I came across this for a few dollars so I thought I'd check it out. It''s from a 3M Whisper Writer 1000 teleprinter. Unfortunately it's missing the 3M badge on the front.
It's a Hi-Tek switch board. the case is rather flimsy feeling plastic, but I guess it was a carry with you modem based terminal after all.
Switches:
I went ahead and Teensyfied it - the switches feel OK, but not my favorite.
It's certainly a very basic keyboard (but it is only 11 1/2 x 6 in). I mainly like it for one rather philosophical button on the board:
Now I just need to find one with a "Why Are We Here" button.
3M Whisper Writer keyboard
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- Location: --
- Main keyboard: --
- Main mouse: --
- Favorite switch: --
- DT Pro Member: -
Good job!
- seebart
- Offtopicthority Instigator
- Location: Germany
- Main keyboard: Rotation
- Main mouse: Steelseries Sensei
- Favorite switch: IBM capacitive buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0061
- Contact:
This keyboard will please the 60% crowd. These switches are pretty quiet but louder than a whisper...I guess back in the day this may have been an argument. Love the "who are you" keycap.
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Interesting — the alternate action sliders (the two at the top left) don't have the thicker corners. That suggests that the corners are no greater in exterior dimensions, but rather that the other sliders are thinner along the top, bottom and sides. However, the thickness of the slider walls seems to be the same. It's very hard to tell from that photo.
- OldIsNew
- Location: US
- DT Pro Member: 0248
Daniel Beardsmore wrote:
Interesting — the alternate action sliders (the two at the top left) don't have the thicker corners. That suggests that the corners are no greater in exterior dimensions, but rather that the other sliders are thinner along the top, bottom and sides. However, the thickness of the slider walls seems to be the same. It's very hard to tell from that photo.
It's had to tell for certain even looking directly at the board but I think the slider thickness is the same for both - however slider walls between the corners on the regular keys are notched while the corner and the rest of the slider wall are equal height on the alt action keys. The beveling of the edges affects the apparent thickness in some pics as well.
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
I decided for my diagram to make the sides thinner instead of making the corners thicker, under the assumption that the shaft was the same size (I had to pick something). However, it's too hard to tell without callipers. The thicker corners don't seem to stop them from splitting either. It's a strange design, as I don't know any other type of switch where the sliders split apart.
It seems that the black sliders don't have these funny corners either. Those also have the weird island on the separator bar that nobody has managed to explain.
Understanding these will take some time yet!
It seems that the black sliders don't have these funny corners either. Those also have the weird island on the separator bar that nobody has managed to explain.
Understanding these will take some time yet!
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- Location: NC, USA
- DT Pro Member: 0117
I have one of these and some decent calipers, I can take a few measurements for you.
It does appear that the walls are thinner. The exterior dimensions of the slider are ~6.95mm in each direction while the "thinner" region is ~6.85mm across. The interior dimensions of both are ~5.35mm. The height of the slider above the housing differs between the two as well. The standard action extends ~2.4mm above the housing. The alternate action extends ~4.05 when released and ~0.95 when depressed.
The locking, or alternate action switches in this keyboard are in a block of two which is stamped T52-8250. The 8250 appears to be a date code as a block of 4 standard action switches is marked 8248 13 and most of the IC's on the main PCB have date codes of 82XX.
It does appear that the walls are thinner. The exterior dimensions of the slider are ~6.95mm in each direction while the "thinner" region is ~6.85mm across. The interior dimensions of both are ~5.35mm. The height of the slider above the housing differs between the two as well. The standard action extends ~2.4mm above the housing. The alternate action extends ~4.05 when released and ~0.95 when depressed.
The locking, or alternate action switches in this keyboard are in a block of two which is stamped T52-8250. The 8250 appears to be a date code as a block of 4 standard action switches is marked 8248 13 and most of the IC's on the main PCB have date codes of 82XX.
Last edited by Engicoder on 11 Dec 2017, 23:45, edited 1 time in total.
- Daniel Beardsmore
- Location: Hertfordshire, England
- Main keyboard: Filco Majestouch 1 (home)/Poker II backlit (work)
- Main mouse: MS IMO 1.1
- Favorite switch: Probably not whatever I wrote here
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
The diagram is done and it looks good enough now. If you want to document some of these strange characteristics, you are nonetheless welcome.