IBM Industrial PC keyboard (Oak switches)

[snuci]

I know Webwit posted a couple of pictures of his but I thought I'd post some more pics so that this variant of Oak switches could be included in the Wiki. This is an Industrial IBM PC XT keyboard and I am carefully trying NOT to call it a "Model F" because it has Oak Full Travel Membrane (FTM) switches and keyboard mechanism.

Here are some pics. Unfortunately, the space bar is not original. I am looking for one and an extra switch in another thread.

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - keyboard top

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - keyboard top.JPG (238.78 KiB) Viewed 5115 times

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - Keyboard back with rubber feet (not cork)

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - Keyboard back with rubber feet (not cork).JPG (130.44 KiB) Viewed 5115 times

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - keyboard top no key tops

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - keyboard top no key tops.JPG (194.17 KiB) Viewed 5115 times

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - internals top

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - internals top.JPG (224.06 KiB) Viewed 5115 times

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - keyboard controller

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - keyboard controller.JPG (306.71 KiB) Viewed 5115 times

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - back of keyboard mechanism

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - back of keyboard mechanism.JPG (199.06 KiB) Viewed 5115 times

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - internal label

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - internal label.JPG (263.78 KiB) Viewed 5115 times

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - internal date stamp on inner case

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - Internal date stamp on case.JPG (263.25 KiB) Viewed 5115 times

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - identification

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - identification.jpg (309.65 KiB) Viewed 5108 times

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - okay key switch parts

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - okay key switch parts.JPG (254.64 KiB) Viewed 5115 times

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - Okay key switch base

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - Okay key switch base.JPG (196.5 KiB) Viewed 5115 times

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - key tops

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - key tops.JPG (118.08 KiB) Viewed 5115 times

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - key profile

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - key profile.JPG (257.76 KiB) Viewed 5115 times

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - close-up of PBT key cap

IBM Industrial XT (Oak) - close-up of key cap.JPG (204.95 KiB) Viewed 5115 times

[bocahgundul]

That switch looks interesting and the keycaps is so crisp!
are there a typing videos of this switches? I want to hear the sound haha

[seebart]

Impressive, I hope you did not have to spend a fortune on this one.

[terrycherry]

Great. I just have a few bad quality picture about this rare variant of IBM keyboard with OAK switch!
Love your quality photos. Please keep it on, snuci!

[snuci]

Impressive, I hope you did not have to spend a fortune on this one.

I trades a regular IBM PC XT Model F and covered shipping both ways. I thought it was fair because it is missing the space bar and that will be impossible to find unless someone has a Sun Type 3 keyboard that has the same switches that they are willing to sell. That is just as rare.

One thing I forgot to ask in my initial post is: Does anyone know specifically what this keyboard went with? I have searched everywhere and can't find any hints.

[seebart]

That was a good trade for you then! I don't know what computer IBM shipped this with or if there even was a dedicated machine? Do we even have this in our wiki?

[snuci]

Do we even have this in our wiki?

No, I'm just piling up keyboard pics for now. It need to be in the wiki as a keyboard and a switch.

[terrycherry]

Great! It's very hard to find out with this switch.

[alh84001]

Interesting board. Why would they choose a different switch for this one?

Also, bottom case plate is different than in F XT, which has that groove closer to the top. Is it metal? Top case doesn't have those plastic guides on the bottom edge and besides the screw holes, which are to fit the keyboard assembly, Weird animal, this one.

[snuci]

The only thing I can think of it that these switches would hold up to harsher conditions. But countering that, I don't see industrial spec components on the keyboard controller board which would make a little more sense given the industrial nature.

The bottom is painted sheet metal. For a while, I thought the top was too but it turned not to be. The paint is much rougher in texture than a normal Model F XT keyboard. It is an interesting board.

[livingspeedbump]

Impressive find indeed. Love the badge on this one.

How does it actually feel to type on?

[lot_lizard]

Any chance you would ever part with this? I am going to be putting together an XTant, and would LOVE this as the case (obviously saving everything to restore later).

EDIT: That was meant to be a PM... whoops. Well, let me know . Looking at the dimensions, it looks like it would work

[snuci]

Sorry lot_lizard. I am still looking out for a Sun type 3 keyboard to replace the space bar.

This is a flat keyboard. Doesn't the XTant need a curved case anyway?

[lot_lizard]

Sorry lot_lizard. I am still looking out for a Sun type 3 keyboard to replace the space bar.

This is a flat keyboard. Doesn't the XTant need a curved case anyway?

The case itself needs to be flat, where the curve is in the back/top plates of the assembly. From the looks of it, I believe you have the same (or similar) ridge on the bottom of the case that props the board up like the XT does. The XT would ignore the screw points into the top casing from the assembly (think Kishsaver), and just rely on the 2 screws at the very top. Again, this is all a guess, but I THINK?!? it works looking at it in pics.

[alh84001]

@lot_lizard so you got that kit from fohat? Welcome to the club

Take a look at my post above, I made some comments on the case. Even though it might not be possible to fit an XT(ant) assembly in this case, maybe you could combine top case from this one and (powder-coated) bottom case from an XT board.

[lot_lizard]

@lot_lizard so you got that kit from fohat? Welcome to the club

Take a look at my post above, I made some comments on the case. Even though it might not be possible to fit an XT(ant) assembly in this case, maybe you could combine top case from this one and (powder-coated) bottom case from an XT board.

Thanks... I ended up snagging a PCB from WCass, but not the rest. I can follow the template myself I THINK (have a slip roller in the shop). We'll see how it turns out. This OAK case is spectacular though. If anyone ever wants to part with one, PLEASE PM. WCass's project was born to live in this shell. Appreciate the heads up about the bottom plate

[snuci]

WCass's project was born to live in this shell.

I don't think it will work. The top and bottom case shells are flat because the OAK PCB is flat. Because of this, the curved profile is simulated through the key caps. Correct me if I'm wrong but the XTant is normally curved like the XT (so it will fit in an XT case). Your only option with this case is to put the XTant PCB in flat. If it was designed to be curved, I would guess that the Model F key caps would be too spread out between rows and look funny. Not only that but the curve helps it fit into the top cases key cutout. If the XTant PCB was put in flat, the top and bottom rows would probably bind against the cutout and it wouldn't work.

It is a very cool case but I don't think it will work.

[lot_lizard]

I see the ridge discrepancies on the bottom plate that alh84001 pointed out (what holds the top side of both boards up... at least in the XT it does). Otherwise, they look identical from the great pics you took. In theory the curved plate is just dipped lower in the middle and higher on the edges to simulate the row profile differences OAK does with caps? It looks like both are only held in place by where the two screws secure the bottom to the top from the backside. This is all academic mind you based on good pics... but the XT I believe is using the same top mold. I would send you one just to compare if you didn't mind (if interested, PM me, but I assume you might have one considering you have EVERYTHING). I would like to know before I go on a witch hunt. BETTER YET... sell me this one, I can confirm LOL.

[snuci]

I would send you one just to compare if you didn't mind (if interested, PM me, but I assume you might have one considering you have EVERYTHING).

Yes, I have a small pile of XT keyboards I'll take them both apart and take pics. It might have to be on the weekend because I have bad lighting at this stage of the year when I get home from work.

[snuci]

Pics are posted of the Industrial XT versus the Model F XT in this thread here: photos-f62/ibm-xt-model-f-vs-industrial ... 15232.html

[lot_lizard]

Excellent thread with explanations. Really appreciate you taking the time

[Ir0n]

This looks sexy.. what do the switches feel like and any chance you could post a video?