Trying to identify "Micro Switch Freeport IL" keyboard

[lumpybutt33]

I need help identifying this keyboard I found at the recycle center this weekend. Its older than any other keyboard Ive ever brought home and the shell is made of solid steel! Upon opening it up I found a few labels that say “Micro Switch Freeport IL” but after minor research I’m not finding much. by the looks and build quality Im assuming it was made in the 1970’s. The switches are really nice linear buttery smooth and the keycaps are double shot and super thick.

Are these used today for anything or is this a display piece? Id love to use these Keycaps on a modern keyboard but adapters would be needed. If anyone has any use for this please DM me and we can talk it over. Id gladly sell this. My collection is getting out of hand.

Anyone who knows anything about these keyboard please share.

More pictures here: https://imgur.com/a/uu6YJ6G

[Muirium]

Very nice. Micro Switch were one of the great manufacturers, renowned for their Hall Effect switches, smooth as silk, and the epic caps you have there too. Here’s some more of the family:

keyboards-f2/the-lisp-keyboards-t98.html

I have a Honeywell keyboard of theirs (whose DT thread url I can’t find, it’s been a few years…) which is quite a peach as well. Consider yourself the owner of a great find! And do not under any circumstances butcher those legendary caps to fit modern switches or things will turn violent!

[Slom]

Hi lumpybutt33,

Great find, these are wiki/Micro_Switch_SW_Series switches, and based on the label I would think the board was build in the 24th week of 1978.

As for conversion, I think that the keyboard emits ascii key codes directly. There are no pre-built solutions, and hardly anyone ever converts those bc/ you will only get one key rollover. What is written on the AMI chip?

Here are some starting points for the conversion, but you will need to adapt these to your board.
http://randomvariations.com/2014/10/18/ ... ard-logic/
https://github.com/MMcM/micro-switch-ascii-kbd


@µ: photos-f62/a-honeywell-who-dunnit-1983-t6296.html

[lumpybutt33]

Listed this on ebay here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/273489143494

[Myoth]

lol 500usd ?

[lumpybutt33]

lol 500usd ?

thats the buy it now price. Dont press buy it now if you dont want to pay that much for it.

[Slom]

Listed this on ebay here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/273489143494

"These have been adapted to work on modern computers."

That's a bit misleading. There are some clues on how to convert, but this specific board has most probably not been converted.

Also step entry price , but somebody seems to have bid already. GLWS

[Sangdrax]

Man, can't believe someone's willing to toss down almost $300 shipped on an unconverted honeywell missing two keycaps. This market gets crazier and crazier by the day.