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Author Topic: where to find this alps switch  (Read 10447 times)

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Offline diymano

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where to find this alps switch
« on: Thu, 14 April 2011, 10:26:37 »
Hi to all of you !
I i'm going to finalize a unfinished diy project of a member of my family. The project is almost finished. For the reason of dimensions,  i would need the exact same alps push switch that have been previously used.

But the project is very old and the alps switch used are from the 1980 1986 era.

So i've made a lot of research before posting here, cause here it's the place where there is a lot of great infos about vintage alps switch. I think you're the pro for alps switch questions. If you don't find the "solution", it think i will never find this switch.

My questions in what model of keyboard  of the same era could i find this exact alps switch :


Thank you
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Offline diymano

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 15 April 2011, 09:30:19 »
Hi Ripster , and thank you !:thumb:
But without giving you an headache can you tell us, at least, if you've ever see a similar one in any vintage keyboards ?

Anyway, Rispter thank you for having create the alps wikki.

i hope a member of this forum will have the answer of this thread :pray:

But of course, if i find any others info outside of this forum i will report here if it can help any other member.
Thank you
« Last Edit: Fri, 15 April 2011, 09:36:48 by diymano »
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Offline diymano

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 09:33:51 »
Quote from: ripster;331350
I'd try this forum.

They like old obscure keyboards.

http://deskthority.net/


Hi, thank you,  i'm going to post on this forum.
Thanks
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Offline gilgam

  • Posts: 298
where to find this alps switch
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 10:00:41 »
I believe most old keyboards lover are on GeekHack too. Idon't understand the two english forum wth same members though, the old/new world is a fuzzy explanation.
Maybe a ego's forum ?
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Realforce 105 FR, HHKB Pro 2 black, 1 Raptor K1 Black Cherry and 1 Raptor K1 Red Cherry , Compag MX 11800  tBrown Cherry, G80-3000 Clear Cherry , G80-1000 Blue Cherry / Ghetto red, Lexmark 1992 SSK Buckling spring, Unicomp 2011 Customizer 102 Buckling spring
and a few rubber dome/scissors keyboards from Apple/Logitech

Offline keyboardlover

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 10:04:09 »
"Guru" forum is the correct term. Just ask Hamblet.
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Offline diymano

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 10:16:53 »
Hi, i don't know if there is a link with our actual discuss but i've just try to register deskthority without sucess... I didn't receive any confirmation email from them...
No matter, will try later ?

However i'm still looking for info about this alp switch , i will need the same or equivalent.
Also is there any GEECKHACK member with a vintage alps catalog ? Am i dreaming ?

Thanks to all
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Offline sealcouch

  • Posts: 171
where to find this alps switch
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 10:25:38 »
I found a board with this switch in this dump of a thrift store here. The switch has a stem that is almost identical to the Cherry. I bought it and got a set of very classic looking beige keys that fit my Filco.
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Offline diymano

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 10:27:44 »
I'm French,                        
:sorry:



but i'm a big-breasted girl ! Is there any exception ?



:lie:
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Offline Ascaii

  • Posts: 415
  • Location: Berlin, Germany
where to find this alps switch
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 10:28:55 »
your email provider might have put the mail into the spam category. Check that.
If you need french assistance, pm Gilgam here he can help you register.
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Offline diymano

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #9 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 10:33:43 »
Quote from: sealcouch;338043
I found a board with this switch in this dump of a thrift store here. The switch has a stem that is almost identical to the Cherry. I bought it and got a set of very classic looking beige keys that fit my Filco.

Hi sealcouch,
with "thrift store here" you mean a local shop, or a shop on internet ?

Otherway is there any webstore who sells vintage alps and cherry ?
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Offline diymano

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 10:35:28 »
Quote from: Ascaii;338045
your email provider might have put the mail into the spam category. Check that.
If you need french assistance, pm Gilgam here he can help you register.

Thanks Ascaii will check again in a few minutes.
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Offline keyboardlover

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #11 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 11:15:09 »
Quote from: diymano;338044
but i'm a big-breasted girl ! Is there any exception ?

Pics or it didn't happen!
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Offline diymano

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #12 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 11:36:45 »
Quote from: diymano;338044
I'm French,                        
:sorry:



but i'm a big-breasted girl ! Is there any exception ?



