IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread

User avatar
madrobby

30 Nov 2023, 16:51

jsheradin wrote:
30 Nov 2023, 16:50
madrobby wrote:
30 Nov 2023, 16:29
Haven't seen this Commodore PC keyboard before
Mitsumi of some sort, nothing exceptional.
Spoiler:
IronHrt_20231130_104011_lmc_8.4.jpg
That's what I thought it might be, thanks for confirming.

HC514

30 Nov 2023, 21:50

Personally, I quite like the Mitsumi switches that Commodore used. You kind of just tap the keys while typing. You'll never bottom out. The (very pronounced) progressive linear curve is arguably another kind of tactility.

drdean

10 Dec 2023, 16:21

Hi guys

I’m a newbie here. Does anyone recognise these key caps?

I’ve never seen ANYTHING similar to these before. The keys are dark with an inset white square at the top and with black lettering.

I think they may be telex or communication related as some of the key commands show up in related searches.

Obviously the key caps are not in the correct order here and have just been placed in this formation.

Any help, ideas or suggestions.

Many thanks.
drdean

IMG_0699.jpeg
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User avatar
Muirium
µ

11 Dec 2023, 11:21

They are relegendable caps of some sort. Uniform row profile too. They certainly don't look like any of these, as they have a border around the paper insert instead of running edge to edge:

Image

The T key in particular has the right lighting to expose how deep the inset is. They don't even look covered to me.

User avatar
rezenew

11 Dec 2023, 16:21

Screenshot_20231211-102030~2.png
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Does anyone recognize this or the switches it uses? Very bizarre layout.

User avatar
jsheradin

11 Dec 2023, 17:13

rezenew wrote:
11 Dec 2023, 16:21
Does anyone recognize this or the switches it uses? Very bizarre layout.
http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/eagleCompu ... ochure.pdf
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... 1955532020

FT sticker means Keytronic foam and foil. It's for a PC clone so it probably speaks XT.
Spoiler:
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You can also see one of the terminal things it was advertised with in the background of your photo:
Spoiler:
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User avatar
rezenew

11 Dec 2023, 17:33

jsheradin wrote:
11 Dec 2023, 17:13
rezenew wrote:
11 Dec 2023, 16:21
Does anyone recognize this or the switches it uses? Very bizarre layout.
http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/eagleCompu ... ochure.pdf
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... 1955532020

FT sticker means Keytronic foam and foil. It's for a PC clone so it probably speaks XT.
Spoiler:
eagle.PNG
eagle3.PNG
You can also see one of the terminal things it was advertised with in the background of your photo:
Spoiler:
eagle2.PNG
Awesome thanks! :D
What were they thinking with those f keys under the numpad?! :o

User avatar
webwit
Wild Duck

11 Dec 2023, 19:35

drdean wrote:
10 Dec 2023, 16:21
Hi guys

I’m a newbie here. Does anyone recognise these key caps?

I’ve never seen ANYTHING similar to these before. The keys are dark with an inset white square at the top and with black lettering.

I think they may be telex or communication related as some of the key commands show up in related searches.

Obviously the key caps are not in the correct order here and have just been placed in this formation.

Any help, ideas or suggestions.

Many thanks.
drdean


IMG_0699.jpeg
Seem similar:

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Accu-Sort 4710

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_SMD31803.JPG
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Casio FX-1

This page says "magnetically activated switches".

drdean

12 Dec 2023, 18:48

Hey webwit good spot!!

These are very similar. How on earth did you find these? I’ve tried reverse image search but couldn’t get anywhere.

I still think these keys are something to do with telex or teleprinter or telecommunications. The key commands tend to turn up on these types of machinery but I’m yet to find the kit that they came from.

Be interesting if anyone remembers what these keys were from or what the commands mean.

Cheers
drdean

User avatar
guidemetothelight

16 Dec 2023, 11:45

Not really keyboards that are up for purchase, but I found these two keyboard (typewriter in one case) in a video on youtube and found them really interesting. taken out of a video about derelict aircraft from a bloke from the uk called mr hewes.
they look really interesting.
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User avatar
Muirium
µ

16 Dec 2023, 11:55

Wash your hands, Mr. Hewes! :lol:

Those pale blue symbol keys are very, very cool. A mix of Runes and hidden print symbols? They're like something an AI would dream up, but I don't think we're quite there yet.

User avatar
guidemetothelight

16 Dec 2023, 14:59

Muirium wrote:
16 Dec 2023, 11:55
Wash your hands, Mr. Hewes! :lol:
fair point, but once you know he was there to fix the landing gear on handley page victor, it makes more sense.
Muirium wrote:
16 Dec 2023, 11:55
Those pale blue symbol keys are very, very cool. A mix of Runes and hidden print symbols? They're like something an AI would dream up, but I don't think we're quite there yet.
They really do look very cool. I really like the grey typewriter. really reminds me of the gmk ascii set.
the video is worth a watch if someone is interested in old tech / aircraft.
https://youtu.be/MMYhX8lZjwg?si=9Df9KFPJdLgjhD1R

DocFreud

25 Jan 2024, 21:48

I stumbled upon three keyboards in my basement, all produced by Electronics Industry Niš (Ei Niš) in Yugoslavia. Despite my efforts to uncover information online, I've been unsuccessful. Does anyone happen to have any details about these keyboards?
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User avatar
Dingster

26 Jan 2024, 01:06

DocFreud wrote:
25 Jan 2024, 21:48
I stumbled upon three keyboards in my basement, all produced by Electronics Industry Niš (Ei Niš) in Yugoslavia. Despite my efforts to uncover information online, I've been unsuccessful. Does anyone happen to have any details about these keyboards?
You should ask on the "Retro Računalniki" facebook group, the guys there have extensive knowledge of old YU PCs and their peripherals :geek:

textadventurer

26 Mar 2024, 11:54

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Anybody recognise this keyboard, or know what switches it has? I can't find anything about the brand or the keyboard online.

User avatar
Polecat

27 Mar 2024, 03:40

Possibly a Focus FK-555 clone like this one:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=27506
textadventurer wrote:
26 Mar 2024, 11:54

Anybody recognise this keyboard, or know what switches it has? I can't find anything about the brand or the keyboard online.

User avatar
zrrion

27 Mar 2024, 21:00

textadventurer wrote:
26 Mar 2024, 11:54
Anybody recognise this keyboard, or know what switches it has? I can't find anything about the brand or the keyboard online.
Looks like the same box as this Podworld keyboard: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=26733
my guess is it uses KPT switches

textadventurer

28 Mar 2024, 09:08

Thanks, those are good leads. I'm not convinced this is worth picking up. Seller wants 50 euros and won't ship it, and it's not worth the drive I think.

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tactica

29 Mar 2024, 17:55

textadventurer wrote:
31 Aug 2023, 16:42
After having been bit by the vintage keyboard bug, another one came in the mail today! I picked this one up because it looked like an IBM Model F AT. I never heard of the brand, though.
Can you add the keyboard to the wiki or at least post more pictures here? Disassembly pictures would be a good start.

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jensma

04 Apr 2024, 17:31

Hey there!
I'm new here and want to add a keyboard to the wiki. It is a Memorex brended keyboard, no FCC code visible. I'm mostly interested in the switches on this one, I can't identify them. I disassembled one, pictures are attached.

I can deliver a photo of the assembled keyboard once it is cleaned.
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User avatar
jsheradin

04 Apr 2024, 17:47

jensma wrote:
04 Apr 2024, 17:31
I'm mostly interested in the switches on this one, I can't identify them..
Low profile ITW magnetic valve

User avatar
jensma

05 Apr 2024, 21:14

jsheradin wrote:
04 Apr 2024, 17:47
jensma wrote:
04 Apr 2024, 17:31
I'm mostly interested in the switches on this one, I can't identify them..
Low profile ITW magnetic valve
Thanks a lot! Here it is: wiki/Memorex_ASSY_NO_623393

User avatar
jensma

04 May 2024, 16:44

Hey there!

