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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Weltsadist on Sun, 03 April 2016, 14:59:20

Title: Who knows this Chicony 5160 / IBM XT F - style / clone keyboard?
Post by: Weltsadist on Sun, 03 April 2016, 14:59:20
Hey guys,

Anyone around this place, who has seen this vintage keyboard before?

It looks a lot like the Chicony KB-5160, but it has flat keycaps for Alt and Capslock and seems to have a solid metal backplate...

Anyone who has seen this before? Model, vendor, kind of key switch?
Title: Re: Who knows this Chicony 5160 / IBM XT F - style / clone keyboard?
Post by: chyros on Sun, 03 April 2016, 19:19:10
That's a Focus FK-747. Should be Alps SKCM Blue.
Title: Re: Who knows this Chicony 5160 / IBM XT F - style / clone keyboard?
Post by: Mattr567 on Sun, 03 April 2016, 19:26:43
Quote from: chyros on Sun, 03 April 2016, 19:19:10
That's a Focus FK-747. Should be Alps SKCM Blue.

Didn't know that existed. And it has Cherry style caps. Did this pre-date the FK-555?

EDIT: Googled it, that doesn't look quite right, I think this is a Cherry keyboard.
Title: Re: Who knows this Chicony 5160 / IBM XT F - style / clone keyboard?
Post by: chyros on Mon, 04 April 2016, 02:54:11
Quote from: Mattr567 on Sun, 03 April 2016, 19:26:43
Quote from: chyros on Sun, 03 April 2016, 19:19:10
That's a Focus FK-747. Should be Alps SKCM Blue.

Didn't know that existed. And it has Cherry style caps. Did this pre-date the FK-555?

EDIT: Googled it, that doesn't look quite right, I think this is a Cherry keyboard.
Here's a picture of a Focus FK-747:

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

What differences did you notice? Oo
Title: Re: Who knows this Chicony 5160 / IBM XT F - style / clone keyboard?
Post by: jacobolus on Mon, 04 April 2016, 03:02:26
Those are obviously different keycaps.

The one in the OP reminds me of https://deskthority.net/photos-f62/the-fame-gog3ylth-5539-surprise-t13381.html

(http://i.imgur.com/3WVl9gz.jpg)

Considering the layout (indicates a mid–late 1980s timeframe), blue Alps seems like a decent bet.
Title: Re: Who knows this Chicony 5160 / IBM XT F - style / clone keyboard?
Post by: chyros on Mon, 04 April 2016, 03:10:14
Hmmm, maybe it's a Tai-Hao clone then. Or the Focus was xD .
Title: Re: Who knows this Chicony 5160 / IBM XT F - style / clone keyboard?
Post by: Weltsadist on Mon, 04 April 2016, 05:19:19
Well I could not resist & asked the seller for some discount...
It was still expensive for doing a blind bargain. But we will likely lift the secret during the next days...

Getting original blue SKCM Alps on this gorgeous Layout would be too good to be true...  ;D

Quote from: chyros on Mon, 04 April 2016, 03:10:14
Hmmm, maybe it's a Tai-Hao clone then. Or the Focus was xD .
After doing some research and comparison, I think it might well be made by Tai-Hao. Does this mean it could likely come with some sort of their Alps clones?
Title: Re: Who knows this Chicony 5160 / IBM XT F - style / clone keyboard?
Post by: chyros on Mon, 04 April 2016, 06:19:57
Quote from: Weltsadist on Mon, 04 April 2016, 05:19:19
After doing some research and comparison, I think it might well be made by Tai-Hao. Does this mean it could likely come with some sort of their Alps clones?
It might have Aruz switches possibly. But considering the age I think blue Alps is a pretty decent bet.
Title: Re: Who knows this Chicony 5160 / IBM XT F - style / clone keyboard?
Post by: Weltsadist on Wed, 06 April 2016, 10:59:55
I have to say, I am a little bit dissapointed...

It came with some kind of linear switches - no Cherry Logo on them.
The spacebar comes with some very heavy switch with a beige/white slider that says "Key World".
Maybe they are some kind of these taiwanese knock-offs; https://deskthority.net/wiki/Taiwan_white_and_black_shaft

[attach=2]

I have to say, that I prefer the keyfeel of these to Cherry MX Black switches, they feel very smooth and not scratchy at all, I think they are slighty lubricanted.
Anyway I like clicky siwtches better.  :D

The overall build quality is excellent, double shot keycaps - but there is absolutely no manufacturer - neither on the case or the PCB.
But if I am right about the switches, Tai-Hoa or Chicony could possibly be the OEM...
The big IC on the PCB says (c) INTEL 1980...

[attach=1]

Sadly it doesn`t work when connected to the PS/2 port of my computer... The LEDs light up on boot but then it dies...