Author Topic: Vintage Keyboard with Alps switches - Mint (Read 13730 times)

Necroleachate · « **on:** Sun, 06 December 2009, 11:06:13 »

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wang-724-Keyboard-NEW-MINT-PERFECT-P-725-3770-US_W0QQitemZ130347078429QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item1e594a931d

A interesting keyboard. Have huge backspace, enter and rshift keys.

J888www · « **Reply #1 on:** Sun, 06 December 2009, 11:23:51 »

Interesting, but with $156.25 Shipping cost, is it worth it ?

Also from the same3 seller, item is also new, but once again extortionate Shipping.

Wonder what colour key switches ?

elbowglue · « **Reply #2 on:** Sun, 06 December 2009, 11:27:53 »

Quote from: ripster;139412

Wow. A NIB wang. Mine is well used and less stiff. (gawd this is toooooo easy)

Low hanging fruit. But funny nonetheless!

didjamatic · « **Reply #3 on:** Sun, 06 December 2009, 11:57:06 »

Those should have pink alps, nice!

Necroleachate · « **Reply #4 on:** Sun, 06 December 2009, 11:57:13 »

Quote from: J888www;139420

Interesting, but with $156.25 Shipping cost, is it worth it ?

Also from the same3 seller, item is also new, but once again extortionate Shipping.

Wonder what colour key switches ?

Yeah, the shipping kills it.
For me it would be $272.96 to Brazil while the regular Usps tax for a keyboard that size wold be around 40~50. The UPS taxes are absurd, I don't know if it's only for some places.

didjamatic · « **Reply #5 on:** Sun, 06 December 2009, 12:02:32 »

Wow, there are 200 available.

msiegel · « **Reply #6 on:** Sun, 06 December 2009, 12:36:55 »

that guy is sitting on a wang goldmine!

maybe somebody should Make an Offer to grab a half dozen wangs @ $50 apiece, and then resell them here...

PRISONER 24601 · « **Reply #7 on:** Sun, 06 December 2009, 19:26:49 »

Quote from: msiegel;139454

that guy is sitting on a wang goldmine!

that's what... she... said?

bigpook · « **Reply #8 on:** Sun, 06 December 2009, 19:34:59 »

might be nice just to harvest the switches. someone said they were pink alps.
whats the story on pink alps?

a quick trip to the wiki says they are like black alps?

Computer-Lab in Basement · « **Reply #9 on:** Sun, 06 December 2009, 19:42:17 »

I may ask for one for christmas this year... reasonable price, interesting layout. Or I might go for another set of keyboards I have been watching.

erricrice · « **Reply #10 on:** Mon, 07 December 2009, 11:19:30 »

Quote from: didjamatic;139433

Wow, there are 200 available.

How do you check the exact number they have available? All I can find is at the top where it says more than 10 available.

lowpoly · « **Reply #11 on:** Mon, 07 December 2009, 11:24:49 »

Put it on your watch list.

bigpook · « **Reply #12 on:** Mon, 07 December 2009, 11:33:50 »

pink alps are stiffer than black alps? do tell. maybe not a bad thing but the the black alps are just about right for me.

timw4mail · « **Reply #13 on:** Mon, 07 December 2009, 11:52:58 »

Quote from: ripster;139763

Look at that. Learn something new everyday. Of course it doesn't help that the Ebay UI is a disaster.

Pinks are supposed to be stiffer than Black Alps (gawd!) with a distinctive tactile bump but nonclicky. But that was from one post I found so someone with one should speak up.

Regardless, $75 with additional shipping is absurd, even for new in box, considering that there are 200 of them.

ch_123 · « **Reply #14 on:** Mon, 07 December 2009, 11:57:53 »

Quote from: Computer-Lab in Basement;139555

I may ask for one for christmas this year... reasonable price, interesting layout. Or I might go for another set of keyboards I have been watching.

Wouldn't bother. There are much much nicer keyboards to be had. For that money you could get yourself a Cherry G80 with Blue Switches, or possibly a Model F if you were lucky.

timw4mail · « **Reply #15 on:** Mon, 07 December 2009, 12:00:56 »

Quote from: ch_123;139773

Wouldn't bother. There are much much nicer keyboards to be had. For that money you could get yourself a Cherry G80 with Blue Switches, or possibly a Model F if you were lucky.

