Haha, did nothing but retrobright the case and the spacebar, the real work was done by someone else
Alps Appreciation
- zrrion
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: F122
- Main mouse: Microsoft IntelliMouse
- Favorite switch: ALPS SKCC Cream
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
An ALPS PCB without bent pins, a rarity for sure
Gen 1 SKCC with square edges! later SKCC on the right for comparison
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
- Bjerrk
- Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
- Main keyboard: Cherry G80-1800 & Models F & M
- Main mouse: Mouse Keys, Trackpoint, Trackball
- Favorite switch: IBM Buckling Springs+Beamspring, Alps Plate Spring
- hellothere
- Location: Mesa, AZ USA
- Main keyboard: Lots
- Main mouse: CST2545W-RC
- Favorite switch: TopreAlpsHallEffectTopreAlpsHallEffectTopreAlps
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.
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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.
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Spoiler:
- Polecat
- Location: Downstream from Silicon Valley
- Main keyboard: Monterey K104 Industrial Gray
- Main mouse: Logitech Optical
- Favorite switch: Early Alps SKCM
- DT Pro Member: -
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.hellothere wrote: ↑22 Jun 2021, 21:40The 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:
- hellothere
- Location: Mesa, AZ USA
- Main keyboard: Lots
- Main mouse: CST2545W-RC
- Favorite switch: TopreAlpsHallEffectTopreAlpsHallEffectTopreAlps
I've actually got two caps lock keys fitted. I didn't realize that until after the pic . I now have a real Ctrl key next to the A.Polecat wrote: ↑23 Jun 2021, 17:45But...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'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.
- Polecat
- Location: Downstream from Silicon Valley
- Main keyboard: Monterey K104 Industrial Gray
- Main mouse: Logitech Optical
- Favorite switch: Early Alps SKCM
- DT Pro Member: -
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.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 . 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.
- hellothere
- Location: Mesa, AZ USA
- Main keyboard: Lots
- Main mouse: CST2545W-RC
- Favorite switch: TopreAlpsHallEffectTopreAlpsHallEffectTopreAlps
This topic needs love.
My IBM 5576-001 (Alps plate spring / SKCP) that I'm selling ...
My customized Dell Bigfoot, w/yellow Alps switches and new Tai-Hao caps, which I'll be selling soon ...
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.
My IBM 5576-001 (Alps plate spring / SKCP) that I'm selling ...
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
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- Main keyboard: Ducky 10kl
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
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
- andreas
- Location: Germany
- Main keyboard: 40% Ortho
- Main mouse: M330 Silent
- Favorite switch: Tactile
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.
After all these years I'm looking forward to having them as my daily driver again.
- Attachments
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- AEK II farewell
- AEKII_farewell.jpg (1.75 MiB) Viewed 8799 times
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- 47 Rōnin
- 47_ronin.jpg (3.73 MiB) Viewed 8799 times
- doomsday_device
- Location: Germany
- Favorite switch: alps
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!
some better pictures soon when all things aligned
some better pictures soon when all things aligned
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
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- Location: Germany
ohhh you got that keyboard, ive bid on that one aswelldoomsday_device wrote: ↑06 Oct 2021, 23:04ooh 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!
- Palatino
- Location: England
- Main keyboard: Fluctuates.
- Main mouse: Of no interest.
- Favorite switch: Too early to tell.
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…
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- Location: Philadelphia
- Main keyboard: IBM MOPAR FSSK
- Main mouse: Logitech G502 Lightspeed
- Favorite switch: Brown Alps
- Contact:
Black and red color scheme? Alps switches? Focus? Sign me the fuck up.doomsday_device wrote: ↑06 Oct 2021, 23:04ooh 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
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- Location: Canada
- Main keyboard: Focus FK-9000, heavily modded
- Main mouse: MX Master 3
- TNT
- Location: Germany, Karlsruhe
- Main keyboard: Ellipse Model F77 / Zenith Z-150
- Main mouse: Logitech G203 Prodigy
- Favorite switch: It's complicated
- DT Pro Member: 0250
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- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: ADB
- Main mouse: mechanical ball mouse
- Favorite switch: orange ALPS
Really great pictures Morbid; thanks for sharing your work.
Do you get the brass plates custom made or is this something you do?
Do you get the brass plates custom made or is this something you do?
- morbid42
- Location: China
- Main keyboard: Homemade keyboards
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM/SKCL, FLS, buckling spring, Hi-tek 725
Hell yeah, can really imagine that, an ALPS ghost
- morbid42
- Location: China
- Main keyboard: Homemade keyboards
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM/SKCL, FLS, buckling spring, Hi-tek 725
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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- Location: Canada
- Main keyboard: Focus FK-9000, heavily modded
- Main mouse: MX Master 3
Thank youmorbid42 wrote: ↑08 Oct 2021, 03:52Those 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
- TNT
- Location: Germany, Karlsruhe
- Main keyboard: Ellipse Model F77 / Zenith Z-150
- Main mouse: Logitech G203 Prodigy
- Favorite switch: It's complicated
- DT Pro Member: 0250
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!
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.
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:
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.
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:
- Attachments
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- Update info.pdf
- (1.17 MiB) Downloaded 146 times
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- Manual-komprimiert.pdf
- (2.87 MiB) Downloaded 122 times
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- Warranty info.pdf
- (418.64 KiB) Downloaded 145 times
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- Warranty Card.pdf
- (2.51 MiB) Downloaded 132 times
- thefarside
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: IBM 4704 F107
- Main mouse: Old, boring Logitech
- Favorite switch: Buckling spring
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.
- TNT
- Location: Germany, Karlsruhe
- Main keyboard: Ellipse Model F77 / Zenith Z-150
- Main mouse: Logitech G203 Prodigy
- Favorite switch: It's complicated
- DT Pro Member: 0250
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.
- morbid42
- Location: China
- Main keyboard: Homemade keyboards
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM/SKCL, FLS, buckling spring, Hi-tek 725