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Author Topic: Mystery vintage keyboard  (Read 8385 times)

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Offline IvanIvanovich

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Mystery vintage keyboard
« on: Thu, 17 May 2012, 16:04:34 »
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Offline kps

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Mystery vintage keyboard
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 17 May 2012, 16:10:20 »
I have one of those. Of course I can't remember right now what it is.
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Offline REVENGE

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Mystery vintage keyboard
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 17 May 2012, 16:44:46 »
Leaf spring.
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Offline AKIMbO

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« Reply #3 on: Thu, 17 May 2012, 16:45:48 »
Quote from: kps;594884
I have one of those. Of course I can't remember right now what it is.

Does it work on a modern PC without all the scan code wizardry an XT requires?  I'll bid on it for science.
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Offline margonaute

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Mystery vintage keyboard
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 17 May 2012, 19:26:54 »
That Enter key is so kooky. And huge!
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Offline dorkvader

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« Reply #5 on: Thu, 17 May 2012, 20:05:30 »
Quote from: margonaute;595006
That Enter key is so kooky. And huge!
I've seen ones like that before, though I don't remember where. Maybe a japanese keyboard pic on the DT wiki or sandy's page or somewhere? I like to think of it as "bigass enter" meets ISO.

Also: the {[ and ]} keys are different sizes.

I'm liking the font/colouration a lot, actually.

I want it. :P
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Offline Hak Foo

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« Reply #6 on: Thu, 17 May 2012, 22:20:52 »
It looks like the board from the early Sanyo PC-almost-alikes.  I recall seeing a lot of ads for correspondence courses in old magazines saying "build this computer as you learn valuable computer repair skills!" and showing it.  I do like the caps... though the layout's lacking.
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Offline AKIMbO

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« Reply #7 on: Thu, 17 May 2012, 22:26:58 »
Quote from: Hak Foo;595084
It looks like the board from the early Sanyo PC-almost-alikes.  I recall seeing a lot of ads for correspondence courses in old magazines saying "build this computer as you learn valuable computer repair skills!" and showing it.  I do like the caps... though the layout's lacking.

http://www.qsl.net/k6fv/sanyo.html looks like the kb from the sanyo mbc-550 pc

Some conversation on the keyboard scan codes on page 2 of the thread on this site http://forums.bannister.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=63894&PHPSESSID=dcb3a055b965f95a2464df6122600bc7
« Last Edit: Thu, 17 May 2012, 22:33:14 by AKIMbO »
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Offline dorkvader

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« Reply #8 on: Thu, 17 May 2012, 23:17:06 »
Wow, AKIMbO: that's exactly what it looks like. If I did end up getting it, and the switches were worthwhile, I'd probably rewire the switches to a teensy.

Just went through Haata's page again, and didn't see it.

Here's some more info on that sanyo's keyboard IO
http://www.seasip.info/VintagePC/sanyo.html#keybhw

Yep, Seaseip has it again.

Edit (again) I notice that AKIMbO's info page, the guy is selling the keyboard for $16. Maybe I should ask him some questions and maybe buy :p

And the DT link:
http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/pl-auction-1985-sanyo-steel-keyboard-t2431.html

Which brings us back to GH (who had the info first, apparently) http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?11244-Sanyo-MBC555

Fujistu leaf spring?
« Last Edit: Thu, 17 May 2012, 23:25:50 by dorkvader »
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Offline REVENGE

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Mystery vintage keyboard
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 18 May 2012, 02:20:23 »
HaaTa wants this, FYI. Not XT / AT compatible.

What the f***, and a post by  John Elliott himself.
« Last Edit: Fri, 18 May 2012, 02:23:10 by REVENGE »
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Offline kps

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Mystery vintage keyboard
« Reply #10 on: Fri, 18 May 2012, 08:26:25 »
Quote from: REVENGE;595183
HaaTa wants this, FYI. Not XT / AT compatible.
Haven't seen HaaTa post lately. If he is/comes back up here, he can have mine.
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Offline HaaTa

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« Reply #11 on: Fri, 18 May 2012, 11:42:20 »
I was eyeing this keyboard in an earlier auction, but backed off as the price was a little high.

Yes, it is a Fujitsu Leaf Spring. Very likely 2nd Gen.
And yes, and want it.

