IDENTIFY THE KEYSWITCH thread

User avatar
jsheradin

23 Mar 2022, 23:18

june bug wrote:
23 Mar 2022, 23:09
anyone recognize this switch? it was from an ebay listing a few days ago

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275203116765?s ... 7675.l2557
Possibly a wiki/Hosiden_switch but I'm not sure if they came in white.

User avatar
june bug

24 Mar 2022, 03:02

jsheradin wrote:
23 Mar 2022, 23:18
Possibly a wiki/Hosiden_switch but I'm not sure if they came in white.
oh yeah, that totally looks like it... really wish i didn't forget about the dang auction

thank you

User avatar
hellothere

26 Mar 2022, 00:56

I want to say some kind of Cherry switch, but I don't know.

This is a Royal Alpha 2015 typewriter. Made in the 1980s by Triumph-Adler. Made in Japan. Linear, and not terribly heavy, cross-mount switches. I think the stems are angled. Upside down number+letter marking in northeast corner of the white switches. Caps are thick double-shot, but the mount is not MX compatible. I can't remove the switches to see if there's a name on the bottom of the switches, ATM, because I haven't yet figured out how to get into the case :D.

Neat trick: Has a parallel port to connect to a computer.
Spoiler:
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User avatar
jsheradin

26 Mar 2022, 03:22

hellothere wrote:
26 Mar 2022, 00:56
I want to say some kind of Cherry switch, but I don't know.

This is a Royal Alpha 2015 typewriter. Made in the 1980s by Triumph-Adler. Made in Japan. Linear, and not terribly heavy, cross-mount switches. I think the stems are angled. Upside down number+letter marking in northeast corner of the white switches. Caps are thick double-shot, but the mount is not MX compatible. I can't remove the switches to see if there's a name on the bottom of the switches, ATM, because I haven't yet figured out how to get into the case :D.

Neat trick: Has a parallel port to connect to a computer.
wiki/Mitsumi_standard_mechanical, some of the switches might be wiki/Mitsumi_standard_mechanical_double_action (like x, ., -, etc.) where you press extra hard to get a repeating line of them.

User avatar
hellothere

26 Mar 2022, 17:07

Thanks! I've owned an Apple Extended Keyboard II with Mitsumi Mechanical switches, although Alps mount. I just forgot about them :D.

Seirin-Blu

26 Mar 2022, 21:21

snuci wrote:
19 Oct 2018, 02:50
Maybe there is a thread like this already. If so, I can't find it. If not, here it is!

Can someone tell me what key switches these are? Link to Wiki please, if possible. They are from 1974.

MCM70 keys.jpg
Yoooooooo this thing is awesome and tickles my engineering brain. I love all of the math symbols that are on there.

Edit: wow I just replied to the first post in a four year old thread

User avatar
hellothere

27 Mar 2022, 01:02

Seirin-Blu wrote:
26 Mar 2022, 21:21
Edit: wow I just replied to the first post in a four year old thread
Congratulations?

User avatar
jsheradin

27 Mar 2022, 01:07

Seirin-Blu wrote:
26 Mar 2022, 21:21
I love all of the math symbols that are on there.
Those are relics of the once widespread APL notation. Unreadable compared to modern programming languages but it's powerful and you get extremely dense code.

Seirin-Blu

27 Mar 2022, 04:41

hellothere wrote:
27 Mar 2022, 01:02
Seirin-Blu wrote:
26 Mar 2022, 21:21
Edit: wow I just replied to the first post in a four year old thread
Congratulations?
I thought it was kinda funny. I wasnt paying attention and thought it was a recent post

User avatar
hellothere

27 Mar 2022, 17:34

I'm really trying to cut down on saying "FWIW," but FWIW, a large percentage of the keyboards we talk about here are pre-2000s, so if you find an old thread or post, I don't see a problem responding to it or asking about it, because that might be the only thread about that particular keyboard / keycap / switch / mouse / trackball / pointing device on this forum.

This does make me wonder what the oldest thread that was responded to most recently. Other than spambots. I remember bots responding to 10 year old threads. We've got some excellent moderators that fixed that problem, though.

User avatar
jsheradin

27 Mar 2022, 17:46

hellothere wrote:
27 Mar 2022, 17:34
This does make me wonder what the oldest thread that was responded to most recently. Other than spambots.
The price check thread is only about 3 days younger than DT itself; still reasonably active.

ferix

13 Apr 2022, 21:59

I picked up a typewriter part (PCB + switches/plate/keycaps) and to my surprise, it came with some switches I could not identify.
They are Alps branded and old. They look like SKCC but are a bit different. The PCB has a datecode from January 1982 and the keycaps are Alps SKCC mount at least.
They are tactile, which is afaik a bit uncommon for early switches and fairly light. Not too bad at all to use.

