Author Topic: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard (Read 8006 times)

8_INCH_FLOPPY · « **on:** Tue, 25 May 2010, 02:02:01 »

Hello, I've been collecting old computer keyboards for a few months now, and I thought that I was the only weird one... Anyway, I just found my first Cherry brand board, and I was hoping you could tell me something about it. I've now posted pictures.

- 2 IR leds on the front
- A RJ-45 jack on the left front side
- A panel for 4 AA batteries on the bottom
- The key arrangement is the same as a model F
- Black metal bottom - feels solid, yet not as heavy as a model M
- The indicator lights for the lock keys are on the keys themselves, except for scroll lock, which has no indicator light
- it has a mode select switch on the bottom that is labeled "Sr." on one side and "Jr." on the other, whatever that means.

MODEL#: KXN3-8451
SER.NO: 13995
FCC ID: DE67DAKXN38451

When I Google the model #, I don't get any hits, so I'm pretty much stumped. I did go to the FCC website and search the FCC license #, but I'm not sure if that helps, since I don't know whether a new license is issued to a company for each separate product, or if it is just a one time thing. According to the FCC, the license was issued in 1984, but I have a hard time believing it's that old, since this is the most spotlessly clean keyboard I have ever seen.

Nonmouse · « **Reply #1 on:** Tue, 25 May 2010, 02:35:38 »

Well, telling us the model number might help, as would pictures....

Brodie337 · « **Reply #2 on:** Tue, 25 May 2010, 02:36:22 »

Pictures would help immeasurably

Infinite north · « **Reply #3 on:** Tue, 25 May 2010, 03:43:20 »

8_INCH_FLOPPY · « **Reply #4 on:** Tue, 25 May 2010, 11:08:39 »

MODEL#: KXN3-8451
SER.NO: 13995
FCC ID: DE67DAKXN38451

I forgot to mention, it has a mode select switch on the bottom that is labeled "Sr." on one side and "Jr." on the other, whatever that means.

A friend borrowed my camera, and I won't get it back until Friday. You can see the pictures then.

itlnstln · « **Reply #5 on:** Tue, 25 May 2010, 11:21:41 »

Quote from: ripster;186700

Starting to sound like a PC Jr. It has batteries and IR.
Show Image

Feel and utility aside, I actually think that's a pretty cool looking 'board.

8_INCH_FLOPPY · « **Reply #6 on:** Tue, 25 May 2010, 11:29:07 »

I guess I'll have to get those pictures up on Friday. It looks nothing like that. The closest thing I have seen to it would be an old model F. Also, I thought IBM and Cherry were competing companies in the keyboard business. I did say that the label on the bottom says Cherry. How could the keyboard be both Cherry and IBM?

ch_123 · « **Reply #7 on:** Tue, 25 May 2010, 11:38:10 »

Quote from: 8_INCH_FLOPPY;186711

I guess I'll have to get those pictures up on Friday. It looks nothing like that. The closest thing I have seen to it would be an old model F. Also, I thought IBM and Cherry were competing companies in the keyboard business. I did say that the label on the bottom says Cherry. How could the keyboard be both Cherry and IBM?

Clone.

Remember kids - no IBM logo, no IBM.

Nonmouse · « **Reply #8 on:** Tue, 25 May 2010, 13:28:13 »

Quote from: 8_INCH_FLOPPY;186591

MODEL#: KXN3-8451

Well, KXN3-8459 was apparently an auxiliary keyboard for a Perkins-Elmer 1600 Series IR spectrophotometer (see pp. 8 & 377-382). It seems reasonable to assume that the -8451 was something similar.

iMav · « **Reply #9 on:** Wed, 26 May 2010, 01:19:01 »

Quote from: ripster;186715

A mini with arrow keys. Beats the HHKB!

More keys != better.

Infinite north · « **Reply #10 on:** Wed, 26 May 2010, 01:27:20 »

If you say that you must have missed this then.

iMav · « **Reply #11 on:** Wed, 26 May 2010, 01:31:32 »

Quote from: Infinite north;186973

If you say that you must have missed this then.

My point exactly.

Nonmouse · « **Reply #12 on:** Wed, 26 May 2010, 01:36:33 »

Quote from: Infinite north;186973

If you say that you must have missed this then.

!= != =

kishy · « **Reply #13 on:** Wed, 26 May 2010, 01:57:46 »

Moar keys = automatically better, every time.

8_INCH_FLOPPY · « **Reply #14 on:** Thu, 27 May 2010, 18:22:25 »

8_INCH_FLOPPY · « **Reply #15 on:** Thu, 27 May 2010, 18:25:54 »

Pictures don't do it justice. The keys are a really wonderful white color in reality.

kriminal · « **Reply #16 on:** Thu, 27 May 2010, 18:35:50 »

wow thats a great find!

Mental Hobbit · « **Reply #17 on:** Thu, 27 May 2010, 18:44:45 »

Man, I'd kill for that board... and a way to make it work with a PC.
Is the "Sr." position of the dip switch for XT?

8_INCH_FLOPPY · « **Reply #18 on:** Thu, 27 May 2010, 19:03:21 »

It's kind of strange to think that keyboards were being made with both an RJ-45 jack and wireless capability at the same time.

I did find a infrared USB device that could have been used with a wireless keyboard. Does anyone know if all wireless infrared keyboards use the same interface?

8_INCH_FLOPPY · « **Reply #19 on:** Thu, 27 May 2010, 19:25:49 »

If you think that I could get much money for it, I'll sell it after I get it working. It might take a year, but I do intend to get it working. I'm planning on learning a couple of programming languages this year, so if I can't get it working with the wireless device I have now, maybe I could write my own drivers for it.

News:

Author Topic: Help identifying strange Cherry keyboard (Read 8006 times)