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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: didjamatic on Mon, 07 December 2009, 12:00:06

Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: didjamatic on Mon, 07 December 2009, 12:00:06
Found this on some pallets headed for the recycler this morning...

3x Alps boards:  Focus 2001 w/white real Alps, Acer with Blue Monterey Click Tactile, Elite with white real Alps
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx0_14IqbXI/AAAAAAAAAGE/obD6rjy7-SM/s800/vintage_loot_alps_keyboards.jpg)

1989 Fontex Laptop - Working 286 with 1MB RAM and DOS 4.1,  Cherry Blues and 2 Shot keys.
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx0_13iQr_I/AAAAAAAAAGA/0UdqIH7a4vc/s800/vintage_loot_89_laptop_blue_cherries.jpg)

(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx1FpwpHmkI/AAAAAAAAAGM/f__a2vu9NLU/s800/vintage_loot_89_laptop_blue_cherries3.jpg)

(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx1Em_Zi74I/AAAAAAAAAGI/Dd44jY4-joY/s800/vintage_loot_89_laptop_blue_cherries2.jpg)

It's going to be a good week.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: timw4mail on Mon, 07 December 2009, 12:02:29
A laptop keyboard with double-shot Cherrys? Wow. Too bad the computer is really worth using despite having such a nice keyboard.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: erricrice on Mon, 07 December 2009, 12:02:39
That's ridiculous!
A 1989 laptop with cherry blues?  Now that's a collector's item!
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: didjamatic on Mon, 07 December 2009, 12:10:29
Added a photo of key removed w/blue cherry + label on back.

It's funny to type "dir" and watch the list slowly scroll down the screen rather than blink past.  I forgot what that was like.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: ricercar on Mon, 07 December 2009, 12:33:20
I would love to put a Core2 Duo motherboard in there with a touchscreen. You thinking of selling or keeping that lappy?
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: timw4mail on Mon, 07 December 2009, 12:38:37
Quote from: didjamatic;139785
Added a photo of key removed w/blue cherry + label on back.

It's funny to type "dir" and watch the list slowly scroll down the screen rather than blink past.  I forgot what that was like.


Wow...that's a slow computer.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: didjamatic on Mon, 07 December 2009, 13:40:44
I will probably sell it due to lack of space, but I'm not sure.  It's really cool looking and I love the keyboard on this thing.  The caps could look good on a Filco too.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 07 December 2009, 13:51:42
Quote from: didjamatic;139775
Found this on some pallets headed for the recycler this morning...

3x Alps boards:  Focus 2001 w/aqua,

Aqua? That's a new one. I assume you mean Blue Alps? What do you think of them?

Quote
Acer with white, Elite with white.

Acer had their own switches. Does the Elite also have the same ones, or are they White Alps?
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: keyb_gr on Mon, 07 December 2009, 13:53:32
That Acer board prolly is a 6311, a mechanics-over-membrane job with Alps-ish feel (someone here called it "Alps gone wrong").

Nice shleptop, with blues and plasma screen and all, but honestly a slow 386 is bad enough fo my taste. ;)
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 07 December 2009, 13:59:53
Actually, speaking of aqua, some of the Focus keyboards had fake Alps that appeared to be a brighter shade of blue than the real blue Alps -

(Real)
(http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/fk2001/blue_sw2.jpg)

(Fake)
(http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/fk2001/swassybl2_s.jpg)
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: didjamatic on Mon, 07 December 2009, 14:03:39
Acer 6011 Manufactured in 1991 Blue Alps.  Definitely not a membrane board, but Alps is not visible on switch.  They are very light blue, more so in person than in photo so I referred to them as an Aqua color.
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx1e6gZcKaI/AAAAAAAAAGU/Kzb_QEZ_FUM/s800/vintage_loot_Elite_kb5181_blue_alps.jpg)

Focus 2001 White Alps - Alps is visible on switch
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx1e68pyQtI/AAAAAAAAAGY/uhefPluxqAo/s800/vintage_loot_Focus2001_white_alps.jpg)

Acer White Alps - Alps is visible on switch
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx1e66TyXCI/AAAAAAAAAGc/TiJXsXLfc5Y/s800/vintage_loot_acer6011_manufact91_whiteAlps.jpg)
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 07 December 2009, 14:09:54
Quote from: didjamatic;139830
Acer 6011 Manufactured in 1991 Blue Alps.  Definitely not a membrane board, but Alps is not visible on switch.  They are very light blue, more so in person than in photo so I referred to them as an Aqua color.

I thought you said the Aqua in relation to the Focus, my bad.

The Acers are half-membrane, half-mechanical. If you disassembled it further, you'd find the the switches rest over membrane contacts, unless you found something really rare. Those are definitely not Alps switches.

