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Offline Paranoid

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  • Location: Belgium
Start of mechanical keyboard collection
« on: Sun, 10 June 2012, 10:48:00 »
Hi everyone,

I'm new to geekhack and mechanical keyboards. I've taken an interest in them since a month or so and I've been out trying to collect some old models. It's been quite difficult to find these keyboards in Belgium but the search is not over!
I've got some pictures here of the ones I've already got and the ones I still have to receive. First thing I'm gonna do is give all the keyboards a good cleaning ^^

1) Dell AT102W
I found this one at a friends house. All I had to do was trade whatever kind of working PS/2 keyboard for it. It's still in very good condition and it works but it could good some good cleaning (all the keyboards I've got so far in fact).
It's not so clicky, but when you bottom out it clicks a bit on the way back. The keycaps are also pretty thick which gives it a solid feel.

- Old Dell logo
- No windows keys
- Orange/Salmon coloured ALPS switches
- Green text on Alt keys
- PS/2 connector
- FR AZERTY (Not the same as BE AZERTY)

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52646[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52647[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52648[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52649[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52650[/ATTACH]

2) Dell AT101W
Still on the way. Bought it second hand for 10 euro (6 + 4 shipping). From what I can it has the new Dell logo and I assume it has black ALPS switches from what I've read online.

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52651[/ATTACH]

3) Cherry G80-0779H/07
Found this cool looking keyboard in my dads attic. I like how clean the keycaps look and that weird layout of the arrow keys ^^ I also didn't find anything in the Cherry definition topic that would explain the 0779 part.
The switches are Cherry MX black I pressume (since it's black). The keycaps are doubleshots and also quite thick. I like the custom made keycaps for the LEDs.

- No logo
- No Windows keys
- Doubleshot keycaps
- Cherry MX black
- custom LED keycaps (which are also in the newer models) and weird AZERTY layout.
- AT connection (I think), but can't get it to work with my AT-PS/2 converter. It sometimes registers a key when I press a lot of buttons at once but normal typing is a no-go. Any idea's why?

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52621[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52622[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52623[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52624[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52625[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52626[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52627[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52628[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52644[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52645[/ATTACH]

4) Yet to come (I think it's a Cherry G80-3000 or a Cherry G81-3000 model)
Got in contact with someone who has a lot of old keyboards from a school. From the picture I think it's a G80-3000 model because it looks like the one I found in this topic:
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?4096-Keyboard-pics/page101
But I guess I'll find out ones I can go get them :)

If he can take them all, I might get around 12 keyboards of this type (although there might be some different ones too).
Here is the picture he took:
[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52629[/ATTACH]

5) IBM Model F
I got this one for a nice price (had to do some bargaining). He was selling his vintage IBM computer with this keyboard. I bargained for only the keyboard because I didn't need the whole computer to get shipped. I got it for 16,5 euro (12,5 + 4 shipping), which I think is a pretty good deal. It types really cool but has a very unique layout. I can't get it to work with my AT-PS/2 converter either. Do I need to make a special converter for this or do some remapping of some sort? (I'm still a noob at this).

It has a sort of protection film which is taped to the back, but I assume I have to do some cleaning here since it's from 1984. It also weighs very much!

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52630[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52631[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52632[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52633[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52634[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52635[/ATTACH]

6) Digital RT102
I have no idea what kind of keyboard this is. It looks like a sort of membrane or dome switch keyboard. Maybe someone can tell me more about it! It certainly feels very cheap. I also took it from my dads attic.

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52636[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52637[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52638[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52639[/ATTACH]

7) Nan Tan KB-6252EA
I have never heard of this one before, but it does have white ALPS switches, which are very clicky and kinda fun to type with. Overall the keyboard seems low quality and the caps are pretty thin. It does however have the cool green ALT caps. Maybe I can use the switches for some kind of project.
This one has an AT connector which actually does work with the AT-PS/2 converter. So I have no clue why the Cherry and the IBM don't work.
*edit: found the 6251 model on this website:
http://sandy55.fc2web.com/keyboard/keyboard.html
Still don't know if it's a good one or not though.

