Another Apple M3501 keyboard switch question

[TacticalCoder]

Hi all,

I've read several threads here (and there) about the M3501 and it's not entirely clear. I read that the M3501 with a serial containing 3501 were not white alps?  During this lockdown I dug out my old Macintosh Classic (it was kinda booting but screen was all garbled, so I cleaned the mobo with water+soap and now it works fine, whatever).  The one ABD keyboard I have here is a M3501 (an AZERTY and probably a Belgian be-nl variant, not a french AZERTY).

So here's a pic for you, M3501 with a serial number with 3501 and I take it that's a white ALPS switch?



P.S: my 'Y' keystem is broken, so I took the '-' key from the numeric keypad and put it instead of the 'Y' key. I'll also probably end up inverting 'D' with 'F' and 'J' with 'K' because I don't like the nubs on DK instead of the more common FJ.

[envyy24]

Looks like cream damped skcm alps to me. You can always open one switch to check. It is super easy.

[Rob27shred]

Those are definitely SKCM damped creams, look on the label in the back there should be a S in a square box in the lower right hand corner. That signifies that the board has damped switches & I can tell they are damped creams from the color. Damped whites are in some AEKIIs, but only the very late ones & the slider is a pure white, same as regular SKCM white clickies.

[TacticalCoder]

Those are definitely SKCM damped creams, look on the label in the back there should be a S in a square box in the lower right hand corner.

And thanks to both of you. You mean each switch a that 'S' in a square box? Do I need to take a switch apart to see that?

[Rob27shred]

Those are definitely SKCM damped creams, look on the label in the back there should be a S in a square box in the lower right hand corner.

And thanks to both of you. You mean each switch a that 'S' in a square box? Do I need to take a switch apart to see that?

No problem! I meant on the back label of the keyboard like in this picture,

[TacticalCoder]

Those are definitely SKCM damped creams, look on the label in the back there should be a S in a square box in the lower right hand corner.

And thanks to both of you. You mean each switch a that 'S' in a square box? Do I need to take a switch apart to see that?

No problem! I meant on the back label of the keyboard like in this picture,
(Attachment Link)

Ah my bad... Hmmm that's weird I don't have that squared 'S' on the label... It's just blank there.

[envyy24]

Yeah well you can always open the witch at numlock (pfft who uses numlock amirite) to see for sure. Otherwise, type on it and compare the sound to other soundtest. Granted that the sound of typing via video and in reality are different, but SKCM white is noticeably loud so I think you can still make the conclusion here.

[Rob27shred]

They could be SKCM Salmons, but your pic didn't catch the color right? That would be a really nice find if that is the case as AEKIIs with SKCM salmons are pretty rare & salmons are much nicer & more sought after switches than damped cream or damped white. The best to tell would be to open the switch up & take a look at the slider. If it has rubber strips in it's sides it's either a damped cream or damped white (damped cream will be more yellowish colored & damped whites will be a brilliant white color) if it doesn't have rubber strips in it's sides & is more pinkish colored it's a salmon.

[TacticalCoder]

I'll try to take a better pic but during this lockdown I don't have access to my nice Canon camera: only an old crappy smartphone.
When you guys talk opening an ALPS switch, do I need to take the keyboard appart?  Or can this simply be done by pulling a keycap, "from the front"? (say one of the keycap on the numpad as the numpad has been suggested)

[TacticalCoder]

Here's a new shot, with a white sheet of paper next to the keyboard.  Keycaps are filthy, I need to clean that board.
I'd say that in real it looks more white than on these pictures I took.  Nearly as white as the sheet of paper actually (while on the picture it doesn't look that white).  I have another white ALPS board somewhere in a garage and I could use that for comparison, but can't go pick it due to the lockdown : (


EDIT: and I may as well ask this here... I've got one broken keycap on this board (the stem of the keycap is completely broken). It's the 'Y' key. What'd be my best bet to find a compatible one, with the correct profile etc.? I don't mind if it's not the 'Y' key nor if it's not a perfect match, but something "close enough" (atm I took the '-' keycap from the numpad and put it instead of the 'Y').  No hurries at all and no big deal.