:lie:


was a joke of course !
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Offline The Solutor

  • Posts: 2262
where to find this alps switch
« Reply #13 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 11:41:45 »
French breasts are usually meant for a cup of champagne, so was unlikely...:happy:
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Offline diymano

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #14 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 11:49:02 »
With all these jokes i will never find the alp switch i need:party:
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Offline The Solutor

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #15 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 12:12:43 »
Jokes ? What jokes ? I think you simply need to put a clear cherry and a white alps in a nice box, with nice music, some drinks.

Then wait a bit they become friendly, very friendly I mean.

Then wait a bit more and you will get a nice family of  switches you need...:happy:
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Offline gilgam

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #16 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 13:04:00 »
@Ripster I'm french too and succeded in registering -:)

@diyamo it must be spam thing, aucun problème pour s'enregistrer, mais comme je te disais tous les accros des vieux claviers sont sur les deux forum alors ...
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Realforce 105 FR, HHKB Pro 2 black, 1 Raptor K1 Black Cherry and 1 Raptor K1 Red Cherry , Compag MX 11800  tBrown Cherry, G80-3000 Clear Cherry , G80-1000 Blue Cherry / Ghetto red, Lexmark 1992 SSK Buckling spring, Unicomp 2011 Customizer 102 Buckling spring
and a few rubber dome/scissors keyboards from Apple/Logitech

Offline patrickgeekhack

  • Posts: 1460
where to find this alps switch
« Reply #17 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 14:39:47 »
Quote from: gilgam;338130

@diyamo it must be spam thing, aucun problème pour s'enregistrer, mais comme je te disais tous les accros des vieux claviers sont sur les deux forum alors ...

Oui et non. Some of them are more active on deskthority.net and only stop by on geekhack.org once in a while.
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Offline False_Dmitry_II

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #18 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 15:14:04 »
Actually yeah. I think when I signed up as kbdthority, it asked me what kind of switches model m's had.

Speaking of the fact that there are two sites, what happened to all of webwit's posts here?

@OP, ask the guy who said he got something like that if he'd sell you some of the switches or the board. It sounds like he just wanted the keycaps from it.
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Offline Findecanor

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #19 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 15:57:56 »
Quote from: diymano;338048
with "thrift store here" you mean a local shop, or a shop on internet ?

It usually means a local flea market - like store. I have made a few good finds at the local Salvation Army's store myself.

There was a thread a few months back about unused keyboards with what I think could have been a similar switch, but I can't find it again, I'm sorry. What kind of keyboard switch does the really old (first) Apple Macintosh keyboards have? I think that it is quite similar.
(Do old threads get pruned after the forum software upgrade?)
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Offline sealcouch

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #20 on: Wed, 27 April 2011, 22:44:14 »
Quote from: diymano;338048
Hi sealcouch,
with "thrift store here" you mean a local shop, or a shop on internet ?

Otherway is there any webstore who sells vintage alps and cherry ?

 
A local shop.
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Offline Voixdelion

  • Posts: 338
where to find this alps switch
« Reply #21 on: Wed, 06 July 2011, 11:39:30 »
That switch looks so familiar I'm sure I've seen it in one keyboard I bought - Not positive which,  but I think it may have been one of the later Focus Models that I didn't care for the feel of (FK-7002 with trackball).  If that is the same switch then it should be the same as the FK- 6000 series/6200's too.  Would that put manufacture date around the right time?  I didn't like it compared to the old alps style so I don't have the board anymore to look and see if its the same.  I notice that those boards are never mentioned here, so it could be the switch the OP was looking for.  There are a few on ebay - maybe one of the sellers would be willing to peek under the keys and see if it looks like that.
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Offline diymano

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #22 on: Thu, 18 August 2011, 07:52:46 »
Quote from: Voixdelion;374621
That switch looks so familiar I'm sure I've seen it in one keyboard I bought - Not positive which,  but I think it may have been one of the later Focus Models that I didn't care for the feel of (FK-7002 with trackball).  If that is the same switch then it should be the same as the FK- 6000 series/6200's too.  Would that put manufacture date around the right time?  I didn't like it compared to the old alps style so I don't have the board anymore to look and see if its the same.  I notice that those boards are never mentioned here, so it could be the switch the OP was looking for.  There are a few on ebay - maybe one of the sellers would be willing to peek under the keys and see if it looks like that.

