Help identifying this keyboard

[db268]

Hello guys,

Can anyone help me identify this keyboard? It looks like a Victor Keyboard and there are some IBM's that look like it. Also, is it mechanical?




Thanks

[Blaise170]

Any other pictures?

[nubbinator]

I seem to remember those legends on Keytronic foam over foil, but I could very well be wrong.  Cap shape is wrong for BS, could be MX, but I highly doubt it.  My bet is foam over foil.

[db268]

Any other pictures?

I don't have any other pictures at the moment but I've requested more.

I seem to remember those legends on Keytronic foam over foil, but I could very well be wrong.  Cap shape is wrong for BS, could be MX, but I highly doubt it.  My bet is foam over foil.

Thanks. Is foam over foil a mechanical switch?

[Blaise170]

Foam and foil is... sort of. It is a capacitive switch where the slider connects to the foil pads on the PCB. http://deskthority.net/wiki/Key_Tronic_foam_and_foil

I have the linear version of these on my Harris-Lanier and I'm giving it away for the price of shipping, if that tells you anything about foam and foil.

[chyros]

Thanks. Is foam over foil a mechanical switch?

There's no true definition of "mechanical switch" that everyone adheres to. Some people consider everything that's not rubber dome mechanical, others don't even consider the Model M mechanical.

In the truest sense of the word, "capacitive" would probably be a more appropriate than "mechanical", but then again, I can't really think of a switch to which the term "mechanical" would apply best.

My own advice; I'd call them mechanical, but stay away from foam-and-foil boards. The foam will almost certainly have rotten away, leading to highly unpleasant switches.

[db268]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I'll leave one more photo with the back of the keyboard but I'll move away from it anyway. It's probably not what I'm looking for.

[Blaise170]

After some difficulty I've discovered that you have the keyboard that was originally included in the 1987 Acer 910 PC. It is also known as the Acer KB-084, but unfortunately I do not know what switches it uses. Most likely, it will either have Acer switches or rubber dome.

[False_Dmitry_II]

Acer switches are nice, if that's what it is. But I don't know how old those go. Could be a gamble.

[Magna224]

I've had good luck with keyboards from Taiwan and that looks to be from a good time period. If its not too expensive or much trouble I would go for it if you're into a nice keyboard collection. Even if its a rubber dome it'd probably be a decent one.

[db268]

After some difficulty I've discovered that you have the keyboard that was originally included in the 1987 Acer 910 PC. It is also known as the Acer KB-084, but unfortunately I do not know what switches it uses. Most likely, it will either have Acer switches or rubber dome.

Thanks for that. This keyboard is included in a "bundle" with a Philips NMS TC100 but I don't think the computer still works.

I've had good luck with keyboards from Taiwan and that looks to be from a good time period. If its not too expensive or much trouble I would go for it if you're into a nice keyboard collection. Even if its a rubber dome it'd probably be a decent one.

I don't think I'll be moving forward with this since the guys only wants to sell this included with the PC I mentioned above, or wants me to pay the full price just for the keyboard because he thinks he can't sell the PC without it. Too much trouble and I don't think it's worth the 35 euros he's asking.

[Blaise170]

I don't think I'll be moving forward with this since the guys only wants to sell this included with the PC I mentioned above, or wants me to pay the full price just for the keyboard because he thinks he can't sell the PC without it. Too much trouble and I don't think it's worth the 35 euros he's asking.

Maybe you could at least convince him to pop a cap for you. I'll bet it's a rubber dome.

[Nover]

Fairly certain you'd lose that bet against nubbinator. 
F&F is the most probable, if it wasn't for the caps I could also have imagined space invaders as philips had a couple if xt clones with those.

[hwood34]

I don't think I'll be moving forward with this since the guys only wants to sell this included with the PC I mentioned above, or wants me to pay the full price just for the keyboard because he thinks he can't sell the PC without it. Too much trouble and I don't think it's worth the 35 euros he's asking.

Maybe you could at least convince him to pop a cap for you. I'll bet it's a rubber dome.

Frankly none of the possibilities for this board would be worth 35 euro, though I guess it could be nice just for the sake of knowledge