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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: hodgepodge1983 on Tue, 15 November 2011, 00:16:59

Title: My first score! Delta and Dell for $6! (Pics and vid)
Post by: hodgepodge1983 on Tue, 15 November 2011, 00:16:59

Hey everyone, I thought I would add my first score to the forums here, since a search didn't produce much. Recently (thanks in part to you all), I have started to re-visit thrift stores in search of vintage computers and peripherals, and today netted my first score - TWO mechanical keyboards for $3 each! I'm ashamed to admit the excitement I felt as I rummaged through the pile of crappy rubber domes, but your enthusiasm is contagious.  The first is a boring Dell AT101W. That seems to be a very common keyboard, so let's move on to the next one: a "Delta Enhanced Keyboard" made by Deyi Technology - COMPLETE with the original dust cover! From my research (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?17746-I-found-a-BTC-5339), it seems to have "BTC-style" switches? I can't find a lot of information on these; is that their actual name? I am familiar with them, however; I last used them in elementary school, and it certainly brought back memories typing on them.

Here are some pics (no, it is not missing the tilde key):

Keyboard, view 1: http://socalfsj.servebbs.net/storage052/internet_available/temp/computers/keyboards/delta_enhanced/delta4.JPG
Keyboard, with dust cover: http://socalfsj.servebbs.net/storage052/internet_available/temp/computers/keyboards/delta_enhanced/delta5.JPG
Switch, view 1: http://socalfsj.servebbs.net/storage052/internet_available/temp/computers/keyboards/delta_enhanced/delta2.JPG
Switch, top-down view: http://socalfsj.servebbs.net/storage052/internet_available/temp/computers/keyboards/delta_enhanced/delta3.JPG
Manufacturer's data label: http://socalfsj.servebbs.net/storage052/internet_available/temp/computers/keyboards/delta_enhanced/delta6.JPG

And here's a video of it in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z49SZ9063YU

Honestly, I really love the way this one feels, and the racket it makes is great! I haven't taken a typing test on it because I can't find a Baby-AT to PS/2 adapter, but it seems that I can type faster on it than I can on the Model M. It's like a cross between Cherry Blues and Buckling Springs.

Just thought I would post to add some information to this great site, and maybe view some of your comments (good or bad). Of course, if you have any specific information about this company (Deyi Technology), that'd be great. Thanks for reading!

Other keyboards I have: IBM Model M (Lexmark, two-piece keycaps), Tandy Enhanced Keyboard (Peerless - it came with my very first computer, which I still have), Sun Type 5, Dell AT101W.
Other keyboards I've owned: Filco Majestouch (Cherry Blue), SIIG Mechanical (ALPS).

Title: My first score! Delta and Dell for $6! (Pics and vid)
Post by: spolia optima on Tue, 15 November 2011, 10:26:19

Looks like capacitive foam/foil keyswitches. They're great for typing if the foam is still good.