Haha, did nothing but retrobright the case and the spacebar, the real work was done by someone else
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif)
Haha, did nothing but retrobright the case and the spacebar, the real work was done by someone else
Wow, very nice, thanks for sharing that! Even new they didn't look that good. But...it's not a proper Northgate without the Ctrl key next to A. That was one of the big selling features when these were new (a must for Wordstar users) and remained so through the Gen3 models, with the Gen2 and Gen3 being shipped with dipswitches and extra keycaps to swap Ctrl and CapsLock.hellothere wrote: ↑22 Jun 2021, 21:40The case is identical to the Omni Key "Gold Label" case. Metal bottom case and metal switch mounting plate. The mounting plate has been sanded, painted with a nice semi-gloss black, then sprayed with clear enamel. It sparkles under the right light.
The key switches are from two IBM 5140 Convertible laptops and are the "original" variant of Alps brown, with the switch plate actuator. I'll be mounting either Alps or Matias switches in the 5140s, then resell them. They both work and at least one still has the original lead battery. No need to kill off two of the first laptops ever made! As far as selling this KB ... I'm not 100% sure I'd want to. It's pretty nice.
.Spoiler:
I've actually got two caps lock keys fitted. I didn't realize that until after the picPolecat wrote: ↑23 Jun 2021, 17:45But...it's not a proper Northgate without the Ctrl key next to A. That was one of the big selling features when these were new (a must for Wordstar users) and remained so through the Gen3 models, with the Gen2 and Gen3 being shipped with dipswitches and extra keycaps to swap Ctrl and CapsLock.
Funny, I just saw the "wrong" one. For a Wordstar user the Ctrl key being next to A-S-D-F (word left-character left-character right-word right) was very important, since there was no mouse in those days to move the cursor where you wanted it. That all changed when WordPerfect and Microsoft Word replaced Wordstar as the WP of choice, since those programs used the F-keys for navigation. And later versions of those programs supported a mouse, so it didn't matter at all to most people at that point, but a few of us hardcore users still wanted the Ctrl key next to A, and Northgate was there to support us in that, much longer than anyone else. No way the young kids can ever understand that; you had to be there. The early Focus keyboards also supported the Ctrl-CapsLock swap, with dual legends (not extra caps like Northgate) and a switch to swap the two keys, but that went away on the Focus boards long before Northgate gave up on the idea.hellothere wrote: ↑23 Jun 2021, 21:47
I've actually got two caps lock keys fitted. I didn't realize that until after the pic. I now have a real Ctrl key next to the A.
I'm actually pretty happy with the Northgate/Focus layout. Took me only a couple days to learn where Ctrlwas. I'm also not having problems with my other keyboards with the Ctrl key under the shift. I don't know why. Now that I've mentioned that, I'll probably have problems ...
EDIT: that's either stuffing from one of my dogs' toys or hair from the two dogs that are white/partially white.
ohhh you got that keyboard, ive bid on that one aswelldoomsday_device wrote: ↑06 Oct 2021, 23:04ooh nothing special but im quite happy that ive found another escom fk-3002 with a not scratched badge. for sure a second black 3002 is neat too!
Black and red color scheme? Alps switches? Focus? Sign me the fuck up.doomsday_device wrote: ↑06 Oct 2021, 23:04ooh nothing special but im quite happy that ive found another escom fk-3002 with a not scratched badge. for sure a second black 3002 is neat too!
IMG_20211006_221324.jpg
IMG_20211006_221246.jpg
IMG_20211006_221459.jpg
some better pictures soon when all things aligned![]()
Hell yeah, can really imagine that, an ALPS ghost
Those keycaps came from a STONE MS-2401 electric typewriter which was manufactured in China back in the early 80s, some of the parts especially the keyboard module were made by ALPS in Japan, this is a part of early chinese computer historical mystery, really hard to dig up those storys.
Thank youmorbid42 wrote: ↑08 Oct 2021, 03:52Those keycaps came from a STONE MS-2401 electric typewriter which was manufactured in China back in the early 80s, some of the parts especially the keyboard module were made by ALPS in Japan, this is a part of early chinese computer historical mystery, really hard to dig up those storys.
I got few picture of the typewriter and the keyboard module, it came with ALPS made dyesubed PBT unipofile keycaps and SKEW integrated dome switches.
I saw some folks in DT use these caps in their ALPS kayboard moding.
122_1691251_8f32a60d9c1880a.jpg122_1691251_4d296226d0d4f91.jpg122_1691251_2fd7f833a17b4e3.jpg122_1691251_0b0a2225c7b113b.jpg
IMG_16251111111.JPG
Very nice! Makes me want to get my Omnikey finished. Any recommendations on retrobrighting the case? I have used the salon care developer clear but heard the cream version is better for this type of case.