Alps Appreciation

User avatar
TNT

07 Jun 2021, 22:19

ghostdawg187 wrote:
07 Jun 2021, 22:17
^^ noice ;)
Haha, did nothing but retrobright the case and the spacebar, the real work was done by someone else ;)

User avatar
zrrion

08 Jun 2021, 04:41

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An ALPS PCB without bent pins, a rarity for sure

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Gen 1 SKCC with square edges! later SKCC on the right for comparison

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1978? earliest I've seen SKCC before

I've had this busted calculator for a while and finally decided to desolder the incredibly dirty switches, really interesting stuff

User avatar
TNT

09 Jun 2021, 18:46

Finally!
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John Doe

13 Jun 2021, 18:06

Spent 5hs to clean the caps, plate, switches, and finished the conversion. My Panasonic skcc love. :P
Spoiler:
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User avatar
Bjerrk

13 Jun 2021, 18:14

John Doe wrote:
13 Jun 2021, 18:06
Spent 5hs to clean the caps, plate, switches, and finished the conversion. My Panasonic skcc love. :P
Spoiler:
F8C0C46A-6233-4B6C-9D7E-7B724A285A87.jpeg
Damn, you could eat your cereal out of that Return key

User avatar
hellothere

22 Jun 2021, 21:40

The 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:
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User avatar
Polecat

23 Jun 2021, 17:45

hellothere wrote:
22 Jun 2021, 21:40
The 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:
Brown.JPG
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.

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hellothere

23 Jun 2021, 21:47

Polecat wrote:
23 Jun 2021, 17:45
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.
I've actually got two caps lock keys fitted. I didn't realize that until after the pic :D. 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.

User avatar
Polecat

24 Jun 2021, 04:38

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 :D. 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.
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.

User avatar
hellothere

01 Aug 2021, 03:04

This topic needs love.

My IBM 5576-001 (Alps plate spring / SKCP) that I'm selling ...
Spoiler:
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My customized Dell Bigfoot, w/yellow Alps switches and new Tai-Hao caps, which I'll be selling soon ...
Spoiler:
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On the Dell, the caps lock stem is in an odd place, so I more-or-less had to use the stock Dell key cap. Interestingly, though, this batch of Tai-Hao key caps have the numpad enter, the main block enter, caps lock, and esc keys almost the same color as the stock Dell caps.

dualrange

09 Aug 2021, 15:21

Hey all, hoping someone could help shed some light on an issue with a Focus FK-2001 I'm having.

I found a very nice condition fk-2001 at an estate sale, just some grime on the keys but no yellowing or anything. It was manufactured in 92, has white alps clone switches and generally feels very nice. It had the original 5-pin DIN cable. I didn't have a din->ps/2 adapter on hand so I flashed a pro-micro and wired up a soarers converter to convert to USB. Here's where it gets a bit odd.

EDIT:
getting rid of the novel and replacing it with my debugging thread
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=26186

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andreas

30 Aug 2021, 20:42

Started to desolder the Alps on my AEK II today to transplant them to a Planck.

After all these years I'm looking forward to having them as my daily driver again.
Attachments
AEK II farewell
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47 Rōnin
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doomsday_device

06 Oct 2021, 23:04

ooh 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!
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some better pictures soon when all things aligned :shock:

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TNT

07 Oct 2021, 00:12

Uhhh, that's clean. Are those doubleshots?

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Muirium
µ

07 Oct 2021, 09:56

Ah, Escom. The fancy one that got away…

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12915&hilit=Escom&start=3690

inozenz

07 Oct 2021, 12:20

doomsday_device wrote:
06 Oct 2021, 23:04
ooh 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!
ohhh you got that keyboard, ive bid on that one aswell :(

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morbid42

07 Oct 2021, 17:27

When I passed away, I would bury myself with these......
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Palatino

07 Oct 2021, 19:55

Have you thought that through? It would seriously gunk up the switches. But then you would be the clickiest skeleton in the graveyard, perfect for haunting quiet offices. Cue soyuz-style picture of a skull with blue alps for teeth…

headphone_jack

07 Oct 2021, 20:11

doomsday_device wrote:
06 Oct 2021, 23:04
ooh 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 :shock:
Black and red color scheme? Alps switches? Focus? Sign me the fuck up.

kelvinhall05

07 Oct 2021, 21:46

morbid42 wrote:
07 Oct 2021, 17:27
When I passed away, I would bury myself with these......
01.jpg02.jpg03.jpg04.jpg05.jpg06.jpg07.JPG08.jpg09.JPG10.JPG11.jpg12.jpg13.jpg14.jpg15.jpg16.jpg17.jpg
Hi, which board did the caps in pics 2 and 8-10 come from?

