Cray Research Inc keyboard - made by Ampex
- snuci
- Vintage computer guy
- Location: Ontario, Canada
- DT Pro Member: 0131
- Contact:
I have a Cray Research Inc. keyboard made by Ampex that has some key switches that I can't find in the Wiki. Can anyone identify them? The key switches almost look like they are beam spring in shape. The PCB view through an empty key switch hole makes it look like foam and foil. It says "CP Clare" on the key switch so I am guessing Clare Pender? It also has "ASM" on it but I haven't found a reference to this.
It is a cool historic keyboard and I had to have this. This is the first keyboard I bought that didn't have a computer or terminal attached
Here's the keyboard pics.
It is a cool historic keyboard and I had to have this. This is the first keyboard I bought that didn't have a computer or terminal attached
Here's the keyboard pics.
- Attachments
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- Cray Ampex keyboard - key caps face down.jpg (316.39 KiB) Viewed 7779 times
- seebart
- Offtopicthority Instigator
- Location: Germany
- Main keyboard: Rotation
- Main mouse: Steelseries Sensei
- Favorite switch: IBM capacitive buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0061
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You continue to baffle me on a daily basis with your vintage keyboards now snuci! Not too many people here have a collection to do that! Apparently you do. Anyway, I don't own an IBM Beamspring, but that switch looks different IMO. Possibly Clare Pendar yes. The keyboard is nice but that PCB is awesome!
- XMIT
- [ XMIT ]
- Location: Austin, TX area
- Main keyboard: XMIT Hall Effect
- Main mouse: CST L-Trac Trackball
- Favorite switch: XMIT 60g Tactile Hall Effect
- DT Pro Member: 0093
snuci where did you get this board? I missed an auction on one maybe a few months ago. Did you pick up that one? It would have shipped from New Mexico.
Hmm, I don't know what type of key switch this is. Can you post a photo of the underside of the slider, specifically, the slider PCB interface? It looks like this could be some sort of foam and foil board. The pad arrangement looks like it would support capacitive or conductive sensing.
Hmm, I don't know what type of key switch this is. Can you post a photo of the underside of the slider, specifically, the slider PCB interface? It looks like this could be some sort of foam and foil board. The pad arrangement looks like it would support capacitive or conductive sensing.
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- Location: JAPAN
- Main keyboard: Model M, dodoo dome keyboard,CherryMX numeric pad
- Main mouse: logitech Master,M705 and 3 Logitech mice
- Favorite switch: ff
- DT Pro Member: -
Rare to see this Taiwan made keyboard but the switch made from Mexico.
It looks like the Oak Full-Travel Membrane, I know yours not.
It looks like the Oak Full-Travel Membrane, I know yours not.
- Compgeke
- Location: Fairfield, California, USA
- Main keyboard: IBM Model M 1391401
- Main mouse: Coolermaster Recon
- Favorite switch: IBM Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0040
Most likely made by Clare\Clare Pendar. There's a few threads that show up with a search, like this one which also has CP Clare, but not the same type.
Edit: Maybe this here's the caps lock switch? Looks like the mount is right for that cap. http://telcontar.net/KBK/SwitchCollecti ... php?id=109
Edit: Maybe this here's the caps lock switch? Looks like the mount is right for that cap. http://telcontar.net/KBK/SwitchCollecti ... php?id=109
- snuci
- Vintage computer guy
- Location: Ontario, Canada
- DT Pro Member: 0131
- Contact:
Thanks seebart. When you collect vintage computers, a collection of vintage keyboards kinda comes with it and I'm not even close to finished It just never occurred to me to post about them on a keyboard forum but I'm glad people are appreciating them. My respect for keyboards has heightened because of you guys! I have an IBM 5100 and and IBM 5120, both with beam springs so I compared the "clickyness" personally. Those two keyboards will be a topic of another thread soonseebart wrote: ↑You continue to baffle me on a daily basis with your vintage keyboards now snuci! Not too many people here have a collection to do that! Apparently you do. Anyway, I don't own an IBM Beamspring, but that switch looks different IMO. Possibly Clare Pendar yes. The keyboard is nice but that PCB is awesome!
I think this is the one. I don't exactly recall but I believe this person had it on Craigslist for a while first (where I initially contacted her) and then I saw it posted on eBay but we made a deal outside of eBay.XMIT wrote: ↑snuci where did you get this board? I missed an auction on one maybe a few months ago. Did you pick up that one? It would have shipped from New Mexico.
It just occurred to me that with the picture of the PCB, it has screws on the bottom like foam and foil. I will take it apart and take a picture. If MUST b foam and foil but it doesn't feel like it. I have an Apple Lisa and a TRS-80 model II with Keytronic foam and foil switches and I've had to replace the foam on those. I'll check it later tonight.XMIT wrote: ↑Hmm, I don't know what type of key switch this is. Can you post a photo of the underside of the slider, specifically, the slider PCB interface? It looks like this could be some sort of foam and foil board. The pad arrangement looks like it would support capacitive or conductive sensing.
I did some research on "CP Clare" and "ASM Mexico" and it looks to be an evolution of "Clare Pendar" after their manufacturing operation moved to Mexico. I'm surprised there's no Wiki article about it because Daniel Beardsmore wrote about the company here: http://telcontar.net/KBK/Clare-Pendar/
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- Location: JAPAN
- Main keyboard: Model M, dodoo dome keyboard,CherryMX numeric pad
- Main mouse: logitech Master,M705 and 3 Logitech mice
- Favorite switch: ff
- DT Pro Member: -
I glad to see your keyboard post every day. And hope you can share about the history of the year of computer with keyboard!
Say something about the switch feeling enclose the keyboard typing video is an advantage.^^
Say something about the switch feeling enclose the keyboard typing video is an advantage.^^
- snuci
- Vintage computer guy
- Location: Ontario, Canada
- DT Pro Member: 0131
- Contact:
Well, as II and some other here suspected, it turns out that it IS foam and foil but the capacitive pad areas on the board are not two semi-circles like Keytronics but inner and outer squares. The center of each square pad has a hole so that if the key has a light, it will fit through the hole like the Caps Lock key. Has anyone seen this before?
Also, I took a picture of some labels that were affixed to each of the plastic parts. I was confused by "General Electric" until I looked up "General Electric Noryl" that is the plastic used in molding the parts. It also dates the keyboard to around mid 1982. the logic on board also looks custom?
Here's more pics:
Also, I took a picture of some labels that were affixed to each of the plastic parts. I was confused by "General Electric" until I looked up "General Electric Noryl" that is the plastic used in molding the parts. It also dates the keyboard to around mid 1982. the logic on board also looks custom?
Here's more pics:
- snuci
- Vintage computer guy
- Location: Ontario, Canada
- DT Pro Member: 0131
- Contact:
I will never see it work unfortunately unless I find an Ampex Dialogue 80 terminal. This would also normally be branded "Cray Research Inc" but if I found the normal Ampex branded one, I wouldn't complain. Here's some info: http://terminals.classiccmp.org/wiki/in ... ialogue_80Chyros wrote: ↑Looks somewhat elaborate to me, but I guess it should work .
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- Location: Arizona
- Main keyboard: Cherry G80
- Main mouse: G500
- Favorite switch: Brown
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I love that picture with the springs. They really pop. Look quite nice.