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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mike52787 on Mon, 02 May 2016, 17:32:22

Title: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: mike52787 on Mon, 02 May 2016, 17:32:22: Hey geeks, Just got a great find at a local thrift store. Looking through a pile of rubber dome boards and other assorted thrift store garbage, I spotted an old sharp typewriter. I almost passed it up, but Im glad I didnt. I decided to try pressing a few keys, and WOW! I heard the beautiful pinging sound of alps. Pulling off a cap, I noticed that they are beautiful doubleshot caps and alps skcl green switches. I took it up to the register, and paid the princely sum of 5$ for it. Heres a few pics, Im thinking about harvesting the switches and putting them in my custom alps tkl im building.

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

(http://i.imgur.com/bWtZ9te.jpg)
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: chyros on Mon, 02 May 2016, 17:36:53: Haha, yeah, SKCL Green pings badly xD . Lovely typing noise though. And Alps doubleshots, ISO even! Very nice.
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: Mattr567 on Mon, 02 May 2016, 23:29:23: Nice man! Will keep my eye out for one myself, what is the model?

EDIT: I think its the PA-1000
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: alienman82 on Mon, 02 May 2016, 23:39:54: removed.
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 03 May 2016, 05:49:57: I have one similar to that, also with green Alps!

It's actually what convinced me to try MX reds.

I don't like MX reds.
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: CPTBadAss on Tue, 03 May 2016, 06:19:53: I knew I shouldn't keep passing up random typewriters at the thrift. You never know what you might find. I'm checking everything from now on. So cool.
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: chyros on Tue, 03 May 2016, 06:29:48: Quote from: rowdy on Tue, 03 May 2016, 05:49:57
It's actually what convinced me to try MX reds.

I don't like MX reds.
Not anymore :)) .
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: mike52787 on Tue, 03 May 2016, 14:23:10: Quote from: rowdy on Tue, 03 May 2016, 05:49:57
I don't like MX reds.

I agree, mx reds feel like typing on wet mashed potatoes.
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: mike52787 on Tue, 03 May 2016, 14:38:31: Quote from: Mattr567 on Mon, 02 May 2016, 23:29:23
Nice man! Will keep my eye out for one myself, what is the model?

EDIT: I think its the PA-1000
Yup, its the pa 1000. Watch out, not all the switches have a regular alps stem. The top rows with the small caps are some kind of "half heighth" switch. I'm not sure if they are able to be used with regular caps or modified in any way, but the piece on the caps are smaller than a normal alps keycap.

(http://i.imgur.com/tMjEnC1.jpg)
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: mike52787 on Tue, 03 May 2016, 14:40:09: Quote from: alienman82 on Mon, 02 May 2016, 23:39:54
nice I found a Sharp tyewriter with green alps in a sorta HHKB style layout. I might cut down the OG plate and mod a HASU psb to work with the odd bottom row :3

This one has a kindof nice 60-65% layout too, so let me know what comes of that project! I would love to mod this one.
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: eohmiller on Fri, 13 May 2016, 14:38:56: Almost picked one of these up the other day. I've been wanting to try Green Alps for a while. You've convinced me! haha
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: Keycap on Fri, 13 May 2016, 15:06:16: I'm so jealous right now.. :))
Green Alps are fantastic linear switches. Makes you wonder why Cherry even bothered to compete with Alps at the time. Sure, Cherry had an edge in the POS/industrial field, but that was about it. Alps Electric really knew what they were doing with the SKCL/SKCM series. Such a shame that they had to fade away after the release of Windows 95.
As for the caps, those are very nice indeed! And the typewriter is in such good condition. You really cannot argue about the $5 at all if you're receiving good condition Alps. At least I would never complain about it. That's cheaper than a brand new rubber dome board at the store! :)
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: alienman82 on Fri, 13 May 2016, 15:24:16: removed.
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 15 May 2016, 02:46:47: I actually found mine again, and it has the CODE key bottom left and the half-size keycaps (and switches) at the top. It is also a Sharp.
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: t8c on Sun, 15 May 2016, 03:54:05: Is it the same as this one ? -> http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Sharp-PA-1000-Intelliwriter-Typewriter-/282029805692?hash=item41aa49507c:g:llQAAOSw1KxXMpX0

So cool :cool: :cool:
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: SBJ on Sun, 15 May 2016, 04:10:52: Wow that's amazingly cool.
I don't come across a lot of typewriters or cool electronic stuff in general at the stores I can get to.
Maybe I should do a monthly travel day to the capital and look through some stores there. :D
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 15 May 2016, 05:02:05: Quote from: t8c on Sun, 15 May 2016, 03:54:05
Is it the same as this one ? -> http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Sharp-PA-1000-Intelliwriter-Typewriter-/282029805692?hash=item41aa49507c:g:llQAAOSw1KxXMpX0

So cool :cool: :cool:

Mine?

I'd have to pull it out again to see, but it looks similar from what I remember.
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: Mattr567 on Sun, 15 May 2016, 09:56:50: Quote from: t8c on Sun, 15 May 2016, 03:54:05
Is it the same as this one ? -> http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Sharp-PA-1000-Intelliwriter-Typewriter-/282029805692?hash=item41aa49507c:g:llQAAOSw1KxXMpX0

So cool :cool: :cool:

Yep was looking at that listing. You can tell from the caps. Plus that specific model is the same as OP's, so we know for sure.
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: alienman82 on Sun, 15 May 2016, 13:25:55: removed.
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: mike52787 on Sun, 15 May 2016, 16:57:27: Quote from: alienman82 on Sun, 15 May 2016, 13:25:55
I made this from mine today:

:)

Show Image
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160515/863b2b5b761cac458f8aa459ee7f835a.jpg)
S
I would love to do that, but I cant get around the iso enter, I personally ****ing hate iso layout, maybe because ive used ansi all my life. Im buying an alpsparty board and plate and im gonna transplant the swithces. If anyone wants the original plate, pcb, and the half heighth switches, pm me.
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: klennkellon on Sun, 15 May 2016, 20:02:25: neat. linear alps are the only linear switches I can stand.
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: jaffers on Sun, 15 May 2016, 20:51:00: That's some click bait title right there
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: mike52787 on Sun, 15 May 2016, 20:54:44: Quote from: jaffers on Sun, 15 May 2016, 20:51:00
That's some click bait title right there

WOW!!!!
Title: Re: WOW! Alps SKCL Green Typewriter
Post by: Venatorious on Sun, 15 May 2016, 20:56:38: Quote from: alienman82 on Sun, 15 May 2016, 13:25:55
I made this from mine today:

:)

Show Image
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160515/863b2b5b761cac458f8aa459ee7f835a.jpg)
S

That looks... soooo nice. :cool: