What keyboard is this?

[HEKTakun]

Hello everyone. I don't know a lick about keyboards. It seems there is tons to learn. But I do know I like the feel and sound of a mechanical keyboard. I have some questions that hopefully you experts can help me answer. Also sorry if this is posted in the wrong section.

So I have 3 old looking keyboards which I salvaged from my Grandfather. Was hoping if you guys could give me some ideas for what I can do with them. Two were in poor condition when I got them, missing or damaged keys. Probably smashed or heavy objects placed on them. I think one keyboard might have been left out in the rain or something because it’s really dirty.


Dell


The Dell seems to be in good condition. Plugged it into my computer and started typing just fine. The keys have a bit of resistance when I press them. Like sliding rough instead of smooth. But the come back up just fine.


(For the following two keyboards I used an adaptor exactly like this)


Chicony


Got it missing keys, and some keys smashed. Didn’t work when switch on back was in the “X” position. When switch was in the “A” position some keys worked, but a majority of them did not register at all. Has a nice clicky sound to it though. Which is what I like


IMB


This keyboard is a beast. It probably weighs close to 4-5 kg! And the layout is obviously different. Right off I noticed it has springs so I know for sure this one mechanical. It’s connector is the same 5pin as the Chicony uses, I just forgot to take a picture of it. This keyboard did not register at all. Not a single key did anything. But a strange thing happened when I plugged it in. My computer speakers started making a beeping sound, similar to beep codes from a PC chassis speaker. But I don’t have a chassis speaker… weird. Then my computer slowed way down, mouse clicks were unresponsive and mouse movement was laggy. Unplugging the board stopped these issues. I think this board was used with typewriters or something. There is no model number or anything indicating what this is. I’m sure you experts can tell me what it’s from.


So onto my questions...
What kind of switches do they use? Are all the keyboards mechanical?

Could I desolder the switches and put them in a different board? I think I’ve seen on other posts around here about something called a phantom.

Should I try taking apart and cleaning the switches and lubing them?

Should I use a different adapter? Would that make a difference?

If I took the last two keyboards apart and cleaned them, would that make a difference in them working or not?

More questions to come….

[CPTBadAss]

All three are mechanical.

First board is a Dell AT101W with complicated Black Alps
Second board is a Chicony KB-5161 with Orange Omron Switches
Third is a Model XT F with capacitive buckling spring.

How do I know this even if I'm not an expert? Says it on the labels on the back.

Your X-A switch is the XT and AT protocols. The connector you have is an AT adapter. So that's why it works on AT.

The XT F will need a converter like this.

1) Could I desolder the switches and put them in a different board? I think I’ve seen on other posts around here about something called a phantom.

2) Should I try taking apart and cleaning the switches and lubing them?

3) Should I use a different adapter? Would that make a difference?

4) If I took the last two keyboards apart and cleaned them, would that make a difference in them working or not?

1) Not easily. The Alps switches can go into other Alps boards but you can't transplant the Omron ones due to the pinout. The XT F ones aren't really tranferrable either. What you're reading about is Cherry MX switches, which is what the Phantom is. The MX switches don't have the same physical layout with the pins as the Alps.

2) Don't lube it, just clean everything. The lubing will kill the clickyness of the switches.

3) See above about an adapter for your XT.

4) See above

Welcome to GeekHack, you found some nice boards. I'm interesting in trying the Omrons.

[terrpn]

chicony yellow omrons and somewhat rare.............nice- one of my favorites!

........and yes DO NOT lube as "no more clicky"

salvageable for sure

[Findecanor]

All three are pretty well known around here. I think the Dell AT101W must be one of the most common mechanical keyboards ever produced. The IBM Model F is the keyboard for the original IBM PC and XT.

Many of the Chicony KB-51xx keyboards have different types of switches in different keyboards with the same model number, but I think they are all clicky. The ones with the Omron switches are a bit more rare.

It should be possible to get replacement keycaps for those that are missing/broken on the Model F and the Chicony.

Kudos on posting good pictures, and welcome to Geekhack!

[ebacho]

CPTBadAss summed up most things pretty well.  One thing I would do differently, however, is that for the AT101, taking the switch apart and cleaning the sliders and housing actually does make a difference (I wouldn't suggest lube either though).  These particular switches are notorious for feeling gritty, when in reality, new black alps are fairly smooth and tactile. 

There's a nice disassembly guide for alps here http://imgur.com/a/elAFF#0 - try it on a few switches and see if it changes the feel at all - otherwise, you can just leave them as is.

[Comment]

All three are mechanical.

First board is a Dell AT101W with complicated Black Alps
Second board is a Chicony KB-5161 with Orange Omron Switches
Third is a Model XT F with capacitive buckling spring.

How do I know this even if I'm not an expert? Says it on the labels on the back.

Your X-A switch is the XT and AT protocols. The connector you have is an AT adapter. So that's why it works on AT.

The XT F will need a converter like this.

1) Could I desolder the switches and put them in a different board? I think I’ve seen on other posts around here about something called a phantom.

2) Should I try taking apart and cleaning the switches and lubing them?

3) Should I use a different adapter? Would that make a difference?

4) If I took the last two keyboards apart and cleaned them, would that make a difference in them working or not?

1) Not easily. The Alps switches can go into other Alps boards but you can transplant the Omron ones due to the pinout. The XT F ones aren't really tranferrable either. What you're reading about is Cherry MX switches, which is what the Phantom is. The MX switches don't have the same physical layout with the pins as the Alps.

2) Don't lube it, just clean everything. The lubing will kill the clickyness of the switches.

3) See above about an adapter for your XT.

4) See above

Welcome to GeekHack, you found some nice boards. I'm interesting in trying the Omrons.

Very nice! Can you implant some of that knowledge into my brain?