deskthority

What on earth is this?

http://www.versluis.com/2014/07/fixing- ... ore-plus4/

I found that the Plus/4 has a KKR keyboard, and it's a match for other KKR keyboards. Except this one. The PCB is anomalous (same general idea but not the same actual PCB as other Plus/4 keyboards), and the switches are … well, whatever Mitsumi had introduced that week!

Well, you made me look. Here's a pic from the top. Nice double shot key caps but I'm not sure the white plastic key cap stem portion is removable.

So, that's nothing remotely like what is normally called KKR. So either I'm wrong about "KKR", or Mitsumi got mixed up and put the wrong series name on that batch of PCBs. The strange thing is, KKQ/KKR/KPQ/KPR follows a pattern, KPQ and KPR are documented, and most Plus/4 machines have a "KKR" keyboard that fits the pattern.

"Normal" Plus/4:

http://bilgisayarlarim.com/Commodore/Plus4/index.html

Note that the PCB is KKR-A67YC, which is the same model exactly as in the anomalous one, but it's got different artwork and routing. Now, both types share the same PCB type, so it's certainly possible that both PCB designs can have the same model.

The keyboard is "KKR-I" apparently:

http://www.commodore.ca/manuals/funet/c ... p4-03l.gif

If the variant spring was one piece, would this be considered a multi-shaped spring? Sounds like a new type?

It's a totally different type, completely unrelated to hybrid switches, but using a PCB off a KKR hybrid keyboard. In fact it's the same PCB style as KSR Type, which in the VC-20 and VIC-20 has exposed pads (in the C64 series the PCB pads are covered with conductive carbon pads).

Is your Plus/4 anything rare or special? I'd understand if it was the exact same PCB, but in the example I found, the PCB is the same model, but uses different artwork. That is, if they had some need to specially fabricate a revised PCB, surely they'd label it with the actual switch series it's being used with? Strange.

Most Plus/4 keyboards however are standard linear hybrid over PCB, which is what I took KKR to denote.


BTW, I went on the Internet, and I found this:

https://www.retroleum.co.uk/c64-keyboard

"Type 2" C64 slider. With a dome. Say hello to yet another type … srsly?

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: Is your Plus/4 anything rare or special?

No, but mine is about 50,000 units later than this one if you go by serial number. Funny but mine has slightly different labeling on the front face as well.

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: "Type 2" C64 slider. With a dome. Say hello to yet another type … srsly?

I only have one Plus/4 but I have several C64s. I will take a look but most of mine are boxed so it'll take me a little longer to check. I have very early C64s but not later 64C models. I'll check what I have.

I've asked that shop if they have photos of that keyboard.

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: I've asked that shop if they have photos of that keyboard.

See if they happen to know if it came out of a UK C64, if possible.

No keyboard pictures. I passed on your question.

snuci wrote: See if they happen to know if it came out of a UK C64, if possible.

UK layout, but the country of manufacture isn't known.

Daniel Beardsmore wrote:

snuci wrote: See if they happen to know if it came out of a UK C64, if possible.

UK layout, but the country of manufacture isn't known.

Should be West Germany.

This is what that Type 2 will be:

http://www.the-liberator.net/site-files ... -rev-d.htm

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: This is what that Type 2 will be:

http://www.the-liberator.net/site-files ... -rev-d.htm

Interesting. I only have one VIC-20 that is not a PET keyed VIC-20 and it has the normal external spring type Mitsumi switches. The example you show is from West Germany as the serial number starts with "WG". Mine is from the USA.

I'm part way into the Mitsumi Vortex but I've also got a rope tied around me that I can use to pull myself back out. I'm not planning to go in depth in this, especially with nothing to photograph except a filthy C64 keyboard, but I put a few models onto [wiki]Mitsumi model numbers[/wiki]. May as well add a few more dead-end pages to the wiki before the year is out.

Sadly the "Type 2" PCB has no model number, nor do various other unusual Commodore keyboard types. Some of these types may prove difficult or impossible to name.

Here's a weirder one:

http://www.breadbox64.com/blog/strange-c64-keyboard/

The sliders look real, but the rest of it seems to be a clone.