That's pretty lucky anymore. I got mine for ~$100, so I think the days of ~$70 is pretty long gone.

ch_123 · « **Reply #16 on:** Mon, 07 December 2009, 12:08:11 »

Quote from: timw4mail;139776

That's pretty lucky anymore. I got mine for ~$100, so I think the days of ~$70 is pretty long gone.

There's a guy in the classified section who is selling his for $75. Although, last I checked, he was having second thoughts about selling it.

erricrice · « **Reply #17 on:** Mon, 07 December 2009, 12:24:17 »

Quote from: timw4mail;139772

Regardless, $75 with additional shipping is absurd, even for new in box, considering that there are 200 of them.

Yeah, that's kinda crazy. He'll eventually drop the price I'm sure since we're about the only crowd that's going to be buying them and obviously at that price we won't be haha.

Hopefully he won't have sold all of them within a few months, I could get me a nice Christmas present with a paycheck a little down the road...

GenEric35 · « **Reply #18 on:** Mon, 07 December 2009, 13:08:21 »

Quote from: timw4mail;139776

That's pretty lucky anymore. I got mine for ~$100, so I think the days of ~$70 is pretty long gone.

yup, clickykeyboards came up with a model F today, used, 125$...
and a blue label NIB for 125$... *song* it's that time of the year~

chimera15 · « **Reply #19 on:** Tue, 08 December 2009, 10:53:56 »

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-Wang-Model-724-KeyBoard_W0QQitemZ390112146930QQcmdZViewItemQQptZPCA_Mice_Trackballs?hash=item5ad47ef5f2

itlnstln · « **Reply #20 on:** Tue, 08 December 2009, 10:55:16 »

Vintage Wang... Nice.

The jokes just write themselves.

erricrice · « **Reply #21 on:** Mon, 14 December 2009, 20:44:28 »

Well, he's down to $55, let's see where he'll go with it! Now he's starting to get into the maybe range...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130347078429&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNAFP:US:1123

Uhm, what?

The wire and PS/2 adapter are not included in this sale.

What kind of cable does it have? Removable proprietary? That would be completely useless if it were...

Does anyone know?

ocdonkb · « **Reply #22 on:** Mon, 14 December 2009, 20:55:11 »

It doesn't come with the cable... not just any cable, but an RJ11 cable. Where/How would you convert this to ps2/usb?

I see some RJ11-to-USB adapters for phones, but do they work for this keyboard?

Sandy comes though again with the info/pics of this: http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/wang_724.html

erricrice · « **Reply #23 on:** Mon, 14 December 2009, 20:59:08 »

Quote from: ocdonkb;142452

It doesn't come with the cable... not just any cable, but an RJ11 cable. Where/How would you convert this to ps2/usb?

I see some RJ11-to-USB adapters for phones, but do they work for this keyboard?

Sandy comes though again with the info/pics of this: http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/wang_724.html

Holy jesus and he expects us to pay more than $10 for one? F that.

I mean I know they are a decent keyboards and they're brand new, but where are you going to get that cable??

ch_123 · « **Reply #24 on:** Tue, 15 December 2009, 05:19:53 »

Quote from: timw4mail;139776

That's pretty lucky anymore. I got mine for ~$100, so I think the days of ~$70 is pretty long gone.

I got mine for $60. Paid €80 in total because of shipping.

InSanCen · « **Reply #25 on:** Tue, 15 December 2009, 13:48:44 »

Quote from: ripster;142579

Probably are stiffer. The spring is wound less.

RJ11 to PS/2 cable should be pretty simple to hack together but won't be very sturdy connectors - at least with RJ45 you coulda used an Ethernet cable.

Yup, I do know.

It is indeed a straight through RJ11 to PS/2, no adaptors or anything.

