IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread

[coreinsane]

What kind of keyboard could it be?

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[subcat]

I believe that's a Monterey K208.

[coreinsane]

What kind of keyboard could it be? Are they buckling springs?

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[ohaimark]

It's an Asian buckling spring variant. I don't remember the name at the moment.

[Laser]

Like this one? https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyb ... _keyboard/

[ohaimark]

Doesn't quite look the same. Probably similar feel, though.

[Chyros]

Maybe you're thinking of Syncan buckling spring. That uses a cruciform slider well. It's hard to say, being black in this picture, but it looks different.

[snuci]

Maybe you're thinking of Syncan buckling spring. That uses a cruciform slider well. It's hard to say, being black in this picture, but it looks different.

How about this over exposed picture?

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[Jimi14]

Any idea what this thing can be/what that switch is?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mechanical-Keyb ... SwblZZHSj1

[ohaimark]

Looks like a slider over membrane or F&F switch. Regardless, it isn't going to be good.

[subcat]

https://prnt.sc/fabjmu
https://prnt.sc/fabj3w
https://prnt.sc/fabk0e

I assume the Olivetti is a rubber dome, and I have been advised that #3 is foam and foil.

[coreinsane]

Are those SKCM white?

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[coreinsane]

Are those SKCM green?

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[subcat]

Ha, I love the first one. Looks a lot like it's a clone, you can tell because they didn't even spell ALPS correctly
Second one is also a clone.

[coreinsane]

Just found this too.

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[Daniel Beardsmore]

The first one has real Alps. The markings on SKCM switches can be very faint.

The second keyboard is interesting. KB-6251LN. It's a [wiki]NTC KB-6251[/wiki]. The last letter is "N", for Nan-Tan switch. That series was notable for having linear switches as an option, which is what you have. It's a bog standard [wiki]four-tab clone[/wiki].

The "L" is the surprise. Normally, it's EN (Nan Tan switch), EA (Alps switch) or EM (Mitsumi switch). Yours has "L" instead of "E" and I don't know why. Something must be different about it that's new to that model. Even the plate-mount types are still "E".

[coreinsane]

The first one has real Alps. The markings on SKCM switches can be very faint.

The second keyboard is interesting. KB-6251LN. It's a [wiki]NTC KB-6251[/wiki]. The last letter is "N", for Nan-Tan switch. That series was notable for having linear switches as an option, which is what you have. It's a bog standard [wiki]four-tab clone[/wiki].

The "L" is the surprise. Normally, it's EN (Nan Tan switch), EA (Alps switch) or EM (Mitsumi switch). Yours has "L" instead of "E" and I don't know why. Something must be different about it that's new to that model. Even the plate-mount types are still "E".

The white ones are just normal skcm white alps?

[subcat]

The first one has real Alps. The markings on SKCM switches can be very faint.

The second keyboard is interesting. KB-6251LN. It's a [wiki]NTC KB-6251[/wiki]. The last letter is "N", for Nan-Tan switch. That series was notable for having linear switches as an option, which is what you have. It's a bog standard [wiki]four-tab clone[/wiki].

The "L" is the surprise. Normally, it's EN (Nan Tan switch), EA (Alps switch) or EM (Mitsumi switch). Yours has "L" instead of "E" and I don't know why. Something must be different about it that's new to that model. Even the plate-mount types are still "E".

I guess I was mistaken. I did notice the slits, but seeing 'ALP' made me doubtful. My bad.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

The white ones are just normal skcm white alps?

Yes. Pine version (ca. 1988–1993).

[subcat]

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/ ... G?set_id=2
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/ ... G?set_id=2
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/ ... G?set_id=2
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/ ... G?set_id=2

Not sure about this one, appreciate any input.

[emdude]

BTC 5339, F&F switches: [wiki]BTC_53_series[/wiki]

Note the wide Esc key, I believe that's a dead giveaway for BTC keyboards in general.

[subcat]

BTC 5339, F&F switches: [wiki]BTC_53_series[/wiki]

Note the wide Esc key, I believe that's a dead giveaway for BTC keyboards in general.

Thanks emdude!

[Chyros]

BTC 5339, F&F switches: [wiki]BTC_53_series[/wiki]

Note the wide Esc key, I believe that's a dead giveaway for BTC keyboards in general.

Usually, but not always. BTC used several fairly distinctive fonts, though. The combination of the two generally nails it.

[Chyros]

This
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Apple ... SwGJlZJWt7
appears to use these
http://www.willegal.net/appleii/appleii-keyboard.htm
but I haven't a clue what they are. Anyone have any idea?

[snuci]

This
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Apple ... SwGJlZJWt7
appears to use these
http://www.willegal.net/appleii/appleii-keyboard.htm
but I haven't a clue what they are. Anyone have any idea?

When you refer to "these", are you referring to the Datanetics DC-50 key switches? The keyboard appears to be the same as my early Apple II keyboard here: photos-f62/apple-ii-keyboards-t12185.html but you'll note that the key caps are black on eBay one. This makes it an early Bell and Howell Apple II keyboard (I have one of those too) or possibly a keyboard from the officially licensed clone, the ITT 2020 (don't have one of those). They were the only two Apple computers with black key caps (as far as I know). I should check the keyboard on my B&H Apple II.

[Chyros]

Yes, that seems to be it. Thanks!

[Daniel Beardsmore]

The U channel reinforcing strips are very Datanetics. Meryl Miller used them for his early keyboards for the [wiki]Krown Porta-printer[/wiki].

[subcat]

Is it possible this is SKCL/M? One computer museum site claims the 'A' model is 'noisy' and another that it is 'full travel'. given the date (1984), could it be SKCM Blue, like its 8801 brother? http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/TMEAAOSwf ... -l1600.jpg

[Daniel Beardsmore]

"Noisy" is very subjective. I found the Alps integrated dome switches in the Zenith Supersport SX to have a loud metallic sound, despite being rubber domes.

The PC-8401 has more in common with the PC-8201, which was Alps SKFL. However, the PC-8201 and TRS-80 Model 100 both used Alps spherical keycaps.

Chances are it's something lower profile from Alps, like SKFL.

[subcat]

"Noisy" is very subjective. I found the Alps integrated dome switches in the Zenith Supersport SX to have a loud metallic sound, despite being rubber domes.

The PC-8401 has more in common with the PC-8201, which was Alps SKFL. However, the PC-8201 and TRS-80 Model 100 both used Alps spherical keycaps.

Chances are it's something lower profile from Alps, like SKFL.

Yes, to most normal people anything with a metal plate can be considered 'loud', and that was something I had taken into consideration too. Ultimately, my curiosity got the better of me and I bought it, so I'll be sure to post when I have it.
Thanks!