Alps Spring Bridge
 | |
| Manufacturer | Alps Electric |
|---|---|
| Introduced | Pre-1980s |
| Switch type | Linear |
| Switch mount | Plate mount |
Alps Spring Bridge Is the apparent forerunner of the Alps SKCC series, and shares a similar mount to SKCC grey and SKCC tall cream as well as the same plate cutout and a one way compatible PCB where Spring Bridge can be replaced with SKCC.[1] In most examples the switch uses a cruciform mount and keycaps use a cruciform slot however in the Olympia CD 102 the caps clip onto the rod in the slider itself whereas other examples of the switch have a 2-part slider with a cruciform stem.[2] Production dates prior to 1980 and at least as early as 1975 and appears to have been halted around the introduction of SKCC series. While no confirmed 4 letter name for the switch is confirmed, one possible name of SKCH can be derived from the CH found on PCBs with this switch as well as the SCH designation found on several ALPS keyboards.[3]
Description
The earliest examples of the switch include 9 parts, a top housing, bottom housing, slider, brass slider peg, external coil spring, slider top, metal top clip, contact PCB and contact spring. Later revisions of the switch exclude a metal top clip and integrate the functions of that part, holding the top and bottom housings together and holding the switch into the plate, into the top housing. The colours of the top housing, bottom housing, and the slider top appear to vary as well with later examples but the timeline for these changes is not known and neither is the significance these colour variations may indicate.[4]
The bottom housing bears the oval Alps logo on the bottom.
References
- ↑ Deskthority — Monroe 1405 Retrieved 2021-01-12.
- ↑ Imgur — Retro Alps Switch Retrieved 2021-01-12.
- ↑ telcontar — Alps series names and model numbers Retrieved 2021-01-12.
- ↑ Deskthority — Four interesting Alps switches Retrieved 2021-01-12.