I'll get the meter out later and get you a pinout if you want.

ocdonkb · « **Reply #26 on:** Tue, 15 December 2009, 14:28:24 »

you could just remove the RJ11 plug alltogether, and just wire it straight to an AT/PS2 plug... it'd be a project for someone though

InSanCen · « **Reply #27 on:** Fri, 18 December 2009, 16:48:28 »

Quote from: ocdonkb;142668

you could just remove the RJ11 plug alltogether, and just wire it straight to an AT/PS2 plug... it'd be a project for someone though

If I were going to Mod mine, I would be inclined to do a Ripster, and put it direct to USB myself (Internal PS/2 to USB adaptor inside the casing). Trust me, the 724 is not a gaming keyboard. NKRO isn't going to be a must-have feature when you are looking at Terminal style boards. I will have to pull out the wang again soon... not played with it for a while now...

(I had to... there was a distinct lack of Wang jokes in this thread).

J888www · « **Reply #28 on:** Sat, 26 December 2009, 08:29:33 »

Anyone purchased one of these KBD ? Just wanted to know the type of switches. Sometimes what you actually receive is not as described, and that's from the Manufacturer's description.

Originally Posted by chimera15 View Post ¨new in box alps¨
So I just got this board today...wow what a disappointment!!!!

Alps lied!! WTH!!! BLACKS DON"T CLICK WTF!!!! It's a Dell at101w clone!! ARGH!!

overdriver · « **Reply #29 on:** Wed, 30 December 2009, 04:39:50 »

Quote from: J888www;145317

Anyone purchased one of these KBD ? Just wanted to know the type of switches. Sometimes what you actually receive is not as described, and that's from the Manufacturer's description.

Originally Posted by chimera15 View Post ¨new in box alps¨
So I just got this board today...wow what a disappointment!!!!

Alps lied!! WTH!!! BLACKS DON"T CLICK WTF!!!! It's a Dell at101w clone!! ARGH!!

sorry to hear that. ALPS has a different definition of 'clicky.' I feel your pain

We need to update ALPS Wiki : Some Wang 724 keyboard has Black ALPS instead of Pink one.

J888www · « **Reply #30 on:** Wed, 30 December 2009, 05:43:12 »

Quote from: overdriver;146481

We need to update ALPS Wiki : Some Wang 724 keyboard has Black ALPS instead of Pink one.

Sos for not being more specific, I was referring to the ALPS ALPS keyboard from the same seller which had the description of being clicky but had Black switches.

I am also inquiring what type of switches are inside this particular Wang 724, but I'll probably find out very soon.

chimera15 · « **Reply #31 on:** Wed, 30 December 2009, 09:47:26 »

Quote from: overdriver;146481

sorry to hear that. ALPS has a different definition of 'clicky.' I feel your pain
We need to update ALPS Wiki : Some Wang 724 keyboard has Black ALPS instead of Pink one.

Alps doesn't have a different definition of clicky. It doesn't say "clicky" on the box, it says plainly on the box that it has an "audible click". What obviously happened, is that as the company began to wind down they probably stopped making white's altogether, and started putting blacks in everything, and used the same box for boards that used to in fact use whites. That's my guess at any rate. Sandy also said the mcl-101 used to have whites..so.

The box indicates heavily, although never says specifically, that the board has whites all over the thing..it's not just a simple matter of a misdefinition.

sandy55 · « **Reply #32 on:** Thu, 31 December 2009, 03:27:10 »

Quote from: J888www;145317

Anyone purchased one of these KBD ? Just wanted to know the type of switches. Sometimes what you actually receive is not as described, and that's from the Manufacturer's description.

Quote from: overdriver;146481

Some Wang 724 keyboard has Black ALPS instead of Pink one.

Didn't know that there are 724s with Blacks.
I thought they use either Pinks or Oranges.
Those 180 of new 724s may have Blacks if they are in same manufacturing lot with mine ( 06 '95 made ) which I bought from the seller.
I wanted to have new and unused Pinks. sigh.....

J888www, switches are ALPS Blacks, mechanical tactile switches as advertised. same switches used in AT101W. Key caps are better than AT101W, and less wobbly.

overdriver · « **Reply #33 on:** Thu, 31 December 2009, 04:57:08 »

Quote from: sandy55;146757

Didn't know that there are 724s with Blacks.
I thought they use either Pinks or Oranges.
Those 180 of new 724s may have Blacks if they are in same manufacturing lot with mine ( 06 '95 made ) which I bought from the seller.
I wanted to have new and unused Pinks. sigh.....

no, Sandy. I got confused by J888www's posting.
You are correct: WANG 724 has only Pinks or Oranges.

J888www was talking about other generic ALPS keyboard (it didn't have any brand name) from same seller- that has Black ALPS(seller told that it has audible click but it seems like the description was not changed when it might have White switch before).

you can go ahead to ask the seller about the switch color. It should be either Orange or Pink.

sandy55 · « **Reply #34 on:** Thu, 31 December 2009, 06:43:10 »

Quote from: overdriver;146763

You are correct: WANG 724 has only Pinks or Oranges.

you can go ahead to ask the seller about the switch color. It should be either Orange or Pink.

I mean I actually did buy said 724 and sit in front of the board with Blacks without slits on their upper case. I expected unused Pinks.

J888www · « **Reply #35 on:** Thu, 31 December 2009, 12:41:25 »

Pin Out Hope it helps if anyone decides to try.

InSanCen · « **Reply #36 on:** Fri, 01 January 2010, 06:45:04 »

Quote from: ripster;146783

Oh now THAT's confusing. I was going to put the Wang 724 into the ALPS Wiki but if it comes in Black, Pinks or Oranges it's like "why bother" unless they change something in the product code or if we create a Serial Number database.

Well, if you are game...

725-3771-UK (Week 28, 1992), has Pink ALPS.

Just as a matter of interest, the lock keys (LED's built into the caps), have Yellow Alps. These are soft compared to the Pinks, and have no discernable tactile point or click. Ugh.

sandy55 · « **Reply #37 on:** Fri, 01 January 2010, 08:57:05 »

Quote from: InSanCen;147001

725-3771-UK (Week 28, 1992), has Pink ALPS.

725-3770-US date 01. 1992 and 06. 1993 both has Pink ALPS.
didn't take any record or Pic for Orange one.

Quote

Just as a matter of interest, the lock keys (LED's built into the caps), have Yellow Alps. These are soft compared to the Pinks, and have no discernable tactile point or click. Ugh.

Ripster, people usually call yellow ALPS seen in Caps Lock and Scroll Lock in Wang 724s and some Zeinith ZKB-2s as *Yellow* ALPS.
Basically ALPS Yellow =Linear with a ditch for LED as like as Green.
You'd better to classify those switches with clicking leaf found in APPLE IIc recently under another color sec. To my eye the color is a mixture of orange and yellow and different from yellow stems seen in ALPS linear switches.

Perhaps we need to define colors, especially for orange, pink, yellow and that used in APPLE IIc.

InSanCen · « **Reply #38 on:** Fri, 01 January 2010, 11:34:09 »

Quote from: sandy55;147033

Perhaps we need to define colors, especially for orange, pink, yellow and that used in APPLE IIc.

Here is a (horribly oversharpened, I need a Macro lens) picture for comparison. I am cleaning it out, slowly but surely. The gunk seems to be welded to the Switch Plate.

InSanCen · « **Reply #39 on:** Fri, 01 January 2010, 11:58:38 »

I have decided to do a Switch swap with this board. I'll have to desolder them anyway, as to stand any chance of cleaning the Plate properly, it needs to come out (Gone through over 100 Cotton buds so far, nowhere near done!). I might just run it straight to USB while I am at it.

Any recommendation's on switches? And where I can get 2 boards, as this will take more switches than 1 standard board can provide?

overdriver · « **Reply #40 on:** Fri, 01 January 2010, 12:13:31 »

Quote from: ripster;147064

Ahhhhh..... Much better. I won't upchuck with this photo.

I tried to color correct the other dudes photo of the Apple Clicky Yellow but his White Balance was too far off so I can't guarantee the accuracy.

lol.. yeah blame me for bad pic

It is actually pretty close to real color of that switch. I would call it 'Taxi yellow' or long version 'NYC yellow taxi yellow'

This is taxi color is pretty close to that ALPS switch of Apple IIc.

overdriver · « **Reply #41 on:** Fri, 01 January 2010, 12:32:57 »

Quote from: ripster;147076

ALPS White Clicky Complicateds. They have the best reputation around here. I'm not sure how the ALPS Blues vary from your SMK Montereys.