They look like this:

A few more photo's of the switch, keycaps and what's inside is here: https://imgur.com/a/9vPBzO9

If someone knows what these are, I'd love to know. According to the person I got these from it came from a damaged BSI typewriter.
Attachments
photo_2022-04-13_20-42-09 (2).jpg
photo_2022-04-13_20-42-09 (2).jpg (99.32 KiB) Viewed 39923 times

User avatar
Lalaland124

13 Apr 2022, 22:04

ferix wrote:
13 Apr 2022, 21:59
I picked up a typewriter part (PCB + switches/plate/keycaps) and to my surprise, it came with some switches I could not identify.
They are Alps branded and old. They look like SKCC but are a bit different. The PCB has a datecode from January 1982 and the keycaps are Alps SKCC mount at least.
They are tactile, which is afaik a bit uncommon for early switches and fairly light. Not too bad at all to use.

They look like this:

A few more photo's of the switch, keycaps and what's inside is here: https://imgur.com/a/9vPBzO9

If someone knows what these are, I'd love to know. According to the person I got these from it came from a damaged BSI typewriter.

If I’m not mistaken then these are Alps SKFF.

ferix

13 Apr 2022, 22:28

Thanks, that indeed is the one! As the wiki didn't have pictures I completely missed it. For a small bonus the keyboard, well, as much as I have. Thanks a bunch!
Attachments
photo_2022-04-13_22-26-15.jpg
photo_2022-04-13_22-26-15.jpg (83.43 KiB) Viewed 39905 times

User avatar
hellothere

16 Apr 2022, 00:50


User avatar
Lalaland124

16 Apr 2022, 04:20

hellothere wrote:
16 Apr 2022, 00:50
https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyb ... on_to_the/

I think I want one ...
Really good switch with a very sharp click, can only recommend!

User avatar
hellothere

17 Apr 2022, 17:49

I re-listened to Chyros' video on these, too.

The Canon AP400 seems to be somewhat less rare than I anticipated. There are two of them on ebay (US) right now, both with horridly high shipping prices. I'm also not quite ready to make a full-on custom keyboard, but I'm closing in on that.

User avatar
Lalaland124

08 May 2022, 16:33

Any idea what this could be?

Spoiler:
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User avatar
mmm

08 May 2022, 16:39

Lalaland124 wrote:
08 May 2022, 16:33
Any idea what this could be?

Spoiler:
096A4AE8-FC88-41DE-A62E-793CFAAE6548.jpeg6CFB608F-5909-4BE9-A50F-1386A54EBE97.jpeg
Looks like high profile Alphameric foam and foil (the wiki only features pictures of the low profile version, but there is another example with a lot of similarities to the keyboard here).

User avatar
Crizender

08 May 2022, 16:44

mmm wrote:
08 May 2022, 16:39
Lalaland124 wrote:
08 May 2022, 16:33
Any idea what this could be?

Spoiler:
096A4AE8-FC88-41DE-A62E-793CFAAE6548.jpeg6CFB608F-5909-4BE9-A50F-1386A54EBE97.jpeg
Looks like high profile Alphameric foam and foil (the wiki only features pictures of the low profile version, but there is another example with a lot of similarities to the keyboard here).
I agree. There was a similar keyboard posted in an older thread that is near identical, and also made by the same company as the one in the image (Lynwood) viewtopic.php?t=11874

Herb Johnson

25 Sep 2022, 23:13

Looks like the place/thread to ask, to identify the following keyswitch, and to ask where I might get keycaps.
Another tech friend has a few hundred of them, no data or source, unused old stock. In summary,

Switch is momentary, 2-pin .1/4" spaced pins,
Black body 9/16 inch square, about 11/16" tall base to stem
with square flat-topped white stem slightly tapered around .270".

Details and photos on my site at:

https://www.retrotechnology.com/z/keystem.jpg
https://www.retrotechnology.com/z/keycap.jpg
https://www.retrotechnology.com/z/1000_switches.txt

but I've attached the photos. Any one recognize this?

Regards Herb
Attachments
keyswitch
keyswitch
keystem.jpg (417.75 KiB) Viewed 38835 times
likely keycap
likely keycap
keycap.jpg (27.54 KiB) Viewed 38835 times

SK-8K

25 Sep 2022, 23:24

Herb Johnson wrote:
25 Sep 2022, 23:13
Looks like the place/thread to ask, to identify the following keyswitch, and to ask where I might get keycaps.
Another tech friend has a few hundred of them, no data or source, unused old stock. In summary,

Switch is momentary, 2-pin .1/4" spaced pins,
Black body 9/16 inch square, about 11/16" tall base to stem
with square flat-topped white stem slightly tapered around .270".

