That's amazing!
What switches would those be using you think?
Should be SKCM neon green or brown I guess, both excellent finds, congrats! :D
HNNNNGGThat's amazing!
What switches would those be using you think?
These godly ultra rare alps switches called Alps SKCM Green, only available in this board! :eek:
Jackpot!!! He had three!!!!Show Image(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160801/a49fe527e05eeaf398b01e286bca0911.jpg)Show Image(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160801/b6390214f6c91b4557ecba77b29408eb.jpg)
Wow, what a find, holy **** xD .
Are they pine or bamboo?
Yeah it's kinda terrifying really. Kinda. LolCool, how are you liking them? :)
Looks like one is pine and the other two are bamboo.
Cool, how are you liking them? :)
Almost like what Topre would be like if it were truly mechanical.Yes, that's pretty much exactly what I thought as well. In fact, everyone seems to think exactly that xD . Maybe they just have a really defined feel.
Almost like what Topre would be like if it were truly mechanical.Yes, that's pretty much exactly what I thought as well. In fact, everyone seems to think exactly that xD . Maybe they just have a really defined feel.
I really like them, but they're rather on the stiff side for me. Nonetheless an extremely interesting feel.
I got into contact with an Alps employee who confirmed they deliberately varied switch force to suit various customers' needs. These switches aren't stiff for no reason, indeed.Almost like what Topre would be like if it were truly mechanical.Yes, that's pretty much exactly what I thought as well. In fact, everyone seems to think exactly that xD . Maybe they just have a really defined feel.
I really like them, but they're rather on the stiff side for me. Nonetheless an extremely interesting feel.
Definitely on the stiff side. I think that was intentional. Press operators would want something they need to deliberately punch vs a delicate switch for typists that is too easy to actuate.
I got into contact with an Alps employee who confirmed they deliberately varied switch force to suit various customers' needs. These switches aren't stiff for no reason, indeed.
Yes, I tried to get a lot of info out of him. He actually made keyboards in the UK for Alps. He seemed to have forgotten a fair bit though. He's retiring later this year, and once I have more time on my hands I'll see if I can contact him again :) .I got into contact with an Alps employee who confirmed they deliberately varied switch force to suit various customers' needs. These switches aren't stiff for no reason, indeed.
Damn, surely you also asked this employee what lubricant Alps used on their early SKCM switches?! :o
Okay, that's really neat though. Like alienman, I definitely would like to hear whatever insider info you can get your hands on.Oh rest assured if I find anything useful I'm posting it all over :) .
Thats really cool! :) Wonder if Alps has any NOS switches laying around. Probably not the 1st gen switches like SKCM Blue since I imagine they just used up all their stock and just transitioned to SKCM White when they ran out for example. More likely switches like SKCM Greens or non-damp SKCM Creams since they were more of one off's maybe.Yes, I tried to get a lot of info out of him. He actually made keyboards in the UK for Alps. He seemed to have forgotten a fair bit though. He's retiring later this year, and once I have more time on my hands I'll see if I can contact him again :) .I got into contact with an Alps employee who confirmed they deliberately varied switch force to suit various customers' needs. These switches aren't stiff for no reason, indeed.
Damn, surely you also asked this employee what lubricant Alps used on their early SKCM switches?! :o
Almost certainly not. None of the products they list in their catalog have had these switches for 20 years or so. It's expensive to have stuff lying around for that long, I'm pretty certain they'll have either used it up or dumped it, that's why they switched to Forward after all. I imagine they sold off the last stock of their last switches, SKCM Black, to Silitek off which they kept making AT101s for FOREVER.Thats really cool! :) Wonder if Alps has any NOS switches laying around. Probably not the 1st gen switches like SKCM Blue since I imagine they just used up all their stock and just transitioned to SKCM White when they ran out for example. More likely switches like SKCM Greens or non-damp SKCM Creams since they were more of one off's maybe.Yes, I tried to get a lot of info out of him. He actually made keyboards in the UK for Alps. He seemed to have forgotten a fair bit though. He's retiring later this year, and once I have more time on my hands I'll see if I can contact him again :) .I got into contact with an Alps employee who confirmed they deliberately varied switch force to suit various customers' needs. These switches aren't stiff for no reason, indeed.
Damn, surely you also asked this employee what lubricant Alps used on their early SKCM switches?! :o
Jeez, really?! 98 is quite far down the timeline, I hadn't expected them that late Oo .
Right, so the timeframe for these is actually about 1996-1998 AFAWK? I guess even the pine ones must have been quite late to the scene. That'd strengthen the suspicion they weren't based on meant to be a continuation of SKCM Brown as that had been out of production for almost a decade by that time xD .
What's more annoying than someone who hoards, imo, is someone who buys something rare and then doesn't even document it for others to see.
Damn E3E is pale!
Damn E3E is pale!
Lol No, I'm the pale one. I shot those crappy pics earlier tonight. It does sound like he got ahold of a 6085 board with pine greens which I most certainly envy! Mine is brown like the one nubbs found.
I was promised the keyboard and mouse from a Docutech 135. If your interested I will post pics when I get it later this month.
Awesome, now we're getting somewhere :D . I always like it when a keyboard or switch timeline gets fleshed out like this :) . Incidentally, the DT wiki page on SKCM neon green got an overhaul recently, too :) .
Yeah, that's Daniel :P . God knows I don't call things rare quickly, but neon greens are rare :P .Awesome, now we're getting somewhere :D . I always like it when a keyboard or switch timeline gets fleshed out like this :) . Incidentally, the DT wiki page on SKCM neon green got an overhaul recently, too :) .
Looks like Daniel's back at it again.
I find it interesting that the description changed from rare to considerably rare to uncommon. :-X Who's allowed to judge rarity? They'll never be happy! :P
This was from a craigslist ad in socal. Guy was trying to sell his whole Docutech 135 for $1000. Thing was like 20' long. I contacted him and asked him if I could have the keyboard if the buyer of the machine didn't want it. He ended up pulling the add from Craigslist tried some auction places and ended selling the machine to someone for parts. He was nice enough to hold his end of the bargain and keep the mice and keyboards for me. I went and picked them up from him near San Diego earlier today.
Pm'd you about the price. I bought it.
I wouldn't mind mailing the track ball mouse to you, so you can check it out for a bit. It is surprisingly robust. I was surprised by it. I have always hated track ball mice, but I like the feel of this one. Heavy and (like the label on the bottom says) has a very "tactile" feel. Lol
Just so long as you mail it back to me eventually. :D
Yeah, no worries. Then you can know for sure if you want to still pursue getting one for yourself and how much you would be willing to pay for it.
I am going to take the whole setup to the next California meet-up, which I think is this weekend. Then after that I will mail it to you to check out in person.