geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Gdubb90 on Tue, 19 April 2016, 20:01:48

Title: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: Gdubb90 on Tue, 19 April 2016, 20:01:48
Hey folks!

A guy at work had mentioned to me that he was trying to get rid of some old electronics he had in his storage unit. Naturally I asked if he had any keyboards and he said yea! So I pilfered through the unit and this is what I emerged with. So what do you say, keyboard sleuths, can you help me out? :D

1) Tandy 1000 - personal favorite, really love the look of this one! Any more info about this one?
(http://i.imgur.com/MT8aBdb.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/vUWBFjF.jpg)

2) NMB RT101+ - definitely needs a good cleaning but it has a great click and feel to it. What are these switches?
(http://i.imgur.com/dmrGBmn.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/pOcusTB.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/Ud4lA2G.jpg)

Now for the real mystery...
3) Crystal Visions (cherry MX knockoff or not??) - I found two of these and I am confused to say the least. The model on the back of them says MX 11900, one of them has the cherry logo on front but a different sticker on the back. One has the cherry model MX 11900 on the back but no cherry logos to be found. Are they knock offs, fakes, or something else? The switches definitely look like cherry material, but they don't feel very high quality.
(http://i.imgur.com/q3CPU3s.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/gNUrtzf.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/iGyeZrV.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/990cL1I.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/MgIAsTS.jpg)

4) Mystery board - unsure about this one, the only info I could gather from the back is the model # MKB 931. Havent had much luck tracking that down.
(http://i.imgur.com/KbLWp9t.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/zUvMjtL.jpg)

Thanks in advance for any and all help!!
Title: Re: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: smknjoe on Tue, 19 April 2016, 20:06:35
What's under the keycaps on the Tandy?

The Cherries look like OEM Cherry boards to me.
Title: Re: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: smknjoe on Tue, 19 April 2016, 20:08:57
What's under the keycaps of all of them? I just see the one Cherry with Blacks.
Title: Re: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: Gdubb90 on Tue, 19 April 2016, 20:19:23
Quote from: smknjoe on Tue, 19 April 2016, 20:08:57
What's under the keycaps of all of them? I just see the one Cherry with Blacks.

1) Tandy
(http://i.imgur.com/x4sfbWj.jpg)

2) NMB
(http://i.imgur.com/zH1ShIG.jpg)

4) Mystery
(http://i.imgur.com/POIa0ts.jpg)
Title: Re: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 19 April 2016, 21:29:30
Don't know about the Tandy.
The 11900s should have decent black Cherry switches, if you like linears. The touchpad is great but small and old-fashioned.
The NMB is Hi-Tek "Space Invaders" that are very desirable, but be very careful removing the caps so that you don't bend the "fingers" or lose the springs. The Alps-mount keyboard might provide a good set of key caps even if the feel is no good.
Title: Re: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: Mattr567 on Tue, 19 April 2016, 22:12:11
Quote from: fohat.digs on Tue, 19 April 2016, 21:29:30
Don't know about the Tandy.
The 11900s should have decent black Cherry switches, if you like linears. The touchpad is great but small and old-fashioned.
The NMB is Hi-Tek "Space Invaders" that are very desirable, but be very careful removing the caps so that you don't bend the "fingers" or lose the springs. The Alps-mount keyboard might provide a good set of key caps even if the feel is no good.

Those caps look alright, thin pad printed ABS. Still worth saving.
Title: Re: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: Gdubb90 on Tue, 19 April 2016, 22:32:38
Quote from: fohat.digs on Tue, 19 April 2016, 21:29:30
Don't know about the Tandy.
The 11900s should have decent black Cherry switches, if you like linears. The touchpad is great but small and old-fashioned.
The NMB is Hi-Tek "Space Invaders" that are very desirable, but be very careful removing the caps so that you don't bend the "fingers" or lose the springs. The Alps-mount keyboard might provide a good set of key caps even if the feel is no good.

Thanks for the info! I really appreciate it. I'll be doing some research on them for sure.
Title: Re: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: Darkshado on Wed, 20 April 2016, 01:02:36
Could the Alps mount one be of the "slider over dome" variety?
Title: Re: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: chyros on Wed, 20 April 2016, 02:51:46
Fujitsu leaf spring
NMB Hi-Tek "space invaders"
Cherry MX Black (they feel like **** because they are)
Alps dome with slider
Title: Re: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: Gdubb90 on Wed, 20 April 2016, 06:41:40
Quote from: chyros on Wed, 20 April 2016, 02:51:46
Fujitsu leaf spring
NMB Hi-Tek "space invaders"
Cherry MX Black (they feel like **** because they are)
Alps dome with slider

Thanks! I feel like I did alright for a free storage unit raid. The space invaders have a great feel to them, now I just need to do some serious cleaning...
Title: Re: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: fohat.digs on Wed, 20 April 2016, 06:59:22
Quote from: Gdubb90 on Wed, 20 April 2016, 06:41:40
The space invaders have a great feel to them, now I just need to do some serious cleaning...

Never grab the caps by the corners or you will pull up the top of the switch assembly. Be especially careful of the "fingers" in the switch leaf.
Title: Re: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: chyros on Wed, 20 April 2016, 07:49:54
Quote from: Gdubb90 on Wed, 20 April 2016, 06:41:40
Quote from: chyros on Wed, 20 April 2016, 02:51:46
Fujitsu leaf spring
NMB Hi-Tek "space invaders"
Cherry MX Black (they feel like **** because they are)
Alps dome with slider

Thanks! I feel like I did alright for a free storage unit raid. The space invaders have a great feel to them, now I just need to do some serious cleaning...
Like Fohat said, be careful with the NMB Hi-Teks. They're not nice switches to work with at all, try to avoid disassembling them if you can avoid it ;) . That said, they're really nice switches, and the caps are second to none :D .
Title: Re: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: Gdubb90 on Wed, 20 April 2016, 07:59:33

Quote from: chyros on Wed, 20 April 2016, 07:49:54
Quote from: Gdubb90 on Wed, 20 April 2016, 06:41:40
Quote from: chyros on Wed, 20 April 2016, 02:51:46
Fujitsu leaf spring
NMB Hi-Tek "space invaders"
Cherry MX Black (they feel like **** because they are)
Alps dome with slider

Thanks! I feel like I did alright for a free storage unit raid. The space invaders have a great feel to them, now I just need to do some serious cleaning...
Like Fohat said, be careful with the NMB Hi-Teks. They're not nice switches to work with at all, try to avoid disassembling them if you can avoid it ;) . That said, they're really nice switches, and the caps are second to none :D .

I used a keycap puller to remove the other one but yea I'll probably avoid doing it any more, I would hate to damage the keyboard!

Any suggestions on cleaning it without having to remove the caps?
Title: Re: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: chyros on Wed, 20 April 2016, 08:34:40
Quote from: Gdubb90 on Wed, 20 April 2016, 07:59:33

Quote from: chyros on Wed, 20 April 2016, 07:49:54
Quote from: Gdubb90 on Wed, 20 April 2016, 06:41:40
Quote from: chyros on Wed, 20 April 2016, 02:51:46
Fujitsu leaf spring
NMB Hi-Tek "space invaders"
Cherry MX Black (they feel like **** because they are)
Alps dome with slider

Thanks! I feel like I did alright for a free storage unit raid. The space invaders have a great feel to them, now I just need to do some serious cleaning...
Like Fohat said, be careful with the NMB Hi-Teks. They're not nice switches to work with at all, try to avoid disassembling them if you can avoid it ;) . That said, they're really nice switches, and the caps are second to none :D .

I used a keycap puller to remove the other one but yea I'll probably avoid doing it any more, I would hate to damage the keyboard!

Any suggestions on cleaning it without having to remove the caps?
They clean up pretty well tbh. You can pull the caps, just make sure to remove them sideways to avoid pulling out the slider. I made a video of how I do it, long ago.

With the caps off, you can just brush and hoover out all the dust and dirt without too much of a problem :) .

Here's that video, hope you find it useful :) :
Title: Re: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: Gdubb90 on Wed, 20 April 2016, 09:01:38
Quote from: chyros on Wed, 20 April 2016, 08:34:40
Quote from: Gdubb90 on Wed, 20 April 2016, 07:59:33

Quote from: chyros on Wed, 20 April 2016, 07:49:54
Quote from: Gdubb90 on Wed, 20 April 2016, 06:41:40
Quote from: chyros on Wed, 20 April 2016, 02:51:46
Fujitsu leaf spring
NMB Hi-Tek "space invaders"
Cherry MX Black (they feel like **** because they are)
Alps dome with slider

Thanks! I feel like I did alright for a free storage unit raid. The space invaders have a great feel to them, now I just need to do some serious cleaning...
Like Fohat said, be careful with the NMB Hi-Teks. They're not nice switches to work with at all, try to avoid disassembling them if you can avoid it ;) . That said, they're really nice switches, and the caps are second to none :D .

I used a keycap puller to remove the other one but yea I'll probably avoid doing it any more, I would hate to damage the keyboard!

Any suggestions on cleaning it without having to remove the caps?
They clean up pretty well tbh. You can pull the caps, just make sure to remove them sideways to avoid pulling out the slider. I made a video of how I do it, long ago.

With the caps off, you can just brush and hoover out all the dust and dirt without too much of a problem :) .

Here's that video, hope you find it useful :) :

That's exactly what I needed to know, thanks Chyros!!
Title: Re: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: invariance on Fri, 22 April 2016, 00:13:33
That mystery one is interesting, the FCC ID is registered to PC Expert Tech Co Ltd.
Ebay had a sale of an MKB931 (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Allg-Gen-MKB931-64C160968-White-DIN-5-AT-Keyboard-/321290308416?nma=true&si=CF8Dzf296xRja82iWDpwiXD9CJw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557) although the manufacturing stamp on the back is slightly different and appears to have some german printed that is very hard to make out (below the sticker).

(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzIwWDEyODA=/z/1yoAAOSwEK9UDcN3/$_57.JPG)

The seller stated the manufacturer as Allg. Gen.
Even though I don't know an ounce of German (we really need someone to translate this), and hopefully I don't insult anyone, I thought that i would punch in what I could make out into an online dictionary to try and make something of it: Funken.... could be Funkentstort - suppressed {adj against noise or interference}, nach - ?? to/past/on/for/in accord with/..., Allg. - short for allgermein = general, and Gen. - short for 'to' as in the direction of.
I would guess it states that it doesn't cause local electrical interference and has nothing to do with the manufacturer.
Title: Re: Need some keyboard sleuths to help me identify some oldschool keyboards I found!
Post by: Gdubb90 on Fri, 22 April 2016, 08:39:52
Quote from: invariance on Fri, 22 April 2016, 00:13:33
That mystery one is interesting, the FCC ID is registered to PC Expert Tech Co Ltd.
Ebay had a sale of an MKB931 (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Allg-Gen-MKB931-64C160968-White-DIN-5-AT-Keyboard-/321290308416?nma=true&si=CF8Dzf296xRja82iWDpwiXD9CJw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557) although the manufacturing stamp on the back is slightly different and appears to have some german printed that is very hard to make out.

Show Image
(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzIwWDEyODA=/z/1yoAAOSwEK9UDcN3/$_57.JPG)


The seller stated the manufacturer as Allg. Gen.
Even though I don't know an ounce of German (we really need someone to translate this), and hopefully I don't insult anyone, I thought that i would punch in what I could make out into an online dictionary to try and make something of it: Funken.... could be Funkentstort - suppressed {adj against noise or interference}, nach - ??? to/past/on/for/in accord with/..., Allg. - short for allgermein = general, and Gen. - short for 'to' as in the direction of.
I would guess it states that it doesn't cause local electrical interference and has nothing to do with the manufacturer.


That is really interesting, thanks for the detective work! Ill look into that myself, my brother can speak a little German so maybe he can help out.

I also found those crystal visions boards really intriguing. If you look them up they have a website that says they have been selling those cherry keyboards since the 90s and they want almost $200 for a new one. Are they just buying them and slapping their logo on them? Even then, why are they so expensive? The keys don't feel high quality at all.