And WHAT is a SMK Monterey switch anyway? Does it really look much different internally than a ALPS?

here is some pic and description on some Japanese switch page:

translate by Babelfish:
[nomaru] which is very the simple contact point fixed part is the round bar with close When the switch is disassembled, although it unites, you suffered hardship, attaching to the axis, it does not unite the spring with it could not unite well
The axis is not shaken and in order to go down smoothly, projection in order to put out sound to also the leaf spring where projection has come out is visible The side which pushes the switch of the axis angle has been attached, unless there is this, it probably is not to be able to unite the switch

Link to Japanese site

I am getting a new Chicony 5181 board with this switch anyway.. it should be here by tomorrow.

InSanCen · « **Reply #42 on:** Fri, 01 January 2010, 13:44:56 »

SMK Montereys?

ALPS caps fit perfectly in them. The board felt much better when I changed the rattly (But doubleshot) caps off them, and put the cleaned caps of the Wang 724 on there.

ch_123 · « **Reply #43 on:** Fri, 01 January 2010, 15:04:04 »

Quote from: overdriver;147081

translate by Babelfish:
[nomaru] which is very the simple contact point fixed part is the round bar with close When the switch is disassembled, although it unites, you suffered hardship, attaching to the axis, it does not unite the spring with it could not unite well
The axis is not shaken and in order to go down smoothly, projection in order to put out sound to also the leaf spring where projection has come out is visible The side which pushes the switch of the axis angle has been attached, unless there is this, it probably is not to be able to unite the switch

You almost need a Babelfish English to English translator for that one...

keyb_gr · « **Reply #44 on:** Fri, 01 January 2010, 15:18:17 »

Quote from: ch_123;147130

You almost need a Babelfish English to English translator for that one...

There isn't even such a thing as Babelfish English. It'll turn out differently depending on source language. In any case it takes a good bit of practice to grasp what's being said, so it almost is like learning a new language indeed.

ch_123 · « **Reply #45 on:** Fri, 01 January 2010, 17:15:32 »

Quote from: keyb_gr;147136

There isn't even such a thing as Babelfish English.

Quote

In any case it takes a good bit of practice to grasp what's being said, so it almost is like learning a new language indeed.

That was the point I was making.

sandy55 · « **Reply #46 on:** Fri, 01 January 2010, 19:19:20 »

mousefan occasionally omit a mark 。 which indicates the end of a sentence ( equal to a period mark in English or other European languages ).
We Japanese can understand easily but any of Internet translation programs can't handle it 'cause the style is out of Japanese grammar defined in such programs.

OT
webwit, could you point me a thread in which you asked me about IBM beam spring system?

ch_123 · « **Reply #47 on:** Fri, 01 January 2010, 20:54:58 »

Check out this thread. Plenty of patents and pics to be found.

EDIT: I had tried to explain the beam spring, but my explanation was crazily inaccurate.

sandy55 · « **Reply #48 on:** Fri, 01 January 2010, 23:46:21 »

Quote from: sandy55;147197

You should know the type through your fingers. I bet they should be simplified-1. I'm not sure if that design was available before 1995 but most of boards in that shape I've seen used simplified versions.

I might be wrong.

Dug out mine from a pile of boards in my garage.
Mine is JP 109 key layout with Win keys and possibly 1996 made. switches are not simplified-1 ( Fukka ) but type-2 with a light cream colored stem.
Model No. SMK-8851
FCC ID SM988KKB8851.
Strongman usually uses same FCC ID for their products. For example, Filco mini with Crerry MX Browns ( mini board before Majestouch lines ) also labeled with same FCC ID.

Yours is without Win keys...

didjamatic · « **Reply #49 on:** Sat, 02 January 2010, 12:36:06 »

Switches in the ebay boards are black. I just contacted the seller and had him pull a key to check.

sandy55 · « **Reply #50 on:** Mon, 04 January 2010, 07:00:40 »

Quote from: ripster;147711

So the Wang 724 terminal board can be Pink OR Black Complicated ALPS.

This ALPS wiki is getting clear as mud.

... and Orange. Not so clear as Mud 'cause there still aren't Blues.

News:

Author Topic: Vintage Keyboard with Alps switches - Mint (Read 13730 times)