.

[NeK]

anyone knows which model this is? Couldn't find anything.

unknown keeb

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And here's the ebay link for anyone interested.

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Vintage-Keyboar ... fresh=true

[Findecanor]

So if the keyboard requires 5v 50mA, wouldn't that mean it needs it's own regulated supply ? Cause the promicro is gonna take some of that

USB should provide 500mA, and a Pro Micro shouldn't be drawing more than 50mA itself.
So, is a seller selling the keyboard including a converter?

[EnthusiastDude]

Hi everybody, I need your help again.
Thanks

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[dss]

Got this from my older brother. Any idea what it might be from?
Switches feel pretty nice, but cramped due to the small key caps and flat profile.

[Fkazim]

I am thinking of picking this keyboard but cant't figure out what it is or even what switches it uses. As there is no labels on it or brand. Any Ideas what keyboard this is or what switches it uses. Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks.

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[zrrion]

Pulling a cap would be the best way to tell, but I suspect it uses ALPS SKCC switches.

[PlacaFromHell]

I am thinking of picking this keyboard but cant't figure out what it is or even what switches it uses. As there is no labels on it or brand. Any Ideas what keyboard this is or what switches it uses. Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks.

Unknowen terminal kbd.PNG

unknowen kbd.PNG

unkwn kbd.PNG

I'm almost sure, stackpole or linear Futaba.

[Findecanor]

Hi everybody, I need your help again.

I think I've seen all four before, but dang if I can remember.
The top one looks like it comes from a "luggable" computer.

The one at the bottom looks like a Siemens. Maybe RAFI, Siemens STB or rubber dome.

If a good price, I would get them all.

[EnthusiastDude]

Hi everybody, I need your help again.

I think I've seen all four before, but dang if I can remember.
The top one looks like it comes from a "luggable" computer.

The one at the bottom looks like a Siemens. Maybe RAFI, Siemens STB or rubber dome.

If a good price, I would get them all.

Thanks, I found out that the Siemens is rubberdome.
The most interesting is in my opinion the one that looks similar to a focus fk-555. It is probably like this one: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46705.0

[Gonsterek]

Hi everybody, does anyone know what this keyboard is? I found it on an auction and I'm curious what's inside it

[xxhellfirexx]

I am thinking of picking this keyboard but cant't figure out what it is or even what switches it uses. As there is no labels on it or brand. Any Ideas what keyboard this is or what switches it uses. Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks.

Unknowen terminal kbd.PNG

unknowen kbd.PNG

unkwn kbd.PNG

Futaba MD
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=18366&start=

[Polecat]

Hi everybody, I need your help again.
Thanks

Third one looks like an Ortek MCK-101

wiki/Ortek_MCK-101

[EnthusiastDude]

Hi everybody, I need your help again.
Thanks

Third one looks like an Ortek MCK-101

wiki/Ortek_MCK-101

Ah, you're right, I knew that it looked familiar to me.

[Keybug]

I don't think I've seen such a warty ALPS-mount (?) slider before. Doesn't look like much of a switch either - slider over something?

[John Doe]

Does anybody know where is the photo posted originally? Surely it's Unsaver, but confused with the four keys around the arrow keys.
Does the PCB support them? Or replace it with home-made one.

Spoiler:

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[kmnov2017]

This might be a post from Redmaus

[Redmaus]

Does anybody know where is the photo posted originally? Surely it's Unsaver, but confused with the four keys around the arrow keys.
Does the PCB support them? Or replace it with home-made one.

Spoiler:

1583651505164.jpg

This might be a post from Redmaus

Kmnov is correct!

0E2A8478.JPG (224.97 KiB) Viewed 8063 times

[John Doe]

Cool, first time don't know it's better or worse mod.

[joebeazelman]

Does anybody know where is the photo posted originally? Surely it's Unsaver, but confused with the four keys around the arrow keys.
Does the PCB support them? Or replace it with home-made one.

Spoiler:

1583651505164.jpg

This might be a post from Redmaus

Kmnov is correct!

0E2A8478.JPG

Now that's what I call a Space Unsavory!