[envyy24]

1- here is how you open an alps switch

2- it is hard to find a replacement single cap. Maybe possible with ebay, i have not checked. You may have some luck asking other alps enthusiasts, some may have spares.

[TacticalCoder]

Thanks, looking at the vid.

I can already tell: mine doesn't sound clicky as the white alps in the white. And I'd say doesn't actually look as white as that.

[TacticalCoder]

Just did as in the vid, are the two following picture enough to determine what it is?  Cream?

[Rob27shred]

Just did as in the vid, are the two following picture enough to determine what it is?  Cream?

(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)

Yep cream damped, those little black rubber guys on the side are what silences the upstroke & down stroke. Still a nice board though, especially if the switches are in good shape! Damped creams get a bad wrap cause a good chunk of the older boards with them were beat into the ground causing the switches to feel terrible. IME clean & lightly used damped creams feel really good!

[Rob27shred]

Here's a new shot, with a white sheet of paper next to the keyboard.  Keycaps are filthy, I need to clean that board.
I'd say that in real it looks more white than on these pictures I took.  Nearly as white as the sheet of paper actually (while on the picture it doesn't look that white).  I have another white ALPS board somewhere in a garage and I could use that for comparison, but can't go pick it due to the lockdown : (

(Attachment Link)
EDIT: and I may as well ask this here... I've got one broken keycap on this board (the stem of the keycap is completely broken). It's the 'Y' key. What'd be my best bet to find a compatible one, with the correct profile etc.? I don't mind if it's not the 'Y' key nor if it's not a perfect match, but something "close enough" (atm I took the '-' keycap from the numpad and put it instead of the 'Y').  No hurries at all and no big deal.

Where are you located? I got a spare Y key from a M0116 that is the same profile & row I could send you.

[TacticalCoder]

Ah cool, so cream damped it is!  It feels nice and, well, it's hooked to my old Macintosh Classic.  I don't use it often but it's a nice little machine and so it's nice to have a nice keyboard attached to it.

Where are you located? I got a spare Y key from a M0116 that is the same profile & row I could send you.

Oh that'd be super nice: I'm on the other side of the pond though, in Europe (Belgium, Brussels). Don't know if that could work, I can PayPal you the shipping costs but don't know if it's worth it or not 

[Rob27shred]

Ah cool, so cream damped it is!  It feels nice and, well, it's hooked to my old Macintosh Classic.  I don't use it often but it's a nice little machine and so it's nice to have a nice keyboard attached to it.

Where are you located? I got a spare Y key from a M0116 that is the same profile & row I could send you.

Oh that'd be super nice: I'm on the other side of the pond though, in Europe (Belgium, Brussels). Don't know if that could work, I can PayPal you the shipping costs but don't know if it's worth it or not 

Rough, yeah right now I don't think it would be worth it for you to do that. I doubt it would be all that expensive to ship something so small from here to there, but I couldn't say how long it would take. Check on ebay, https://www.ebay.com/itm/REPLACEMENT-ALPS-Keycap-Switches-Apple-Extended-Keyboard-AEK-M0115-M0116-II/283809817549?hash=item42146223cd:m:mjuMXi1uFY--8kZKqRvGWaQ#shpCntId, you can get any single replacement keycap from this seller, but he's US based & Shipping to Belgium is $15. There may be someone doing the same thing in the EU though as AEKs are pretty common still. Worst case I'd be down to send it to you if you PP the shipping costs to me, but I'd check other options before that.

[TacticalCoder]

OK good to know you have a donor board just in case. I also have a very good friend in the US which comes here in a rare while, so maybe (as there's no hurry at all) if I learn he's coming I may PM you in case I didn't find any meanwhile.
Thanks to all of you for helping me determine which switch that board has (and it was fun to take apart one switch following that YouTube video).

[Rob27shred]

OK good to know you have a donor board just in case. I also have a very good friend in the US which comes here in a rare while, so maybe (as there's no hurry at all) if I learn he's coming I may PM you in case I didn't find any meanwhile.
Thanks to all of you for helping me determine which switch that board has (and it was fun to take apart one switch following that YouTube video).

No problem, glad I could help! Also just PM me if you can't find a replacement Y cap anywhere & we'll work it out to get the one I got to you!