Micro Switch 53RW4-1 keyboard review (MS magnetic reed)
- Chyros
- Location: The Netherlands
- Main keyboard: whatever I'm reviewing next :p
- Main mouse: a cheap Logitech
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
Today we look at the oldest keyboard in my collection, this magnificent NOS 50-year-old Micro Switch magnetic reed keyboard. This was from a VERY different time in keyboarding xD . Hope you enjoy the video!
- JP!
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Currently a Model M
- Main mouse: Steel Series Sensei
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0194
- Contact:
Great find, strange not seeing a controller on this keyboard.
- depletedvespene
- Location: Chile
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F122
- Main mouse: Logitech G700s
- Favorite switch: buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0224
- Contact:
Couple comments on the video:
1) The layout, alien as it is to modern eyes, is clearly for a "Data Entry" keyboard. There's plenty of later keyboards with the same layout for the alphas (even IBM Unsavers).
2) I would submit that the first "truly widely adopted keyboard standard" isn't the XT layout, but rather the DEC terminal layout (which also happens the one where the inverted T first showed up). It even has an insane amount of clones from differing companies.
1) The layout, alien as it is to modern eyes, is clearly for a "Data Entry" keyboard. There's plenty of later keyboards with the same layout for the alphas (even IBM Unsavers).
2) I would submit that the first "truly widely adopted keyboard standard" isn't the XT layout, but rather the DEC terminal layout (which also happens the one where the inverted T first showed up). It even has an insane amount of clones from differing companies.
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- Location: Canada
- Main keyboard: Focus FK-9000, heavily modded
- Main mouse: MX Master 3
Agreed, I see faaaaar more DEC layout boards than XT layout. The only XT layout boards I see are IBMs and occasional foam and foil garbage. I see tons of boards with the DEC layout, and tons of actual DEC boards.depletedvespene wrote: ↑07 Jun 2020, 01:372) I would submit that the first "truly widely adopted keyboard standard" isn't the XT layout, but rather the DEC terminal layout (which also happens the one where the inverted T first showed up). It even has an insane amount of clones from differing companies.
Chyros, maybe try 3D printing a case for it?
- depletedvespene
- Location: Chile
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F122
- Main mouse: Logitech G700s
- Favorite switch: buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0224
- Contact:
Marvelous.
Last edited by depletedvespene on 07 Jun 2020, 02:28, edited 1 time in total.
- depletedvespene
- Location: Chile
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F122
- Main mouse: Logitech G700s
- Favorite switch: buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0224
- Contact:
Besides making a cool case/stand for this keyboard... do ALL the PCB traces actually backtrace to a key that is present? How many more switches (assuming they can be procured) could be fitted into chyros' drop-in module? There is certainly enough unused space... but could it be filled in?
- ddrfraser1
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Changes weekly
- Main mouse: MX MASTER
- Favorite switch: Lubed 55g BKE Redux Domes
- Contact:
- JP!
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Currently a Model M
- Main mouse: Steel Series Sensei
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0194
- Contact:
I would think bending the metal would be the tricky part unless you happen to have the proper tools.
How about some stone age material more fitting to the vintage of this keyboard?
How about some stone age material more fitting to the vintage of this keyboard?
- ddrfraser1
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Changes weekly
- Main mouse: MX MASTER
- Favorite switch: Lubed 55g BKE Redux Domes
- Contact:
There we go, now we’re getting closer
- snacksthecat
- ✶✶✶✶
- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: SSK
- Main mouse: BenQ ZOWIE EC1-A
- DT Pro Member: 0205
- Contact:
- JP!
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Currently a Model M
- Main mouse: Steel Series Sensei
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0194
- Contact:
Not my photo but this keyboard module comes from a TI Silent 700 terminal so it could either be MicroSwitch OR Hi-Tek High Profilesnacksthecat wrote: ↑08 Jun 2020, 17:15That first one even looks micro switch-y. Do you know if that's the case? Although the four toggle switches are a bit of a wildcard.
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- Location: land of the rusty beamsprings
- DT Pro Member: -
There is a keycap missing, top row 3rd from the right.JP! wrote: ↑08 Jun 2020, 17:49Not my photo but this keyboard module comes from a TI Silent 700 terminal so it could either be MicroSwitch OR Hi-Tek High Profilesnacksthecat wrote: ↑08 Jun 2020, 17:15That first one even looks micro switch-y. Do you know if that's the case? Although the four toggle switches are a bit of a wildcard.
Doesn't look like Hi-Tek
- JP!
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Currently a Model M
- Main mouse: Steel Series Sensei
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0194
- Contact: