IDENTIFY THE KEYBOARD thread

coreinsane

18 May 2017, 15:49

What kind of keyboard could it be?
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subcat

18 May 2017, 15:52

I believe that's a Monterey K208.

coreinsane

19 May 2017, 15:29

What kind of keyboard could it be? Are they buckling springs?
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ohaimark
Kingpin

19 May 2017, 19:23

It's an Asian buckling spring variant. I don't remember the name at the moment.

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Laser
emacs -nw

19 May 2017, 20:09


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ohaimark
Kingpin

19 May 2017, 21:24

Doesn't quite look the same. Probably similar feel, though.

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Chyros

20 May 2017, 00:40

Maybe you're thinking of Syncan buckling spring. That uses a cruciform slider well. It's hard to say, being black in this picture, but it looks different.

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snuci
Vintage computer guy

20 May 2017, 00:45

Chyros wrote: Maybe you're thinking of Syncan buckling spring. That uses a cruciform slider well. It's hard to say, being black in this picture, but it looks different.
How about this over exposed picture?
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Jimi14

20 May 2017, 13:42

Any idea what this thing can be/what that switch is?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mechanical-Keyb ... SwblZZHSj1

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ohaimark
Kingpin

20 May 2017, 15:09

Looks like a slider over membrane or F&F switch. Regardless, it isn't going to be good.

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subcat

21 May 2017, 12:46

https://prnt.sc/fabjmu
https://prnt.sc/fabj3w
https://prnt.sc/fabk0e

I assume the Olivetti is a rubber dome, and I have been advised that #3 is foam and foil.

coreinsane

25 May 2017, 08:36

Are those SKCM white?
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coreinsane

25 May 2017, 08:37

Are those SKCM green?
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subcat

25 May 2017, 08:50

Ha, I love the first one. Looks a lot like it's a clone, you can tell because they didn't even spell ALPS correctly :D
Second one is also a clone.

coreinsane

25 May 2017, 09:16

Just found this too.
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Daniel Beardsmore

25 May 2017, 09:24

The first one has real Alps. The markings on SKCM switches can be very faint.

The second keyboard is interesting. KB-6251LN. It's a [wiki]NTC KB-6251[/wiki]. The last letter is "N", for Nan-Tan switch. That series was notable for having linear switches as an option, which is what you have. It's a bog standard [wiki]four-tab clone[/wiki].

The "L" is the surprise. Normally, it's EN (Nan Tan switch), EA (Alps switch) or EM (Mitsumi switch). Yours has "L" instead of "E" and I don't know why. Something must be different about it that's new to that model. Even the plate-mount types are still "E".

coreinsane

25 May 2017, 09:30

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: The first one has real Alps. The markings on SKCM switches can be very faint.

The second keyboard is interesting. KB-6251LN. It's a [wiki]NTC KB-6251[/wiki]. The last letter is "N", for Nan-Tan switch. That series was notable for having linear switches as an option, which is what you have. It's a bog standard [wiki]four-tab clone[/wiki].

The "L" is the surprise. Normally, it's EN (Nan Tan switch), EA (Alps switch) or EM (Mitsumi switch). Yours has "L" instead of "E" and I don't know why. Something must be different about it that's new to that model. Even the plate-mount types are still "E".
The white ones are just normal skcm white alps?

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subcat

25 May 2017, 09:31

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: The first one has real Alps. The markings on SKCM switches can be very faint.

The second keyboard is interesting. KB-6251LN. It's a [wiki]NTC KB-6251[/wiki]. The last letter is "N", for Nan-Tan switch. That series was notable for having linear switches as an option, which is what you have. It's a bog standard [wiki]four-tab clone[/wiki].

The "L" is the surprise. Normally, it's EN (Nan Tan switch), EA (Alps switch) or EM (Mitsumi switch). Yours has "L" instead of "E" and I don't know why. Something must be different about it that's new to that model. Even the plate-mount types are still "E".
I guess I was mistaken. I did notice the slits, but seeing 'ALP' made me doubtful. My bad.

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Daniel Beardsmore

25 May 2017, 09:35

coreinsane wrote: The white ones are just normal skcm white alps?
Yes. Pine version (ca. 1988–1993).

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subcat

26 May 2017, 10:30


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emdude
Model M Apologist

26 May 2017, 10:34

BTC 5339, F&F switches: [wiki]BTC_53_series[/wiki]

Note the wide Esc key, I believe that's a dead giveaway for BTC keyboards in general.

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subcat

26 May 2017, 10:40

emdude wrote: BTC 5339, F&F switches: [wiki]BTC_53_series[/wiki]

Note the wide Esc key, I believe that's a dead giveaway for BTC keyboards in general.
Thanks emdude!

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Chyros

26 May 2017, 10:52

emdude wrote: BTC 5339, F&F switches: [wiki]BTC_53_series[/wiki]

Note the wide Esc key, I believe that's a dead giveaway for BTC keyboards in general.
Usually, but not always. BTC used several fairly distinctive fonts, though. The combination of the two generally nails it.

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Chyros

26 May 2017, 11:19

This
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Apple ... SwGJlZJWt7
appears to use these
http://www.willegal.net/appleii/appleii-keyboard.htm
but I haven't a clue what they are. Anyone have any idea?

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snuci
Vintage computer guy

26 May 2017, 13:29

Chyros wrote: This
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Apple ... SwGJlZJWt7
appears to use these
http://www.willegal.net/appleii/appleii-keyboard.htm
but I haven't a clue what they are. Anyone have any idea?
When you refer to "these", are you referring to the Datanetics DC-50 key switches? The keyboard appears to be the same as my early Apple II keyboard here: photos-f62/apple-ii-keyboards-t12185.html but you'll note that the key caps are black on eBay one. This makes it an early Bell and Howell Apple II keyboard (I have one of those too) or possibly a keyboard from the officially licensed clone, the ITT 2020 (don't have one of those). They were the only two Apple computers with black key caps (as far as I know). I should check the keyboard on my B&H Apple II.

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Chyros

26 May 2017, 14:17

Yes, that seems to be it. Thanks!

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Daniel Beardsmore

26 May 2017, 21:54

The U channel reinforcing strips are very Datanetics. Meryl Miller used them for his early keyboards for the [wiki]Krown Porta-printer[/wiki].

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subcat

29 May 2017, 12:45

Is it possible this is SKCL/M? One computer museum site claims the 'A' model is 'noisy' and another that it is 'full travel'. given the date (1984), could it be SKCM Blue, like its 8801 brother? http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/TMEAAOSwf ... -l1600.jpg

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Daniel Beardsmore

29 May 2017, 13:23

"Noisy" is very subjective. I found the Alps integrated dome switches in the Zenith Supersport SX to have a loud metallic sound, despite being rubber domes.

The PC-8401 has more in common with the PC-8201, which was Alps SKFL. However, the PC-8201 and TRS-80 Model 100 both used Alps spherical keycaps.

Chances are it's something lower profile from Alps, like SKFL.

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subcat

29 May 2017, 13:34

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: "Noisy" is very subjective. I found the Alps integrated dome switches in the Zenith Supersport SX to have a loud metallic sound, despite being rubber domes.

The PC-8401 has more in common with the PC-8201, which was Alps SKFL. However, the PC-8201 and TRS-80 Model 100 both used Alps spherical keycaps.

Chances are it's something lower profile from Alps, like SKFL.
Yes, to most normal people anything with a metal plate can be considered 'loud', and that was something I had taken into consideration too. Ultimately, my curiosity got the better of me and I bought it, so I'll be sure to post when I have it.
Thanks!

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