Help me identify this IBM (IBM gurus opinion welcomed)

[bazemk1979]

Does any body know anything of this keyboard, seller says he has chinesse and japanesse legends variants but I think they are korean legends perhaps? Looks like its mechanical but not sure of that either, if you have any knowledge pitch in please.

[kishy]

Not much info but see here for its previous mention on GH: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=37798.0

One of our members has 2 or 3 of them. According to him, linear Alps switches.

Not usable with any existing converters and if it has the protocol I think it has, it never will be - will require controller replacement or considerable modifications.

It is not the same as a very similar looking unit that I own and which is pictured in thumbnail form on my website (that board is capacitive buckling springs).

[poxeclipse]

Have a look here:
http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/chinese-ibm-keyboard-proxy-t4688.html
It seems to be the Japanese version. It has old green Alps, which are very nice linear switches, I have them on an old Chicony, but the converter could be a big problem.

[bazemk1979]

Cost of the keyboard is around $38 shipped, even if it was usable since its vintage by telling of the casing and also the packaging has is the double styrofoam, to me would only be a collector's item, I do like the Chinesse version better. NIB for $38 a collectors vintage IBM item, looks like a nice price and item, dont care about using it, just having it.

[rootwyrm]

As I elaborated on long ago, these were custom designed and built for a specific customer order. (There's an RPQ tag on 'em.) They were coupled to an unknown IBM Point of Sale system or terminal system used most likely by an airline. Potentially a 3588 derivative, but it's impossible to say for sure without the RPQ details. If you dig around, there's probably a Chinese made copy of it too.