Difference between revisions of "Alps Electric"
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<references> | <references> | ||
<ref name="keycap-topic">Deskthority — [http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/alps-as-a-doubleshot-manufacturer-t7296.html Alps as a doubleshot manufacturer?]</ref> | <ref name="keycap-topic">Deskthority — [http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/alps-as-a-doubleshot-manufacturer-t7296.html Alps as a doubleshot manufacturer?]</ref> | ||
| − | <ref name="Alps-history">Alps Electric — [http://www.alps.com/e/about_alps/history/ | + | <ref name="Alps-history">Alps Electric — [http://www.alps.com/e/about_alps/history/index.html {{sq|About Alps}} History]</ref> |
<ref name="oldmouse-Alps-USA">oldmouse.com — [http://www.oldmouse.com/mouse/apple/lisa.shtml Apple Lisa Mouse]</ref> | <ref name="oldmouse-Alps-USA">oldmouse.com — [http://www.oldmouse.com/mouse/apple/lisa.shtml Apple Lisa Mouse]</ref> | ||
</references> | </references> | ||
Revision as of 19:38, 1 March 2016
This article is a stub. You can help Deskthority by expanding it.
 | |
| Industry | Electronic devices |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1948 |
| Founder(s) | Katsutaro Kataoka |
| Headquarters | Ota, Tokyo, Japan |
| FCC grantee code | GYI |
| Website | www.alps.com |
Alps Electric Co. is a Japanese company that is known in the keyboard community primarily for the Alps SKCL/SKCM series of mechanical keyswitches. This switch has not been in production for a long time though, but Alps clone switches are still manufactured.
The company name of "Alps" is often mistakenly written as "ALPS" based on the Alps logotype; the correct spelling is "Alps".[1] "ALPs" is another common misspelling.
Contents
Alps Electric (USA)
Alps Electric (USA), who were a major supplier to Apple, bought the Accessory Products Division from Apple.[2]
Overseas joint ventures
Alps Electric has established several overseas joint ventures; these include:
- Gold Star Alps Electronics in Korea, established in August 1970; GoldStar is now LG, and it appears that Alps may have renewed the venture in 1996[1]
- Forward Electronics in Taiwan, established in December 1970; this 30-year venture ended in 2000
Products
- Alps switches
- Alps keyboards
- Keycaps, including double-shots
Gallery
Keycaps
Alps double-shot keycaps have a distinctive style that makes them easy to recognise. Evidence suggests that they were only ever sold with keyboards made by Alps; they have been found on keyboards with a variety of Alps switches, including Alps SKFL, Alps integrated dome and Alps SKCL/SKCM series.[3]
As with other double-shot manufacturers, the moulding patterns vary between keycaps.
Alps double-shot keycap from a NeXT keyboard (Alps SKCM Black)
Alps double-shot keycap on an Alps integrated dome keyboard
Assorted IBM 5556 keycaps, top view
Assorted IBM 5556 keycaps, underside, showing the different moulding patterns
Detail of IBM 5556 keycap
Logos
Old Alps Electric logo, found on many switches (approximation)
Current logo (approximation)
Products
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Alps Electric — [About Alps] History
- ↑ oldmouse.com — Apple Lisa Mouse
- ↑ Deskthority — Alps as a doubleshot manufacturer?