Details and photos on my site at:

https://www.retrotechnology.com/z/keystem.jpg
https://www.retrotechnology.com/z/keycap.jpg
https://www.retrotechnology.com/z/1000_switches.txt

but I've attached the photos. Any one recognize this?

Regards Herb
Not sure, but could probably 3D print an adapter to MX stem, since the original keycaps stem stuck out anyway. Also if you have a datasheet I can make a KiCAD footprint.

User avatar
jsheradin

26 Sep 2022, 00:21

Herb Johnson wrote:
25 Sep 2022, 23:13
Looks like the place/thread to ask, to identify the following keyswitch, and to ask where I might get keycaps.
Another tech friend has a few hundred of them, no data or source, unused old stock. In summary,

Switch is momentary, 2-pin .1/4" spaced pins,
Black body 9/16 inch square, about 11/16" tall base to stem
with square flat-topped white stem slightly tapered around .270".

Details and photos on my site at:

https://www.retrotechnology.com/z/keystem.jpg
https://www.retrotechnology.com/z/keycap.jpg
https://www.retrotechnology.com/z/1000_switches.txt

but I've attached the photos. Any one recognize this?

Regards Herb
Switches are Datanetics DC-60: https://telcontar.net/KBK/Datanetics/DC-60

Not too sure about a source for caps though. Resin printers are always an option. They're pretty cheap these days and have sufficient resolution for smooth caps.

That cap looks awfully similar to Hi-Tek high profile caps though. I'll measure one in a bit.

Update: Hi-Tek peg measurements
high-tech-hi-tek.PNG
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There's a handful of peg styles but they all seem to measure about the same.
Capture.PNG
Capture.PNG (1.9 MiB) Viewed 38790 times

Herb Johnson

26 Sep 2022, 01:29

jsheradin, thanks for the quick ID and references to the telcontar.net page for details, and of course the local deskthority reference. I looked on site "here" for square keystems, but Datanetics wasn't listed there. My friend the owner is really pleased to ID these.

Regards Herb

Herb Johnson

26 Sep 2022, 02:27

>> Update: Hi-Tek keycap peg measurements: inner box .1915", outer box .2740

problem is, these keystems are spec'ed DC 61-01 your catalog,
at .275" square. Actually measured they are slightly tapered at
.266" square on top and .276" on bottom.

So I don't know if a proper keycap "peg hole" would be tapered or straight. It would be a snug fit
at .275" or so square inside the peg-hole, and (my buddy's measurements of keycap)
.271 + .033 + .033 = .337" outside the peg hole (to fit inside the switch body).
(measurements on posted photo confused, should be .033" - .036" walls")

I measure the inside width of the switch body to admit the keycap peg,
That is the likely outside width of the keycap stem, at
roughly 11/32" or .343" . Consistent with the above calculation of .337

by various means my guess at the keycap size is .620" square give or take.
Spec'de minimum spacing for DC60 switches is .625" (5/8"). Consistent.

regards Herb


.

Meowmaritus

26 Sep 2022, 02:55

snuci wrote:
19 Oct 2018, 03:31
Nope, it's got switches. No markings on the bottom other than "Assembled in Mexico" :)

IMG_20181018_2114076.jpg
guess u dont need to bolt mod it 8-)

yes it took 4 years to make the joke

dovenyi

07 Oct 2022, 12:49

Any ideas what this one could be? I've clicked through all the linears in the wiki but can't find this.
It's definitely linear and the housing is open on top. The switch is covered only by the keycap.
The device is a Rolitron Rolco-60.
Image

User avatar
hellothere

08 Oct 2022, 21:34

dovenyi wrote:
07 Oct 2022, 12:49
Any ideas what this one could be? I've clicked through all the linears in the wiki but can't find this.
It's definitely linear and the housing is open on top. The switch is covered only by the keycap.
The device is a Rolitron Rolco-60.
The switch type is listed in your link :D. Ericsson RMD 973.

User avatar
Muirium
µ

08 Oct 2022, 21:50

Guess who writes that site. ;)

User avatar
hellothere

09 Oct 2022, 16:24

Muirium wrote:
08 Oct 2022, 21:50
Guess who writes that site. ;)
I still posted here first, so I win :P

For whatever reason, I keep forgetting to browse https://kbd.news. It's a really cool website.

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