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Author Topic: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.  (Read 1971 times)

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Offline jmchargue

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Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« on: Sun, 08 September 2013, 21:39:38 »
Hey guys, I recently came into owning an IBM Personal Computer Model P70 386. I never really thought of it until now, but the keyboard actually really good feeling. Anyone know what kind of switches it has? It is certainly not rubber-dome (did they even have rubber back then? :p)

Attached are some pics. Thanks guys!

Oh also, hello, I am new.

Jake
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Offline terran5992

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Re: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 08 September 2013, 22:00:03 »
Seems like a type of alps
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Offline ___q

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Re: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 08 September 2013, 22:02:19 »
Alps plate spring!
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Offline jmchargue

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Re: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 08 September 2013, 22:15:13 »
Nice! I'm pretty sure that's good, yeah? haha. Was going to buy a happy hacking pro 2, but maybe I'll hold off a while and try this.
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Offline terran5992

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Re: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 08 September 2013, 22:41:46 »
How does typing on it feel like?

Topre switches are superior compared to alps
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Offline jmchargue

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Re: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 08 September 2013, 23:33:33 »
Typing feels pretty nice, but in all honesty, it's the first mechanical keyboard I've ever typed on. So that's to say, 100% better than my macbook keyboard, but I have no experience to tell me what is the best.
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Offline rowdy

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Re: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 08 September 2013, 23:37:14 »
Welcome to Geekhack!

If you could show us the underneat of the keycap it might help a bit.
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Offline jmchargue

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Re: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 08 September 2013, 23:44:58 »
Thanks!

>underside of keycap

Is that this?
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Offline TimIsABat

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Re: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 08 September 2013, 23:56:42 »
Looks like the switch on a Compaq RT101 that I own. If this is the case, then this board is using a hammer rubber dome switch. Better than the newer rubber dome switches that come with some computers. I really like typing on my RT101 when I feel like being all old school and need a break from mechanical, but it isn't something too crazy.
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Offline jmchargue

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Re: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #9 on: Mon, 09 September 2013, 00:08:00 »
Dissecting! Stand by.
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Offline Halverson

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Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #10 on: Mon, 09 September 2013, 00:10:57 »
« Last Edit: Mon, 09 September 2013, 00:19:01 by Halverson »
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Offline jmchargue

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Re: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #11 on: Mon, 09 September 2013, 00:13:30 »
^ that doesn't seem related.

But good call on the Alps switches, guys! Pics related.
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Offline ___q

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Re: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 09 September 2013, 00:15:58 »
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Offline terran5992

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Re: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #13 on: Mon, 09 September 2013, 03:27:17 »
Quote from: jmchargue on Mon, 09 September 2013, 00:13:30
^ that doesn't seem related.

But good call on the Alps switches, guys! Pics related.

Ding ding ding


I was correct

Where's my prize?
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Offline ch_123

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Re: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #14 on: Mon, 09 September 2013, 04:19:29 »
Congratulations, your first mech keyboard uses a rather rare and desirable switch. These dont have a lot in common with Alps' standard SKCM switches and they are more like a simplified beam spring switch.

Quote
^ that doesn't seem related.

Two of the pictures on that article are of the same model of keyboard that you have.
« Last Edit: Mon, 09 September 2013, 04:44:15 by ch_123 »
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #15 on: Mon, 09 September 2013, 07:59:22 »
And those caps look THICK.

Do you have any acetone and/or do you know how to test whether they are PBT?
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Offline jmchargue

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Re: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #16 on: Mon, 09 September 2013, 09:55:43 »
Quote from: ch_123 on Mon, 09 September 2013, 04:19:29
Congratulations, your first mech keyboard uses a rather rare and desirable switch.
Cool! Now I just need to find a plug for it, and I'll be in business, haha.

Quote from: fohat.digs on Mon, 09 September 2013, 07:59:22
Do you know how to test whether they are PBT?

I do not. I would be willing to test them, though... for the sake of experiment :)
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Offline jmchargue

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Re: Need help IDing some switches OLD keyboard.
« Reply #17 on: Mon, 09 September 2013, 12:37:05 »
Quote from: fohat.digs on Mon, 09 September 2013, 07:59:22
And those caps look THICK.

Do you have any acetone and/or do you know how to test whether they are PBT?

Wow, you guys are on fire. Pic related, tall glass of saturated salt water.
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