Quote
Acer White Alps - Alps is visible on switch

Interesting, there were some Acer boards with Alps, but they are not entirely common as far as I know.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: alpslover on Mon, 07 December 2009, 14:19:56
Quote from: didjamatic;139830
Acer 6011 Manufactured in 1991 Blue Alps.  Definitely not a membrane board, but Alps is not visible on switch.  They are very light blue, more so in person than in photo so I referred to them as an Aqua color.
Show Image
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx1e6gZcKaI/AAAAAAAAAGU/Kzb_QEZ_FUM/s800/vintage_loot_Elite_kb5181_blue_alps.jpg)



those are not alps switches, they're the 'monterey' click tactiles.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: didjamatic on Mon, 07 December 2009, 14:30:56
I did say Aqua on Focus so it was my bad.  Updated original post.

Thanks for the info Alpslover.
Here's the Acer opened up, it's really clean and has a PS/2 connector instead of AT.
Other than a little dust it's very clean.

(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx1lWjFru2I/AAAAAAAAAGg/8BWsTqnvVmk/s800/vintage_loot_Acer_6011_WhiteAlps2.jpg)

(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx1lW5NNA2I/AAAAAAAAAGk/T3fTXn3TL7A/s800/vintage_loot_Acer_6011_WhiteAlps3.jpg)

(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx1lW7CdpuI/AAAAAAAAAGo/hegN6-nXLkY/s800/vintage_loot_Acer_6011_WhiteAlps4.jpg)
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: microsoft windows on Mon, 07 December 2009, 14:32:17
Quote from: didjamatic;139775
Found this on some pallets headed for the recycler this morning...

3x Alps boards:  Focus 2001 w/white real Alps, Acer with Blue Monterey Click Tactile, Elite with white real Alps
Show Image
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx0_14IqbXI/AAAAAAAAAGE/obD6rjy7-SM/s800/vintage_loot_alps_keyboards.jpg)


1989 Fontex Laptop - Working 286 with 1MB RAM and DOS 4.1,  Cherry Blues and 2 Shot keys.
Show Image
(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx0_13iQr_I/AAAAAAAAAGA/0UdqIH7a4vc/s800/vintage_loot_89_laptop_blue_cherries.jpg)


Show Image
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx1FpwpHmkI/AAAAAAAAAGM/f__a2vu9NLU/s800/vintage_loot_89_laptop_blue_cherries3.jpg)


Show Image
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx1Em_Zi74I/AAAAAAAAAGI/Dd44jY4-joY/s800/vintage_loot_89_laptop_blue_cherries2.jpg)


It's going to be a good week.


I really like that old laptop! Great find!
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 07 December 2009, 14:33:44
Quote from: alpslover;139833
those are not alps switches, they're the 'monterey' click tactiles.


Scratch the Acer thing, those are the SMK "Monterey" switches alright.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: keyb_gr on Mon, 07 December 2009, 14:37:09
Never seen one of these (6011) before. I guess they're a lot less common than the 6311... then again, they look quite the same.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: didjamatic on Mon, 07 December 2009, 14:38:28
Thanks for the info Alpslover.

Here is the Acer opened up:
Other than a little dust it's very clean and to my surprise has a PS/2 connector.

(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx1lWjFru2I/AAAAAAAAAGg/8BWsTqnvVmk/s800/vintage_loot_Acer_6011_WhiteAlps2.jpg)

(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx1lW5NNA2I/AAAAAAAAAGk/T3fTXn3TL7A/s800/vintage_loot_Acer_6011_WhiteAlps3.jpg)

(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_-sQ6TN93LvU/Sx1lW7CdpuI/AAAAAAAAAGo/hegN6-nXLkY/s800/vintage_loot_Acer_6011_WhiteAlps4.jpg)
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: lowpoly on Mon, 07 December 2009, 15:55:40
Quote from: didjamatic;139775
1989 Fontex Laptop - Working 286 with 1MB RAM and DOS 4.1,  Cherry Blues and 2 Shot keys.

Looks very similar to my Toshiba, even up to the keycap colors. Very nice set of Cherry caps.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: didjamatic on Mon, 07 December 2009, 15:56:28
Yeah, I got them for my kids who were 3 at the time and then the warnings all came out about them being ingested and the magnets stick together and mess up your insides, sometimes causing death.  So they are safely kept at work until they are older.  Once again, I reap the benefits of a children's toy purchase.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Mon, 07 December 2009, 17:16:58
One man's trash is another man's new collection of old computer hardware.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: InSanCen on Tue, 08 December 2009, 02:41:17
Quote from: alpslover;139833
those are not alps switches, they're the 'monterey' click tactiles.

Hmmm.... I *think* I have similar switches in one of my boards.