Thanks a lot for the help, what brand do you mean when you say FK-6000 , FK-6200 ... ? I don't find any.
Also thanks to all who try and have tried to hekp me.
I still investigate cause i didn't find this switch.
« Last Edit: Thu, 18 August 2011, 07:55:05 by diymano »
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Offline The Solutor

  • Posts: 2262
where to find this alps switch
« Reply #23 on: Thu, 18 August 2011, 10:54:59 »
Quote from: ripster;400965
the font will determine the vintage.


This ?

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 24622[/ATTACH]
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Offline The Solutor

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #24 on: Thu, 18 August 2011, 11:30:03 »
Quote from: ripster;400990

It's stuff like this that makes me Numero Uno.


To talk about Alps and Filcos we need a Numero Zero...


BTW the randomness of the Alps switch is always amazing

Those two were mounted side by side on the same keyboard...


[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 24624[/ATTACH]
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Offline diymano

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #25 on: Wed, 07 September 2011, 08:36:24 »
Hi to all, and thanks for the help.

Quote
Are you CERTAIN it is an ALPS switch?
Yes i'm sure it is a ALPS switch

ALPS logo is like on this switches pictures of the Post 33.

At my side i still investigate, someone says to me that the switch i'm looking for COULD be the same that where used on a Vintage Amstrad computer keyboard, but don't know the model it could be or not ?

I will post any news i found about this Alps Switch.
Thanks to all !
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Offline Clickey

  • Posts: 337
where to find this alps switch
« Reply #26 on: Sat, 10 September 2011, 22:53:51 »
You could just use SMK's, they are really nice feeling and have ALPS-like mechanisms with cherry mx compatible stems, just like the ones you are looking for. I don't know if they would fit into your PCB though. I guess I could desolder one of mine to compare with an ALPS to see if they are compatible, someone here may already know.

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 26396[/ATTACH]
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Offline Clickey

  • Posts: 337
where to find this alps switch
« Reply #27 on: Sun, 11 September 2011, 00:35:57 »
I found the switch, it comes from an apple IIe (if the guy that posted this ad is correct). Made 1983-1984.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Apple-II-Plus-IIe-Mac-Keyboard-Key-Switch-/320727044689?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aacd25251

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 26397[/ATTACH]
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Offline Clickey

  • Posts: 337
where to find this alps switch
« Reply #28 on: Sun, 11 September 2011, 13:43:24 »
Oh yeah you are right, the apple one has cross shape all the way down. It is not the same.
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Offline PlayerZero

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where to find this alps switch
« Reply #29 on: Sun, 11 September 2011, 14:29:19 »
Quote from: diymano;338044
I'm French,                        
:sorry:



but i'm a big-breasted girl ! Is there any exception ?


:lie:


You must have forgotten to check that box...
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Extensive research has found your statement to be of inferior quality.  Please revise it.

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Offline Clickey

  • Posts: 337
where to find this alps switch
« Reply #30 on: Sun, 11 September 2011, 22:17:01 »
Ah this is what I really meant to use, it does have a round into cross shape, but it is also black, which is why I posted the white one instead (I thought they were the same).

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 26431[/ATTACH]
from
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Apple-IIe-Mac-Keyboard-Key-Switch-/320727045698?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aacd25642

ignore that pic of a cherry keyboard, posted it by mistake and dont know how to remove.
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Offline Clickey

  • Posts: 337
where to find this alps switch
« Reply #31 on: Sun, 11 September 2011, 22:19:51 »
Ah this is what I really meant to use, it does have a round into cross shape, but it is also black, which is why I posted the white one instead (I thought they were the same).

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 26432[/ATTACH]

from
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Apple-IIe-Mac-Keyboard-Key-Switch-/320727045698?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aacd25642
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Offline Drumkey

  • Posts: 1
Re: where to find this alps switch
« Reply #32 on: Thu, 20 September 2012, 14:22:10 »
The alps with a round shaft going into a plus in the first post looks like a key from a Roland TR808 drum machine. Never seen one in a computer keyboard though, anyone here have? The shaft is shorter than that of the Alps in Apple IIe.
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Offline 486

  • Posts: 134
Re: where to find this alps switch
« Reply #33 on: Thu, 20 September 2012, 15:35:33 »
I think these were also used on BBC micros and various other computers with intergrated keyboards.
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Offline Daniel Beardsmore

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Re: where to find this alps switch
« Reply #34 on: Thu, 20 September 2012, 16:38:14 »
BBC Micro switches

It's the most similar to Type 4 (just with a white stem), and there could be switches or switch variants missing from his page. I've only ever had Model B machines with Type 1 keyboards.
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