Help Identifying an old IBM

son_of_alps_switch

11 Jan 2017, 20:20

Hey folks, I hope this is the right place and I've not missed anything obvious.

A friend of mine gave me this keyboard a few years back, which he'd bought from ebay advertised as a model m.

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Upon further inspection I noticed it had switches rather than buckling springs (I'd never seen let alone used a mechanical keyboard before) and lacked the IBM logo on top in the usual place.

Having tried various Cherry switches since, I still prefer the clickyness of this keyboard.

From my googling efforts, I've not managed to find the specific model and I'm quite curious as to what it is.

The closest I've found is the KB-6151 in this youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvGzDY10Pyk

Please let me know if you can help me figure out what this keyboard actually is!

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Daniel Beardsmore

11 Jan 2017, 20:23

[wiki]Alps Bigfoot[/wiki]

son_of_alps_switch

11 Jan 2017, 20:25

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: [wiki]Alps Bigfoot[/wiki]
Insane! Thanks Daniel

/thread

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Daniel Beardsmore

11 Jan 2017, 21:02

I've seen a Korean Bigfoot before. I don't recall anything other than seeing "MADE IN KOREA" on the PCB. I think it was an SGI keyboard, but I am not sure now — I've never managed to find it again. I'm guessing that was from Gold Star Alps too.

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E3E

11 Jan 2017, 22:32

Yep, I was going to say the same; it looks like it's following the pattern that the AT101 and SGI boards have, along with several asian market branded boards as well.

Very interesting. Yeah the "Made in Korea" bit is what really sealed it.

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Daniel Beardsmore

11 Jan 2017, 23:18

In the case of SOB's, the "Gold Star Alps" part gives it away.

In light of the recent debate about those presumably fake blue Alps Model M keyboards, you have this thing with the IBM logo on the bottom. Somehow this convinces me even less ;-)

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Mattr567

12 Jan 2017, 00:32

Gold Star Alps korea bigfoot, and has the nice Alps made doubleshot caps, niiiicce!!

FCC id is interesting, ferrite beads ftw! https://fccid.io/GRH3VEG05AXT-A35A

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E3E

12 Jan 2017, 01:07

Mattr567 wrote: Gold Star Alps korea bigfoot, and has the nice Alps made doubleshot caps, niiiicce!!

FCC id is interesting, ferrite beads ftw! https://fccid.io/GRH3VEG05AXT-A35A
I've never noticed there really being any difference with or without them at least when it comes to keyboards.

Also, I didn't notice the gold star alps bit, which is a lovely thing to see, but seeing "Made in Korea" combined with the case design, I knew it could only be from one place.

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