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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Azakai on Thu, 19 August 2010, 20:07:22
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I found an old IBM Model M era keyboard in our garage, and it turns out it's mechanical. The thing is, there's no branding on the keyboard. There's no model number, no company logo, just a QC OK and a FCC regulations sticker. Anybody know what this is and what kind of switches it uses?
(http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/9113/dsc9259e.jpg)
(http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/4776/dsc9266.jpg)
(http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/5795/dsc9269.jpg)
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Pic of the back label please?
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Design and construction is typical of a mid-80s IBM clone. It looks a lot like a Chicony KB-51**, except it has a normal sized backspace and those weird \ keys.
I thought the switches were dark yellow Alps at first, but lmnop was right; too thin and rectangular. They aren't any Alps, Cherry, IBM, SMK, Omron, or NMB switch I'm familiar with.
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(http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/9207/dsc9272.jpg)
(http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/9880/dsc9273e.jpg)
(http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/5149/dsc9274n.jpg)
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I like how it's called "101key" when it has 102 keys...
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FCC info:
Applicant name: Podworld Co Ltd
Address: No. 5-1, Lane 30, Yung Chi Rd. Taipei 10542 Taiwan
FCC ID: HEU292SKB
Application purpose: Original Equipment
Grant date: 06/30/1988
You might want to read through this thread (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=7073) about a keyboard with similarities to yours.
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I like how it's called "101key" when it has 102 keys...
Well, two of them are identical :D
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He posted a top down shot by the way.
(http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9188/dsc9271k.jpg)
Doesn't resemble Alps to me :x?
Think they are Montereys?
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=7714&stc=1&d=1265310362)
(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=11317&d=1277165732)
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I popped a key off my Chicony. Definitely could be an SMK, though not Montereys (those are always blue). Maybe an SMK type I? Or an unknown SMK switch?
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I like it a lot, especially since this is my first mechanical keyboard. The feel is way better than the 8 year old Logitech junk I'm currently using. I was able to put 12 nickels on it before the switch collapsed - so around 60g.
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The switches are different colors though. Azakai's are orange sliders in a black housing, the other is pink sliders in a brown housing. It's possible it's just different dye colors, but, well... You never know.
Regardless, wonderful rare find!
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I like it a lot, especially since this is my first mechanical keyboard. The feel is way better than the 8 year old Logitech junk I'm currently using. I was able to put 12 nickels on it before the switch collapsed - so around 60g.
Ahhh, he learns quickly...Rip didn't even have to mention the wiki's existence...
That's cool though, clicky or not? Tactile or no?
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Nice board! Never used those switches before. If you're bored pop it open and see what the pcb and chips inside say.
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Ahhh, he learns quickly...Rip didn't even have to mention the wiki's existence...
That's cool though, clicky or not? Tactile or no?
It's a very clicky keyboard - much louder than my Logitech, although it's a pleasant sound. The neighbors probably aren't going to be happy when I'm typing at night though.
I'm pretty sure it's tactile, as I can feel a bump before it bottoms out. I'll need some more time with it, and I need a DIN-5 to PS/2 adapter before I can actually start using it.
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if you really want to make some friends desolder a white and yellow switch, take it apart and lay it out on a table, take some photos like in the wiki :)
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Main thing is Welcome To The Mechanical Keyboard world! It's hard to go back.
Correction: it's hard to go back to poor quality rubber domes. I've used (and still use -- like I am right now) some really good rubber dome keyboards.
Although the Model F (so far) is my absolute favourite in terms of noise.
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Who? Bill Irwin?
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He was one of those guys that was in, like, everything back in the day. I think it's more of an age thing than popularity. Hell, those dorks couldn't tell if that was Robin Williams or Bill Murray, and one person thought Bill Irwin was Christopher Reeve.
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if you really want to make some friends desolder a white and yellow switch, take it apart and lay it out on a table, take some photos like in the wiki :)
This is an absolutely great idea, and as she said, you would really make some friends around here...
Anyways, welcome to Geekhack! You've seen our rare helpful and nice side.
Lol:biggrin:
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You've seen our rare helpful and nice side.
Lol:rolleyes:
Shut up, a-hole.
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Shut up, a-hole.
Hahaha, I didn't even realize that that smiley looked like it was pointed at you. I didn't mean it that way at all, I just meant it as a joke about the forums.
Edit: There, I changed it so it's not quite so pointy-fingery.
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You know, I didn't even notice that, but it's even funnier that way. I just saw an opportunity make a funny, and I took it. My comment wasn't directed at you, either.
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You know, I didn't even notice that, but it's even funnier that way. I just saw an opportunity make a funny, and I took it. My comment wasn't directed at you, either.
Hahaha, that's great.
Itlnstln made a funny!
Who's Mr. Noodle?
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This is an absolutely great idea, and as she said, you would really make some friends around here...
Anyways, welcome to Geekhack! You've seen our rare helpful and nice side.
Lol:biggrin:
I sent him a link to a Youtube video. someone desoldering/soldering a Alps switch on a Northgate Omnikey Ultra.
his first day was better than mine. I argued with webwit in a flirtatious way. I was convinced if I hit him over the head with a Model M it would survive :)
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Lol