Identifying: old keyboard with "spade" symbol keys each side of space bar

[voided]

Hi all,

First post. Please help let me know if I'm breaking any rules or conventions. I've found an old keyboard with a total lack of branding, model numbers, etc, and am seeking some assistance to identify it.

It does have some distinguishing characteristics:

* Spade symbol keys left and right of space bar
* 9-pin plug (black plastic)
* unusual placement of arrow keys
* RESET button top right corner
* cherry black switches with cherry grey for the spacebar
* not doubleshot keys, sadly

I've attached a photo. This is "as found". It will clean up much better as mostly just has surface grime issues.

Initially, I thought the spade symbols would make googling the identity of this keyboard a breeze. Turns out there are approximately 7 million webpages relating to typing spade symbols, so I'm having difficulty getting through the noise!

[CPTBadAss]

Hm, I wonder if the easiest way to ID the board is to take it apart and look at the markings on the PCB. The layout reminds me of the IBM XT buckling spring keyboards but obviously this has Cherry switches...

I'm stumped

[voided]

Thanks CPTBadAss,

The lack of identifiers continues to the back of the PCB. Not a code on it!

Looking from the front of the keyboard through the right hand square hole under the spacebar, I can see a code that looks like: CL-022-85. No joy searching for that, either.

Will add some photos of the internals shortly...

[voided]

Adding 2 more photos

* Back of PCB
* Keyboard removed from case

Apologies for the photo quality (smartphone).

[CPTBadAss]

I wonder if that is a Datacomp keyboard. That case design looks EXACTLY like the Datacomp I harvested Blue Alps switches out of. It had a similar  lack of branding on the case but it was marked Datacomp on the PCB.

[voided]

A lot of similarities in the case design...family resemblance, perhaps. Mine has black metal back, too.

[Hak Foo]

The spade symbols make me wonder if it was intended for use with an Apple II series or clone machine-- the hollow/solid apple symbols are sort of similar in their use; it has a reset key, and they didn't have the arrow keys anywhere sensible.

[jdcarpe]

I swear I've seen a plate like that before. Maybe IvanIvanovich had it?

I bet there would be some type of identification if you could desolder all the switches, remove the mount plate, and get a look at the front of the PCB.

[CPTBadAss]

I was thinking about that too jdcarpe, I wonder if they hid their logo underneath the switches/plates.

[Findecanor]

Key Tronic made a replacement keyboard for the Apple II with a Model F layout, but it did of course have Key Tronic's switches. Key Tronic Model F clone series.
The case does have some resemblance, though.
See also this one

[absyrd]

I swear I've seen a plate like that before. Maybe IvanIvanovich had it?

Yes. Paging IvanLysol...

[OnTheBrink]

I wish some if these new keyboard companies would advocate the lack of branding found on this board, lol.

[Oobly]

Very interesting find. I concur that it appears to be a keyboard made for an Apple clone. The first thought I had was the Peach computers we had in our school. Unfortunately I think it's going to be a search for a needle in a haystack to identify the exact brand and model, but at least it should have the same pinout as the board Findecanor linked to (the K8AP).

LOTS of companies tried to jump onto Apple's success by building clones. Here is a list (incomplete) of Apple II clones: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Apple_II_clones

[IvanIvanovich]

Build looks kind of similar to one of Dah Yang board I had... but I am not sure if it is from them. It looks like it has multi pads for different kind of switch. Has the same plug type as the Staff... maybe it is earlier keyboard model for one of those?
Being for a clone system may be a good reason there is no identifiable marking as to avoid Apple coming at the manufacturer.

[dorkvader]

I swear I've seen a plate like that before. Maybe IvanIvanovich had it?

Looks a lot like a standard plate for the time. Lots of keyboards (hall effect, WYSE, etc) have plates like that.

The closest apple2 clone I could conveniently find was the Mikroprofessor III which has an XT-esque layout. Sadly, it's not the same keyboard.

[Hazel]

Also looks similar to the "Unitron" Apple II clone.
http://pocket.free.fr/html/infotic2004/32.jpg
No spade key or up/down arrow keys, however.

[E TwentyNine]

Possibly a keyboard from one of the Franklin Ace apple clones?

[voided]

Thank you all for sharing your knowledge. Some of the other keyboards people have pointed to have a lot of similarities -- especially that Unitron clone.

I guess it's safe to say, based on the responses, that this is not some highly-sought-after rare early keyboard. Perhaps rare, and perhaps someone out there might want it, but I may never know!

On this basis, pulling apart to look for identifiers (and hopefully solve the mystery) is shaping up as a reasonable option.

I'll post back if I come up with any new information.

Thanks again.

[jacobolus]

You got me looking up Apple II clones on google/ebay.

Maybe you can find it by searching for the names on this list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Apple_II_clones

This one has “open micro” and “closed micro” keys, instead of apples or spades:


I’m not sure what this one’s little symbols are supposed to be:

[quadibloc]

This reminds me of an old Apple II clone that also had a Z-80 in it, and thus also ran CP/M. It had some very silly advertisements, because it's name was the "Genius" or something like that.