TheGagne's Craigslist Diving - Apple Keyboards, VT52, maybe more?

[thegagne]

Anyone know anything about these Yahoo keyboards? Claims 20 million keystrokes, are they mechanical?

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/sys/4148883279.html

[CPTBadAss]

For $10?? I'd pick one up just to see if it was mechanical or not haha.

[Pacifist]

Saw the blue springs and thought they had mistyped blues or something.

Then I realized that's where they live

[thegagne]

Also, what about this badboy?

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/sys/4144669103.html

Apparently it's Alps integrated dome... http://deskthority.net/wiki/Zenith_Supersport_SX

[Pacifist]

Also, what about this badboy?

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/sys/4144669103.html

Apparently it's Alps integrated dome... http://deskthority.net/wiki/Zenith_Supersport_SX

Get it, but try to get way less than $50

[bazemk1979]

Also, what about this badboy?

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/sys/4144669103.html

Apparently it's Alps integrated dome... http://deskthority.net/wiki/Zenith_Supersport_SX

If we had company that can make this type of DS Alps, would make sense to start getting into Alps custom boards, who made those keycaps? they are beautiful!!!

[thegagne]

Going to pick up the Zenith $30 I think. Fyi the 10key uses a different switch...

I'll post pictures when I get back from Colorado on Monday.

[thegagne]

Check out the switches!

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=DF488E39BA64892!5527&authkey=!AN7zP3XL-PbiT4Y

edit: alps integrated dome and smk inverse cross mount?

[dorkvader]

I'm going to go with smk inverse cross for the tenkey.

I know that kb switch from somewhere, but can't place it right now. It's not quite the same as alps integrated dome, but looks very similar.

[thegagne]

I found something even better... going to pick it up today... here's a teaser: It's older than I am, and I'm 31.

[dorkvader]

I found something even better... going to pick it up today... here's a teaser: It's older than I am, and I'm 31.

I got a keyboard from 1982 in the mail recently. It's from a sanyo MBC1000 terminal, has First generation fujitsu leaf springs, and features four different keycap legend printing technologies.

Anyway. My guess is yours is a PC/XT model F.

[thegagne]

Another hint: It's not JUST a keyboard...

[thegagne]

Ok, so I scored 3 Apple Keyboards, and one other item. First the keyboards.



Pretty dirty.


Which switches are these? Domes?





And now... for the main attraction...



A DEC VT52!

A lot bigger in person than I thought it would be.



Keyboard shot.



Obligatory nudity. What kind of switches are these? They are half stuck down. May need to do some repair on this bad boy.



It turns on! Blinky cursor. Probably needs to be hooked up to something on RS232?

What should I do with it? Fix it up? Strip the keyboard? Put it on display? Sell it? Trash it?

[dorkvader]

Switches on the DEC are the NMB hitek / stackpole linears. The precursor to NMB space invaders. I have a TI keyboard with them and I don't like them much at all. If you clean all the dust out and lubricate them the'll probably be decently smooth linears.

[thegagne]

Thanks DV.

I don't like the switches on the DEC either, but it could be mostly the poor condition they are in. I will probably try to clean it up at some point. Think this thing is worth keeping?

As for the Apple keyboards, I really like the Apple Extended. Check out the yellowing on that spacebar! I may have to get an ADB->USB adapter...

[thegagne]

Oops! Remember that Apple Keyboard II posted earlier? Well, apparently when I removed the cap I also removed the switch. Check these out!





Alps w/ Sliders mount, but what kind of switch is that? Feel is not that great for me - Initial press is hard/bouncy and then it bottoms out quickly. Kind of like domes?

Assembled in Mexico if that explains anything...

[thegagne]

Oh and check out the doubleshots from the VT52!

[thegagne]

Here's the switch removed. Is this just buckling spring w/ Alps mount?

[Hellmark]

VT machines are terminals. No onboard smarts. This one did connect via RS-232C, so you could be able to get it to interface with a newer system. Personally what I would do is see about setting it up to interface with Raspberry Pi or something else running Linux.

[dorkvader]

(Attachment Link)

Here's the switch removed. Is this just buckling spring w/ Alps mount?

I would guess that they are spring over membrane.
http://deskthority.net/wiki/Alps_spring_over_membrane

Although the examples I've seen pictures of are different looking
http://www7.ocn.ne.jp/~hisao/image/citoh.htm

With the spring / slider removed, can you see a membrane in the hole? It's hard to tell in your first picture.

Oh, on the DEC keycaps, the square grey piece looks removable. Is that the case? they may be cherry m7 (not mx for sure) compatible once you take it out.

[thegagne]

Here's a closer look at the spring over actuator. The spring doesn't touch the membrane.



I'm guessing the spring doesn't touch the actuator until pressed down - so it likely actuates well before you bottom out. The spring/membrane smoosh down and spring back up quickly, so it would be difficult to tell without dissecting.

Here's a look at the DEC caps.



You were right I forgot to mention the two piece construction. Pictured is the Return key, which is extra interesting because it has 3 mount points but only utilizes two - and the far right one does not have the cross mount for some reason. Oh, and the stems are angled too.

[thegagne]

Follow up on that Apple Keyboard:


Not quite rubber dome, but it is a rubber mat.


Plastic plate-mount for the weird switches.


Made by SMK. Model 401KAS-063-11R.

[Findecanor]

Not quite rubber dome, but it is a rubber mat.

The mechanism is usually called "rubber sleeve". Some other key switches we have seen have had the sleeve directly under the keycap.