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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: jacobolus on Wed, 16 July 2014, 13:21:39

Title: AT-layout white space invader board, bidding at $32 shipped
Post by: jacobolus on Wed, 16 July 2014, 13:21:39
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161367899757

I asked the seller to pull a cap, and this keyboard apparently uses one-eyed white space invader switches. I’m pretty sure those are the linear kind.
Title: Re: AT-layout white space invader board, bidding at $32 shipped
Post by: jdcarpe on Wed, 16 July 2014, 13:28:17
Mmmm, that AT layout. :)
Title: Re: AT-layout white space invader board, bidding at $32 shipped
Post by: korrelate on Wed, 16 July 2014, 14:39:39
I just read up on this....


http://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue86/007_1_IBM_Compatibles.php (http://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue86/007_1_IBM_Compatibles.php)

Says that Vendex computers were made by Samsung. Doesn't break out the keyboard though... probably farmed out to some other company in NK?

Title: Re: AT-layout white space invader board, bidding at $32 shipped
Post by: jacobolus on Wed, 16 July 2014, 15:18:10
If it has these Hi-Tek “space invader” switches, then the keyboard was very likely made by NMB. But yeah, Vendex was a New York company, and the computers were made by Samsung.
Title: Re: AT-layout white space invader board, bidding at $32 shipped
Post by: nubbinator on Wed, 16 July 2014, 19:37:43
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161367899757

I asked the seller to pull a cap, and this keyboard apparently uses one-eyed white space invader switches. I’m pretty sure those are the linear kind.

You and I both asked apparently.  He just got back to me on it as well, asking for any info I might have on it.  He had another interesting looking old board, but said that no caps came off and there were no identifiers: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=151356362605&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123
Title: Re: AT-layout white space invader board, bidding at $32 shipped
Post by: jacobolus on Wed, 16 July 2014, 21:26:33
You and I both asked apparently.  He just got back to me on it as well, asking for any info I might have on it.  He had another interesting looking old board, but said that no caps came off and there were no identifiers: http://www.ebay.com/itm/151356362605
I'm at least 90% sure that that’s green alps with dye-sub PBT keycaps. It looks identical to the later Zenith version, except for the little logo plate.

Speaking of Heath keyboards, these are interesting too: http://www.ebay.com/itm/161362824310
Low-profile ITW magnetic valve switches (the seller pulled a cap) http://deskthority.net/wiki/ITW_magnetic_valve
Title: Re: AT-layout white space invader board, bidding at $32 shipped
Post by: nubbinator on Wed, 16 July 2014, 23:28:08
I'm at least 90% sure that that’s green alps with dye-sub PBT keycaps. It looks identical to the later Zenith version, except for the little logo plate.

It could be, but it's some pricey Green Alps.


Speaking of Heath keyboards, these are interesting too: http://www.ebay.com/itm/161362824310
Low-profile ITW magnetic valve switches (the seller pulled a cap) http://deskthority.net/wiki/ITW_magnetic_valve

(http://i.imgur.com/pjOAfNp.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/Dmmb9PQ.jpg)
Title: Re: AT-layout white space invader board, bidding at $32 shipped
Post by: dorkvader on Fri, 18 July 2014, 16:07:38
re-listed:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151358446369
note that this ITW keyboard is one of the few rubber domes with NKRO.

In such a design the domes are mainly to be tactile as opposed to the linear version with springs.
Title: Re: AT-layout white space invader board, bidding at $32 shipped
Post by: jacobolus on Fri, 18 July 2014, 17:36:03
I wouldn’t really compare that to generic “rubber domes” – it uses a buckling rubber sleeve, but the switch uses a magnet to actuate rather than a membrane, so you don’t need to bottom out the switch for it to actuate.