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TNT

07 Oct 2021, 22:00

morbid42 wrote:
07 Oct 2021, 17:27
When I passed away, I would bury myself with these......
01.jpg02.jpg03.jpg04.jpg05.jpg06.jpg07.JPG08.jpg09.JPG10.JPG11.jpg12.jpg13.jpg14.jpg15.jpg16.jpg17.jpg
You are insane :o

This is mindblowing!

infundibulum

07 Oct 2021, 22:18

Really great pictures Morbid; thanks for sharing your work.

Do you get the brass plates custom made or is this something you do?

User avatar
morbid42

08 Oct 2021, 03:32

Palatino wrote:
07 Oct 2021, 19:55
Have you thought that through? It would seriously gunk up the switches. But then you would be the clickiest skeleton in the graveyard, perfect for haunting quiet offices. Cue soyuz-style picture of a skull with blue alps for teeth…
Hell yeah, can really imagine that, an ALPS ghost :D

User avatar
morbid42

08 Oct 2021, 03:52

kelvinhall05 wrote:
07 Oct 2021, 21:46
morbid42 wrote:
07 Oct 2021, 17:27
When I passed away, I would bury myself with these......
01.jpg02.jpg03.jpg04.jpg05.jpg06.jpg07.JPG08.jpg09.JPG10.JPG11.jpg12.jpg13.jpg14.jpg15.jpg16.jpg17.jpg
Hi, which board did the caps in pics 2 and 8-10 come from?
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.
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.
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kelvinhall05

08 Oct 2021, 04:06

morbid42 wrote:
08 Oct 2021, 03:52
kelvinhall05 wrote:
07 Oct 2021, 21:46
morbid42 wrote:
07 Oct 2021, 17:27
When I passed away, I would bury myself with these......
01.jpg02.jpg03.jpg04.jpg05.jpg06.jpg07.JPG08.jpg09.JPG10.JPG11.jpg12.jpg13.jpg14.jpg15.jpg16.jpg17.jpg
Hi, which board did the caps in pics 2 and 8-10 come from?
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.
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
Thank you

User avatar
TNT

25 Oct 2021, 23:34

At last, my Northgate Omnikey is finished. QWERTZ-ified with keycaps from a Focus FK 5001. Finally I found the time to solder in the switches, with which I also had a little Odyssey of my own. Thank you anthonymak for those very nice blue Alps!

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With the board came the manual for it. This one has gotten a firmware update back in the day, which for example got rid of the "OMNI"-key's special function and exchanged it with a simple "Arrow down" input. So even cross-nav haters can use it comfortably.

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I've scanned all those documents and attached them as PDF's (had to trim down the size of the "manual" file, so the quality is slightly worse).

Here are some more pictures from throughout the restauration:
Spoiler:

Although my crappy phonecam doesn't really capture it, the board was ultra yellow and filthy when it arrived. Couldn't find all the photos I made back then (the plate was very nasty), but trust me, it was bad.

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Backplate was in good shape though!

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Case and caps after retrobrighting:

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Plate repaint/blueing job (I made a seperate thread about that back in the day):

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Mo-mo-moneyshot:

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And the final result again:
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I somehow have the feeling, that the case and especially cable yellowed again, just a bit, while sitting in my drawer.
Attachments
Update info.pdf
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Manual-komprimiert.pdf
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Warranty info.pdf
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Warranty Card.pdf
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User avatar
thefarside

26 Oct 2021, 03:16

TNT wrote:
25 Oct 2021, 23:34
At last, my Northgate Omnikey is finished. QWERTZ-ified with keycaps from a Focus FK 5001. Finally I found the time to solder in the switches, with which I also had a little Odyssey of my own. Thank you anthonymak for those very nice blue Alps!
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.

User avatar
TNT

26 Oct 2021, 03:20

I used the cream method. If you have a big enough tub, I always recommend using liquid peroxide tho. So much less of a hassle, not even funny.

mode1ace

27 Oct 2021, 15:54

My work in progress.

SKCM orange, canon keycaps, and the NCR80 case.
Attachments
NCR80_alps.jpg
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morbid42

27 Oct 2021, 19:58

mode1ace wrote:
27 Oct 2021, 15:54
My work in progress.

SKCM orange, canon keycaps, and the NCR80 case.
Looks really great! I made my own pcb for NCR80 case with SKFL and SKFM switches, Chinese YanTai made Omron style dyesub caps
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