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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Tue, 25 May 2010, 02:02:01

Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Tue, 25 May 2010, 02:02:01
Hello, I've been collecting old computer keyboards for a few months now, and I thought that I was the only weird one...  Anyway, I just found my first Cherry brand board, and I was hoping you could tell me something about it.  I've now posted pictures.

- 2 IR leds on the front
- A RJ-45 jack on the left front side
- A panel for 4 AA batteries on the bottom
- The key arrangement is the same as a model F
- Black metal bottom - feels solid, yet not as heavy as a model M
- The indicator lights for the lock keys are on the keys themselves, except for scroll lock, which has no indicator light
- it has a mode select switch on the bottom that is labeled "Sr." on one side and "Jr." on the other, whatever that means.

MODEL#: KXN3-8451
SER.NO: 13995
FCC ID: DE67DAKXN38451


When I Google the model #, I don't get any hits, so I'm pretty much stumped.  I did go to the FCC website and search the FCC license #, but I'm not sure if that helps, since I don't know whether a new license is issued to a company for each separate product, or if it is just a one time thing.  According to the FCC, the license was issued in 1984, but I have a hard time believing it's that old, since this is the most spotlessly clean keyboard I have ever seen.

(http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/4564/img0068iu.jpg)
(http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4807/img0067sl.jpg)
(http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/8207/img0069fpp.jpg)
(http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/7594/img0077id.jpg)
(http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/2579/img0072vo.jpg)
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: Nonmouse on Tue, 25 May 2010, 02:35:38
Well, telling us the model number might help, as would pictures....
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: Brodie337 on Tue, 25 May 2010, 02:36:22
Pictures would help immeasurably
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: Infinite north on Tue, 25 May 2010, 03:43:20
(http://www.xfilesfanclub.com/userImages/productImages/IW2B_Mousepad_TRXF1004_lg.jpg).
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Tue, 25 May 2010, 11:08:39
MODEL#: KXN3-8451
SER.NO: 13995
FCC ID: DE67DAKXN38451

I forgot to mention, it has a mode select switch on the bottom that is labeled "Sr." on one side and "Jr." on the other, whatever that means.

A friend borrowed my camera, and I won't get it back until Friday.  You can see the pictures then.
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 25 May 2010, 11:21:41
Quote from: ripster;186700
Starting to sound like a PC Jr.  It has batteries and IR.
Show Image
(http://www.digibarn.com/collections/devices/pcjr-chicklet-keyboard/Image09.jpg)

Feel and utility aside, I actually think that's a pretty cool looking 'board.
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Tue, 25 May 2010, 11:29:07
I guess I'll have to get those pictures up on Friday.  It looks nothing like that.  The closest thing I have seen to it would be an old model F.  Also, I thought IBM and Cherry were competing companies in the keyboard business.  I did say that the label on the bottom says Cherry. How could the keyboard be both Cherry and IBM?
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 25 May 2010, 11:38:10
Quote from: 8_INCH_FLOPPY;186711
I guess I'll have to get those pictures up on Friday.  It looks nothing like that.  The closest thing I have seen to it would be an old model F.  Also, I thought IBM and Cherry were competing companies in the keyboard business.  I did say that the label on the bottom says Cherry. How could the keyboard be both Cherry and IBM?


Clone.

Remember kids - no IBM logo, no IBM.
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: Nonmouse on Tue, 25 May 2010, 13:28:13
Quote from: 8_INCH_FLOPPY;186591

MODEL#: KXN3-8451

Well, KXN3-8459 was apparently (http://en.labexchange.com/products/pdfs/Perkin%20Elmer/1600%20FTIR%20Spektrometer%20Overwiew%20%20en.pdf?PHPSESSID=fc842c4fe29f0b3d22c3d81c) an auxiliary keyboard for a Perkins-Elmer 1600 Series IR spectrophotometer (see pp. 8 & 377-382).  It seems reasonable to assume that the -8451 was something similar.
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: iMav on Wed, 26 May 2010, 01:19:01
Quote from: ripster;186715
A mini with arrow keys.  Beats the HHKB!


More keys != better.
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: Infinite north on Wed, 26 May 2010, 01:27:20
If you say that you must have missed this then.

(http://akiba-pc.watch.impress.co.jp/hotline/20100522/image/vrf11.jpg)
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: iMav on Wed, 26 May 2010, 01:31:32
Quote from: Infinite north;186973
If you say that you must have missed this then.

My point exactly. :)
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: Nonmouse on Wed, 26 May 2010, 01:36:33
Quote from: Infinite north;186973
If you say that you must have missed this then.

!= != =
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: kishy on Wed, 26 May 2010, 01:57:46
Moar keys = automatically better, every time.
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Thu, 27 May 2010, 18:22:25
(http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/4564/img0068iu.jpg)
(http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4807/img0067sl.jpg)
(http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/8207/img0069fpp.jpg)
(http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/7594/img0077id.jpg)
(http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/2579/img0072vo.jpg)
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Thu, 27 May 2010, 18:25:54
Pictures don't do it justice.  The keys are a really wonderful white color in reality.
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: kriminal on Thu, 27 May 2010, 18:35:50
wow thats a great find!
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: Mental Hobbit on Thu, 27 May 2010, 18:44:45
Man, I'd kill for that board... and a way to make it work with a PC.
Is the "Sr." position of the dip switch for XT?
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Thu, 27 May 2010, 19:03:21
It's kind of strange to think that keyboards were being made with both an RJ-45 jack and wireless capability at the same time.

I did find a infrared USB device that could have been used with a wireless keyboard.  Does anyone know if all wireless infrared keyboards use the same interface?
Title: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Thu, 27 May 2010, 19:25:49
If you think that I could get much money for it, I'll sell it after I get it working.  It might take a year, but I do intend to get it working.  I'm planning on learning a couple of programming languages this year, so if I can't get it working with the wireless device I have now, maybe I could write my own drivers for it.