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A test for Haata.

Posted: 14 Aug 2012, 11:37
by 486
I wanted to see how much Haata knows about vintage keyboards.
Haata, can you guess this keyboard? I assume you don't have it.


Anybody else is welcome to guess aswell.
hint, the bell G key is a giveaway.

Posted: 14 Aug 2012, 11:41
by stevedreams
Image

Posted: 14 Aug 2012, 17:48
by HaaTa
Hmm, it looks familar.

Font looks like my Kaypro 1 keyboard (with SMK/Maxi Switches), but there's no texture on the keys here...
Though, the keycaps reminds me of vintage NMB/Stackpole, hmm...

*Does some quick internets searching*

Hmm, looks close to an Apple II Plus keyboard, but not quite. Perhaps a variation? Maybe an Apple clone?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-APPLE-I ... 500wt_1414

It also sorta seems like my Amkey keyboard, in terms of the font and keycap shape (Foam'n'foil), but I'm edging toward more the Apple, due to the Bell key.

P.S. I don't check the forums all that much, so PM me if I'm needed for input somewhere :mrgreen:

Posted: 14 Aug 2012, 20:11
by The_Ed
I googled and got "Osborne 1 keyboard". What's my prize?

Posted: 14 Aug 2012, 21:31
by nathanscribe
I think it probably is the Osborne, looking at the panel behind the keys. Nice work!

Posted: 15 Aug 2012, 00:09
by 486
Well done to The_ed. The keyboard was made by Oak switch systems. Full travel. MMM.
Image

Posted: 15 Aug 2012, 00:38
by The_Ed
What's my prize? Homemade cookies are fine. :D

Posted: 15 Aug 2012, 01:40
by HaaTa
Ah yes, the Osborne keyboard. Uses those Oak FTMs.
Almost picked up a Sun keyboard with those switches a while back.

Nice job The_Ed

Posted: 15 Aug 2012, 01:44
by The_Ed
COOKIES!...

I never would've gotten it without google. But that apple II didn't show up in my search... That was a very good guess by you as it has a BELL G key as well.

Posted: 15 Aug 2012, 22:46
by kps
The Apple II is bit-paired though, so it obviously wasn't that.

Posted: 17 Aug 2012, 04:38
by 486
alright, the ed, here is a challenge.
This is open to anyone.
If you guess which keyboard this comes from, I will award you with the crown.

Code: Select all

  _
              _\ /_
              >_X_< 
       .---._  /_\  _.---.
     /`.---._`{/ \}`_.---.`\
    | /   ___`{\_/}`___   \ |
    \ \."`*  `"{_}"`  *`"./ /
     \ \  )\  _\ /_  /(  / /
      \ *<()( >_X_< )()>* /
       |._)/._./_\._.\(_.|
       |() () () () () ()|
       <<o>><<o>><o>><<o>>
      `"""""""""""""""""""`
This key could come from any keyboard.
The key is doubleshot and from the early 80's.
I will give clues as to what keyboard it comes from every so often.
Front of cap.
Image
Back of cap.
Image

`"""""""""""""""""""`

Posted: 17 Aug 2012, 05:19
by The_Ed
Alright... Gimme a clue... I have no fucking idea what to search in google for that...

Posted: 17 Aug 2012, 05:53
by 486
Clue 1: The mount is crucial. Very rare, used only for this brand. The cap is cylindrical and stepped. Also, someone mentioned one of these at GH about two months ago.

Posted: 17 Aug 2012, 16:04
by fim
Image

?

Posted: 17 Aug 2012, 17:15
by kps
deleet wrote:What does bit-paired mean?
It refers to how the characters are assigned to unshifted and shifted locations on the keyboard, mostly for the numeric keys.
paired.png
paired.png (14.03 KiB) Viewed 6948 times
The bit-paired layout corresponds directly to ASCII codes.
ascii.jpg
ascii.jpg (65.93 KiB) Viewed 6948 times
This means that the shift key always toggles one bit of the unshifted key code, which is simple enough to do without electronics.

Teletype-ASR-33-keyboard-waiting-to-dry-300x239.jpg
Teletype-ASR-33-keyboard-waiting-to-dry-300x239.jpg (21.06 KiB) Viewed 6948 times
[/url]

Posted: 17 Aug 2012, 18:05
by nathanscribe
@fim: can't be that, there's no matching key.

Posted: 17 Aug 2012, 18:28
by fim
Hm, indeed. Didn't notice that before.

Posted: 17 Aug 2012, 19:37
by HaaTa
I'm not familiar with this particular one.
Some extra info though.

It uses a Typewriter style keycap mount.
I own at least 2 keyboards with these (and 1 typewriter :P), with the same style of mount.

IBM Beam Spring Keyboard
Vintage Cherry Linears M8? or was it M7?

Now, 486, when you say stepped, do you mean that each keycap row has different height keycaps, or that the pcb/plate/mounting is angled, or both?

Now there are some other rare keyboards that I know of and do not have:
http://www7.ocn.ne.jp/~hisao/image/IMS.htm

Probably not this one, but if it is, I want it: http://www7.ocn.ne.jp/~hisao/image/gold.htm

Posted: 18 Aug 2012, 00:52
by 486
No guesses are correct.
Clue 2: Keyboard is on an electronic typewriter. Keys are stepped the same amount but the mount is higher with every row. If it helps, the electronic typewriter is made in Japan. It is almost a clone of the selectric III. It uses a golf ball head.

Posted: 18 Aug 2012, 02:36
by mostwanted
Here's my guess:

Brother Correct-O-Ball XL-I

Image

Posted: 18 Aug 2012, 03:30
by 486
mostwanted wrote:Here's my guess:

Brother Correct-O-Ball XL-I

Image
So..so close. It is a Brother Correct O ball but not an XL 1. It looks a bit different.
Clue 3: Brother Correct o Balls are rebadged in Australia as the Super series. The typewriter is in the super series. My Brother super series typewriter starts with 7x00. The x can either be a 3, an 8 or a 9.

Posted: 18 Sep 2012, 04:27
by The_Ed
It has been a month so spill the beans already.

Posted: 18 Sep 2012, 10:54
by 486
Brother Super 7800