I'm currently spamming the wiki and encountered something weird. I just added this keyboard:

wiki/PC_PORTABLE_III

What's weird about it - at first I thought the LED switches were Alps SKCL Yellows. But compared to my other Yellows they aren't just way greener but are clearly tactile. I would guess about a MX brown, but stiffer.

Any hints on what's going on here?

Image

HC514

04 May 2024, 17:31

Those are clone switches. Hua-Jie, maybe.

User avatar
Polecat

04 May 2024, 18:18

HC514 wrote:
04 May 2024, 17:31
Those are clone switches. Hua-Jie, maybe.
White and yellow both clones. *Not* SKBM white.

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tactica

04 May 2024, 18:37

jensma wrote:
04 May 2024, 16:44

I'm currently spamming the wiki
This kind of spam is most welcome. You just need to experiment with the "widths" value of the "gallery" tag so the box around the picture doesn't look out of proportion. We could use other gallery modes to avoid the box entirely (hint: try adding mode="packed" as a parameter, see here for details) but for the sake of consistency we are sticking to the default ("traditional") mode for now.

User avatar
tactica

04 May 2024, 18:53

jensma wrote:
04 Apr 2024, 17:31
I'm new here and want to add a keyboard to the wiki. It is a Memorex brended keyboard, no FCC code visible. I'm mostly interested in the switches on this one, I can't identify them. I disassembled one, pictures are attached.
If you can, please re-shoot the disassembled switch, this time on a completely white surface for clarity, and add the pictures to the wiki to document the low profile variety of the switch in its dedicated article. Photos taken from several different angles are welcome, including one with the assembled switch from an angle so one can later add it to a variants table like the one for e.g. wiki/Cherry_MX. Be sure the lighting is adequate so it doesn't end up looking too dark and details of the casing are lost.
Last edited by tactica on 04 May 2024, 19:01, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
jensma

04 May 2024, 18:55

tactica wrote:
04 May 2024, 18:37
jensma wrote:
04 May 2024, 16:44

I'm currently spamming the wiki
This kind of spam is most welcome. You just need to experiment with the "widths" value of the "gallery" tag so the box around the picture doesn't look out of proportion. We could use other gallery modes to avoid the box entirely (hint: try adding mode="packed" as a parameter, see here for details) but for the sake of consistency we are sticking to the default ("traditional") mode for now.
Thanks for cleaning up after me, I'm a pretty noob when it comes to stuff after this :( I'm trying my best :cry: I've updated the wiki article to Hua-Jie AK series, since that seems to be the actual switches. Can't find a tactile yellowgreenish LED switch there, though

@tactica I'll disassemble one!

User avatar
jensma

04 May 2024, 19:31

tactica wrote:
04 May 2024, 18:53
jensma wrote:
04 Apr 2024, 17:31
I'm new here and want to add a keyboard to the wiki. It is a Memorex brended keyboard, no FCC code visible. I'm mostly interested in the switches on this one, I can't identify them. I disassembled one, pictures are attached.
If you can, please re-shoot the disassembled switch, this time on a completely white surface for clarity, and add the pictures to the wiki to document the low profile variety of the switch in its dedicated article. Photos taken from several different angles are welcome, including one with the assembled switch from an angle so one can later add it to a variants table like the one for e.g. wiki/Cherry_MX. Be sure the lighting is adequate so it doesn't end up looking too dark and details of the casing are lost.
I took some with indoor lighting. I can reshoot them in daylight if necessary, but it's already dawn over here.

uploaded them here:
https://imgur.com/a/ILK4Im7

User avatar
tactica

04 May 2024, 19:56

OK, I guess cropped versions of #1-4 and #7-8 plus the others as is will do. Not bad :)

You do the honours and get all the fame & glory for the feat :)

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