Linkage (http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc307/InSanCenPP/IMG_6288.jpg)

The board is lent out to someone at the moment, will get better pictures when it's back.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: quadibloc on Tue, 08 December 2009, 07:45:23
Quote from: ripster;139777
The  Sears repairman showed up at my house with a laptop that looked remarkably similar to that one.


I have an old Toshiba laptop that looks a lot like that one. Also rescued from trash.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: sandy55 on Tue, 08 December 2009, 08:06:32
Quote from: ripster;139784

Maybe  Cherrys  were used in some industrial type laptops?  


linky (http://cgi.ebay.com/Dolch-PAC-64-Dolch-Computer-Systems-Inc-Rugged_W0QQitemZ180431117344QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2a02885c20#ht_500wt_1129)
Pac64 network sniffer has Blue Cherrys.  Not sure about newer Doch system.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 08 December 2009, 08:27:19
Hmm.  That Pac64 keyboard has the same layout as the G80-1800.  I wonder if it was a direct OEM for Doch.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: sethstorm on Tue, 08 December 2009, 11:02:05
Quote from: webwit;140072
That's a nice hard case to carry the Pac64 around! Even comes with a built-in keyboard status apparatus I see! It even says "Dutch" in the top right. Looks a bit heavy..


I'd believe the correct spelling is Dolch, after looking closer at it.

Google:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Dolch+Pac+64 (http://www.google.com/search?q=Dolch+Pac+64)
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: lowpoly on Tue, 08 December 2009, 11:21:50
Quote from: quadibloc;140059
I have an old Toshiba laptop that looks a lot like that one. Also rescued from trash.


Should have Alps switches.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: sixty on Tue, 08 December 2009, 11:23:23
Quote from: itlnstln;140070
Hmm.  That Pac64 keyboard has the same layout as the G80-1800.  I wonder if it was a direct OEM for Doch.


Its a G80-1813 yes, made by Cherry for Dolch.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 08 December 2009, 11:39:04
Quote from: sixty;140125
Its a G80-1813 yes, made by Cherry for Dolch.

Mmm... Tasty
 
(http://pds3.egloos.com/pds/200611/30/06/c0025306_12112765.jpg)
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: sethstorm on Tue, 08 December 2009, 11:57:09
Quote from: itlnstln;140134
Mmm... Tasty
 
Show Image
(http://pds3.egloos.com/pds/200611/30/06/c0025306_12112765.jpg)


That's asking for a conversion if that's not standard.  I'd hate to admit, but it looks a bit nicer than my NCR OEM'd G81.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 08 December 2009, 12:00:51
Quote from: sethstorm;140145
That's asking for a conversion if that's not standard. I'd hate to admit, but it looks a bit nicer than my NCR OEM'd G81.

I know I would.  I don't think I would spend $200+ for it like the one in the auction above (it's for the whole unit, though), but if I did, I would certainly spend the time to get it working.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: PRISONER 24601 on Tue, 08 December 2009, 12:17:16
that looks like some nice lewt. congrats.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: keyb_gr on Tue, 08 December 2009, 12:34:36
I'd think that a cable swap (from a regular Cherry G80/G81 with old-style case) would be the most one would have to do.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 08 December 2009, 12:37:35
Quote from: keyb_gr;140156
I'd think that a cable swap (from a regular Cherry G80/G81 with old-style case) would be the most one would have to do.

Damn.  Now I want one of these to come up.  I like the grey of the Dolch, though, so I might take parts from a regular 1800 to modify the Dolch instead of the other way around.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Tue, 08 December 2009, 14:44:55
I'm not even that knowledgeable with the keyboards yet and I can see that those aren't alps.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: microsoft windows on Tue, 08 December 2009, 16:07:21
I've seen a lot of Cherries with that layout. Guess it's their standard layout for compact keyboards.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 08 December 2009, 16:19:02
Unfortunately, they're damn near impossible to find with MX switches.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: microsoft windows on Tue, 08 December 2009, 16:42:01
Don't the Compaq ones have them?
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 08 December 2009, 16:50:43
Quote from: microsoft windows;140236
Don't the Compaq ones have them?

Yes, but that trackball gets in the way.  I want the keyboard only.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: microsoft windows on Tue, 08 December 2009, 16:53:20
I like tracking balls in keyboards.
Title: Vintage Loot
Post by: maxlugar on Tue, 08 December 2009, 18:48:39
[/QUOTE=ch_123;139841]Scratch the Acer thing, those are the SMK "Monterey" switches alright.[/QUOTE]

Blue SMK Monterey key switches kick ass.  They seem to have been considered a poor man's ALPS key switch and were common in early 1990's keyboards like the Chicony KB-5181.

They don't feel like real ALPS to me...much sharper tactile bump, higher up on the key stroke.  Somone  (manyac maybe?) described them as a cross between Blue Cherries and buckling springs.