List of Popular Old Mechanicals

[Rit]

So I have a few connections to some E-recycling companies and they're willing to sell me the older keyboards for $10/each. At first I told them that I'd buy anything that 'clicks' but as a newbie, I've come to learn that it's not always the case. So I came up with a list of keyboards to keep an eye out for and was wondering if anyone else had suggestions/comments?

Dell AT101W*, AT101, AT102, AT102W
Cherry G84-4100, G80-8200LPDUS-2*
Chicony KB-5100*
IBM F AT*, F XT*, Model M - 1391401*, 13H6705*, 1390702*, 1394100*
Compaq MX-11800
Unicomp UB40T5A, 1010T, UB40T56, VIS0852
Acer 6011
Apple Mac M0116

*Higher Interest

[Dihedral]

Omnitouch 101

Look at the rare switch types on deskthority wiki and look at the keyboards listed thst might have those switches.

[Shayde]

There are quite a few nice Focus Electronics keyboards, so could be worth looking out for.  I've personally experienced blue Alps and Cherry-compatible Futaba switches in these boards which would make them popular.

[hwood34]

Unitek K151-L

[chyros]

So I have a few connections to some E-recycling companies and they're willing to sell me the older keyboards for $10/each. At first I told them that I'd buy anything that 'clicks' but as a newbie, I've come to learn that it's not always the case. So I came up with a list of keyboards to keep an eye out for and was wondering if anyone else had suggestions/comments?

Dell AT101W*, AT101, AT102, AT102W
Cherry G84-4100, G80-8200LPDUS-2*
Chicony KB-5100*
IBM F AT*, F XT*, Model M - 1391401*, 13H6705*, 1390702*, 1394100*
Compaq MX-11800
Unicomp UB40T5A, 1010T, UB40T56, VIS0852
Acer 6011
Apple Mac M0116

*Higher Interest

Looks like an Alps man then?

Unfortunately many Alps boards manufacturers used a variety of switches in the same models of keyboard. This is particularly true of Chicony and Focus boards - speaking of the latter, you might want to look out for them as well, as well as OmniKey keyboards (I think that's what the previous poster meant).

Best thing might just be to go there, bring a keycap puller, and of the boards whose feeling you like, just pop off a keycap and have a look for yourself.

If you're into Alps switches like me (which your choice of boards would suggest), it's worth knowing how to distinguish genuine from fake switches. There is a good page on it here: http://deskthority.net/wiki/Alps_SKCL/SKCM_series

A simple rule of thumb I found is that complicated Alps switches ALWAYS have at least one embossed circle in them for the numbers/letters OR they have the Alps logo on it, or both.

Question; is there a reason specifically why you would prefer a AT101W over an AT101?

[fohat.digs]

is there a reason specifically why you would prefer a AT101W over an AT101?

The AT101 is more likely to have the good caps than the 101W, but it is not a sure thing. Nor is the old logo.

As far as I remember, the only "sure thing" for blue Alps is the Leading Edge 2014, but that it always a hit.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

There are just so many keyboards out there — if you're looking for just a small number of models, you could miss so much. Sound/feel is sadly the only useful guide, as pulling keycaps won't really help — there are so many interesting switches to be recognised.

Here's a brief list, though:

Monterey K101/K102 — always seem to be blue Alps
Monterey K104 and K108 — interesting switches in those
Monterey K110/SIIG MiniTouch/SIIG SunTouch Jr
Ortek MKB-84 SX/MCK-84 SX (the white Alps versions)
Chicony KB-5981 (SMK switches and Windows keys)
Chicony KB-5591 (SMK switches, and trackball)
KPT KPT-84 (nice little 75% with various switches)
NMB RT-8XXX* (and many but not all RT-10X as some are dome)

Various others here with blue Alps: http://deskthority.net/wiki/Alps_SKCM_Blue#Keyboards — NTC KB-6151 and KB-6251 are pretty hit and miss, though the *EA models should be Alps (but won't all be), since *EM seems to be Mitsumi, and *EN may be for "NTC switch" (Alps clone — another company that pretended the clones were their own, unless Nan Tan owned Himake at some stage).

It gets worse, though, as there are loads of keyboards that aren't all that exciting (KPT, Podworld, Oriental Tech, Micronorth etc) but have Tai-Hao Alps-mount doubleshots that are worth ten bucks just for the keycaps if they're in good condition.

[Rit]

Wow.. thanks everyone for the information. I guess the first thing I should get a key puller and then start studying up on different type of switches and how to identify them.

I'm mainly buying this stuff because 1.) I want to make modded keyboards because I'm a nerd and I mod everything from my computer to my computer desk. 2.) Be-able to help other nerds find parts as I hear it's hard to find replacement parts. 3.) Maybe make some extra income to help pay off student loans.

[jacobolus]

If your goal is to make money, I’d find a different job than re-selling keyboards. Actually, your wallet will probably thank you if you stay away from geekhack altogether. To find your perfect favorite switch is going to end up costing like $1000 in the form of 40 keyboards, most of which you’ll end up selling for the about the same price you got them for. (If you just ask e-cyclers to hold stuff for you, it’s quite tough to get exactly what you want, and often the condition is going to be pretty rough, making it hard to judge fairly.) If you stick around long enough, there’s a decent chance you’ll find yourself spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on super fancy milled cases and colorful keycaps. Or if you want to mod things, you’ll need to spend a bunch on soldering/electronics gear.

How many modded keyboards are you planning to make, and what kind of mods are we talking about?

[Rit]

I'm not looking to make alot of cash, mainly enough to feed this possible new hobby.     I don't know if I'll get into it or not, but for the most part I have a work bench with all the tools needed to mod stuff, but now it's just learning all the different things about these keyboards. Also, I work as a manufacturing engineer so I have access to my work's punches/breaks/etc... And as far as mod's I'm still looking at all the possibilities and make a list of what can/can't be done.