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52640[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52641[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52642[/ATTACH] [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 52643[/ATTACH]

... I still have other on-going deals with people so I'll probably have more keyboards in the next month or so :)


My plans are to clean and restore these keyboards to the best state that I can. I also plan to mod and customize some of them (because it's fun!). I'd like to somehow get my hands on a model M (on the cheap of course), just to see what all the fuss is about. But if it types anything like the model F it probably will be a delight.
I also plan on buying a Filco or something similar with brown switches. And I'll probably end up buying some keycaps from round 4 ^^ Seems like a lot of money so maybe I'll end up selling the keyboards I don't prefer typing with in the future.

Feedback about the AT to PS/2 connection and the keyboards are always appreciated!
« Last Edit: Sun, 10 June 2012, 11:15:24 by Paranoid »
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Offline N8N

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Start of mechanical keyboard collection
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 10 June 2012, 10:55:24 »
The cherry probably is in XT mode did you try changing the dip switches?  Unless the Model F says 'AT' on the label it is XT only and will not work.  Old XT KBs used the same connector as AT but are not compatible.
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Filco Majestouch-2 with Cherry Corp. doubleshot keys - Leopold Tenkeyless Tactile Force with Wyse doubleshots - Silicon Graphics 9500900 - WASD V1 - IBM Model M 52G9658 - Noppoo Choc Pro with Cherry lasered PBT keycaps - Wyse 900866-01 - Cherry G80-8200LPBUS/07 - Dell AT101W - several Cherry G81s (future doubleshot donors) (order of current preference) (dang I have too many keyboards, I really only need two)

Offline Paranoid

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  • Location: Belgium
Start of mechanical keyboard collection
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 10 June 2012, 11:07:48 »
Hey N8N, thanks for your reply!
Flipping the switches on the Cherry doesn't seem to work. I've tried all 4 combinations. I have no clue what the Int. and Var. switch does. I assume it stands for integer and variable.. I still get some beeping noises through my speakers if I press three keys or more simultaneously.
For the Model F I actually read before that it would probably be a XT connector but I totally forgot! Thanks for reminding me. I guess I have to build my own converter for this then?
« Last Edit: Sun, 10 June 2012, 11:09:58 by Paranoid »
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Offline IvanIvanovich

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Start of mechanical keyboard collection
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 10 June 2012, 12:20:26 »
You found yourself a somewhat rare Cherry board there, very nice. See here for some info on the very similar G80-0778.
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Offline dorkvader

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Start of mechanical keyboard collection
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 10 June 2012, 13:35:18 »
From the layout, it appears to be a model F XT (not AT) and a really good price for one, too. I would recommend a "Soarer" adapter to get it usable with a computer.
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:17458
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Offline Paranoid

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Start of mechanical keyboard collection
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 10 June 2012, 14:27:43 »
Hey dorkvader, what a coincidence. I just ordered a teensy bord right before I read your post ^^
I figured that might be the only affordable way to do it and it seems like a fun project to get it working :) but thanks anyway for mentioning ;)

And also thanks for the info lysol. Seems that the guy over there didn't get it to work either. Maybe I can also get it running with the adapter mentioned above. Worth a shot!
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Offline fohat.digs

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Start of mechanical keyboard collection
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 10 June 2012, 15:42:38 »
Good collection. Alps have a low reputation around here, but I like them pretty well.

I have never tried the pink Alps, but you also might be able to make some money selling that board to buy something else.

The $20 + shipping for a Teensy is a good investment because it will make many old-school boards work again. They were useless otherwise, and you can use that for leverage with future sellers to drop their prices.

Good luck!

PS - buy yourself several different connectors and adapters. the cheap ones from Hong Kong have generally worked well for me.
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Offline phetto

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Start of mechanical keyboard collection
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 10 June 2012, 22:54:50 »
Really dig the G80-0779H board!
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Offline False_Dmitry_II

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Start of mechanical keyboard collection
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 18 June 2012, 17:33:44 »
Looks like a good start to me.
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Offline Paranoid

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  • Posts: 279
  • Location: Belgium
Start of mechanical keyboard collection
« Reply #9 on: Tue, 19 June 2012, 03:37:55 »
Thanks guys!
I received my other Dell board. It's an AT102W with black alps, but with some sort of spanish keyboard layout I think. I also found a programmable keypad for a decent price, the G80-3700. Looks like something fun.
The possible G80-3000 keyboards are still being collected :)

I also received my teensy board yesterday but only had little time to play with it. So I haven't succesfully connected it to my model F yet.
And I almost had my hands on a white label model M but that damn lady sold it too soon!
« Last Edit: Tue, 19 June 2012, 03:41:04 by Paranoid »
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