P.S. I don't really browse the forums much anymore, but if someone wants my input on something, feel free to PM me (GeekHack, Deskthority, or IRC).
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Kiibohd

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Offline TexasFlood

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Mystery vintage keyboard
« Reply #12 on: Fri, 18 May 2012, 16:29:08 »
There is one of those for sale near me for cheap, looks kinda cool but don't think I'm up for rewiring.
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Offline dorkvader

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« Reply #13 on: Sat, 19 May 2012, 00:46:55 »
Make sure to post here if you do bid. I've no problem outbidding anonymous ebayers, but I don't want to compete against GH'ers.
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Offline HaaTa

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« Reply #14 on: Sat, 19 May 2012, 03:52:45 »
And if it wasn't apparent from my previous post. I will most likely bid.
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Kiibohd

ALWAYS looking for cool and interesting switches
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Offline AKIMbO

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Mystery vintage keyboard
« Reply #15 on: Sat, 19 May 2012, 06:50:08 »
Quote from: dorkvader;595684
Make sure to post here if you do bid. I've no problem outbidding anonymous ebayers, but I don't want to compete against GH'ers.

I'm the guy with the current bid on it...but please do bid on the kb.  Don't hold out just because I already bid on it.
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Offline dorkvader

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« Reply #16 on: Sat, 19 May 2012, 10:08:59 »
Quote from: HaaTa;595710
And if it wasn't apparent from my previous post. I will most likely bid.
Well, in that case, I'll let you have it. I would love to try it out, and own such an interesting keyboard (and in excellent shape from the pictures!), but I perceive that you are in more want of it, so I won't inflate the price for you.
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Offline HaaTa

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« Reply #17 on: Sat, 19 May 2012, 14:01:29 »
Quote from: dorkvader;595837
Well, in that case, I'll let you have it. I would love to try it out, and own such an interesting keyboard (and in excellent shape from the pictures!), but I perceive that you are in more want of it, so I won't inflate the price for you.


I just want this particular keyboard. If you want to try these switches, they do turn up semi-often on ebay and usually for a decent price (and unless it's an FM Towns, little competition).

For example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tandy-1000-keyboard-good-shape-super-low-starting-price-/320901482605?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab738086d#ht_500wt_1413 (Any Tandy 1000 with this exact layout has Fujitsu Leaf Springs, 3rd Gen; and I've written a converter for it)

Better condition Sanyo, but expensive... http://www.ebay.com/itm/150710555220?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_642wt_1165
NKRO FM Towns keyboard: http://www.ebay.com/itm/320901481503?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_500wt_1413
Also Fujitsu Leaf Spring (found a NIB one that's incoming right now):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Basic-4-Terminal-Keyboard-/150801620213?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231c7a1cf5#ht_716wt_1165

And FYI, there is a clicky variant of the switch. I've yet to try one (and want one). All the above are linear.
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Kiibohd

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Offline HaaTa

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« Reply #18 on: Sat, 19 May 2012, 14:47:02 »
Lol.



These are my 2011/2012 acquisitions:
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Kiibohd

ALWAYS looking for cool and interesting switches
I take requests for making keyboard converters (i.e. *old keyboard* to USB).

Offline dorkvader

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« Reply #19 on: Sun, 20 May 2012, 11:46:37 »
Sold for $31. Were you successful, HaaTa?
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Offline HaaTa

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« Reply #20 on: Sun, 20 May 2012, 11:51:06 »
Nope. Looking at the bid logs, some sniper bot got it, using different users.
Oh well, didn't really need it, as I already know what to expect out of it.
(This is the 3rd time I've tried, and not gotten one of these keyboards...)
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Kiibohd

ALWAYS looking for cool and interesting switches
I take requests for making keyboard converters (i.e. *old keyboard* to USB).

Offline TexasFlood

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Mystery vintage keyboard
« Reply #21 on: Sun, 20 May 2012, 12:26:56 »
Quote from: dorkvader;596431
Sold for $31. Were you successful, HaaTa?


Seems high for me for something that can't be used without some modication and lacking really desirable switches near as I can tell.  But certainly less than the previous listing of $50.00 starting bid or $125.00 BIN which got no bids. Wonder if the buyer knows he can't just plug it in and use it, well unless he has, what is it, a Sanyo MBC 550 or MBC 555?
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Offline dorkvader

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« Reply #22 on: Sun, 20 May 2012, 23:35:50 »
Were I making a real living, I'd buy it for $31 easily. Metal case, cool font, switches I haven't used yet, Decent keycaps.

Also, apparently they only differ in the drives/options, the 550 and 555, though I had more luck searching for the 555 keyboard, I imagine they are the same.
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