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Anyone seen this Alps switch in an 80's computer keyboard?
Posted: 20 Sep 2012, 22:05
by Drumkey
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It comes from a Roland TR808 drum machine from 1980. Roland used this model in slightly different versions in several other products in the early eighties for numeric keypads e t c. It is quite similar to the Alps used in the Apple IIe keyboard, but with a shorter shaft.
Any ideas?
Posted: 21 Sep 2012, 08:11
by 486
seen very similar switch in some BBC micro keyboards. It had a white shell instead of a black one.
Posted: 21 Sep 2012, 09:49
by Drumkey
Yes I just found out that BBC Micro B type 4 is the same type, but with the newer snap casing which makes it easier to refurbish. Where can I get hold of a handful of these? Ebay seems dry at the moment. Anyone here got a broken Micro to sell or desolder from?
BBC Micro B type 4
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Posted: 21 Sep 2012, 09:55
by 486
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BBC-Micro-Mod ... 564c4dc911
You may want to PM the guy to check that they if any are Type 4.
BBC Micro caps are also sweet to have with the doubleshot red F0-F8 caps.
Posted: 21 Sep 2012, 09:57
by fossala
Are them keycaps cherry compatible?
Posted: 21 Sep 2012, 12:41
by nathanscribe
EDIT: Roland still sell a switch (via their spares dept.) that looks identical to the last type above, but as it's meant for the Boss pedals, it only has two pins. The old 808 switch will have been discontinued for a long time, but if you contact your nearest synth tech you might have some luck - also, keep an eye on
http://www.vintageplanet.nl as they have a good range of parts and stock's always changing.
Posted: 21 Sep 2012, 13:15
by 486
fossala wrote:Are them keycaps cherry compatible?
Yes. All Acorn BBC use Cherry mounts except Type 3 switches and some Achimedes boards. Master series use Cherry MY.
Posted: 21 Sep 2012, 13:38
by nathanscribe
486 wrote:fossala wrote:Are them keycaps cherry compatible?
Yes. All Acorn BBC use Cherry mounts except Type 3 switches and some Achimedes boards. Master series use Cherry MY.
Not that simple - the BBC cap stem is too thick for a Cherry MX switch without modification.
Posted: 21 Sep 2012, 13:40
by fossala
Thought it would be, thanks for clearing up.
Posted: 30 Sep 2012, 17:44
by Daniel Beardsmore
Which is a rubber dome, the blue one? You can get a discrete rubber dome switch? You're not thinking of a rubber dome board with sliders are you?
Posted: 30 Sep 2012, 21:17
by Daniel Beardsmore
The blue one looks fairly decent. The white one … seriously, WTF?
Posted: 01 Oct 2012, 00:41
by 486
snooze2looze wrote:I saw a blue one too.
And it's not like a alps switch. It's a rubber dome.
That was from ripster's reddit, right?
I've seen many keyboards that use Cherry
Style mount but arn't cherry. E.g. BTC boards,