Where to find a keyboard with Alps Blue?

[sean]

I've been looking for keyboards with SKCM blue switches. I looked at all the models listed on DT that are supposed to have blue switches and searched for them on Ebay. If you're wondering why the specific board doesn't matter, all I have to say is that it will be used for "scientific research".

Anyway, I only found one result and it went for $250. Has anybody had any luck getting a blue Alps keyboard for under $100? If yes, where did you find it and where might I have a better chance of finding one for myself?

[fohat.digs]

The most easily available "sure thing" is the Leading Edge 2014.

There have been numerous threads on this subject.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=75006.0

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=74659.0

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40501.msg1856314#msg1856314

[sean]

I guess those links aren't really what I was looking for, but it seems the only answer here may be to just be patient and look around if guys like njbair are also having a hard time. I actually have a lead on two Omnikeys that one guy is selling for his grandparents. I asked him to pop off a keycap and send me a picture, so hopefully I can get a lucky break.

[fohat.digs]

I guess those links aren't really what I was looking for, but it seems the only answer here may be to just be patient and look around

The answer "be patient" is always best.

I waited for almost 2 years then got what I wanted. These things come and go in waves - there might be 4 in one month, then 4 months with nothing.

The Northgates with blue Alps (ancient rare gold foil label) have the non-standard layout with bigass Enter. The one keyboard that Chyros got half a year ago is the only true-ANSI blue Alps board I have ever heard of.

What I did, and what I recommend, is to buy a Northgate Omnikey 101 for the chassis, and get a Leading Edge 2014 for the switches, and transplant them. It took me over 2 years to accomplish that, but I am pleased with the results. [You will be a few blues short in that scenario, but whites are an acceptable substitute on the lesser-used keys.]

I also bought a Filco Zero and another LE 2014, and went through the exercise again.

[sean]

You better believe I'm jealous of you having a Filco Zero, with blues even! Well, I'll be looking out for those LE 2014's and possibly some earlier Omnikeys. This is actually what I am looking to do with Hasu's Alps board and blue switches. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=71457.0. But Maybe I'll have to settle for the Matias or cream switches that I have for now.

[snarfarlarkus]

I'm also trying to find a blue alps kb god damn theyre rare

[Ludovician]

I wish I could get my hands on that Filco Zero and compare it to my KBP V80, which I did the same thing with.

Sean: Keep looking around, put ads up on gh classifieds, dt marketplace, and /r/mechmarket and wait for responses. It took a while for me but I did get a few sellers doing that and ended up with enough blues to do what I wanted twice. Typing on them now and loving them.

[Magna224]

You don't. You suffer for eternity.

[fohat.digs]

I'm also trying to find a blue alps kb god damn theyre rare

They are not rare, they just don't turn up every day.

I scoff at anyone whining about not finding blue Alps switches who has not been looking for a few months, at least.

[sean]

I'm also trying to find a blue alps kb god damn theyre rare

They are not rare, they just don't turn up every day.

I scoff at anyone whining about not finding blue Alps switches who has not been looking for a few months, at least.

Dictionary definitions of rare:
rare 1  (rār)
adj. rar·er, rar·est
Infrequently occurring; uncommon
(of an event, situation, or condition) not occurring very often.
coming or occurring far apart in time; unusual; uncommon

If it takes a few months (at least) to find a board with Alps switches, I think it's fair to call them rare; hence why I couldn't find any the first time I looked, and according to you it will take me a few months of looking. I'm determined though, so I'm sure I'll get my hands on one eventually.

Sean: Keep looking around, put ads up on gh classifieds, dt marketplace, and /r/mechmarket and wait for responses. It took a while for me but I did get a few sellers doing that and ended up with enough blues to do what I wanted twice. Typing on them now and loving them.

Thanks for the tips, I'll be posting around and see what happens.

[fohat.digs]

My quest for blue Alps might have been shorter if I had been willing to pay >$100 from the beginning, rather than waiting for ~$60.

I had a book on my ebay watch list for 8 years, and one day it just suddenly popped up. That, to me, is rare.

Also, the things that have been on my list for 8 years and never turned up, even once.

[chyros]

They're not readily available but they're not THAT rare. As mentioned before, the most surefire, common way is the 2014, but they never go cheap. You might get lucky and get one for almost nothing, but in that case you might have to hunt old offices, labs and recycling centres. That's a bit of a long stretch though, you might be a while.

[fohat.digs]

I have sold the Filco.

[cmadrid]

I'm still hoping to get contacted by that e-cycler that sold me the blue alps board for $5 again..   

[sean]

I'm still hoping to get contacted by that e-cycler that sold me the blue alps board for $5 again..   

Your e-cycler probably knows its worth by now...  )

[cmadrid]

I'm still hoping to get contacted by that e-cycler that sold me the blue alps board for $5 again..   

Your e-cycler probably knows its worth by now...  )

They must be pissed at me then, lol

[sean]

Hey guys!!! I have a blue ALPS keyboard!

I spent every day looking at new listings on eBay using the search terms "Leading Edge DC-2014", "Vintage Keyboard", and "Omnikey". I also subscribed to any new Leading Edge DC-2014 listings so I got email notified of new listings (but I never ended up getting any).

After a few nights I ended up finding a new auction of an Omnikey 102 with a gold label. Thanks to fohat.digs I knew it had blue switches! So thank you so much fohats.dig!

So here it is:


It literally has a wooden peg leg, and it's quite functional too:


It's really dirty but the keys themselves are surprisingly in good condition. However, I'm glad I got a keyboard that's in rough shape since it's getting taken apart for Hasu's Alps64.

Thanks all for the help and for anybody that is looking, stay vigilant and know what you're looking for and where to look!

[hammelgammler]

Nice keyboard! How much did you paid for that one?

[sean]

Nice keyboard! How much did you paid for that one?

$100 with shipping. Probably too much considering other sold listings and the condition it was in. But all of the switches are in excellent condition with the exception of one with a cracked shell.

[bcredbottle]

Try to convince Edgar Matias to introduce more switches. I think his best bet would probably be a non-dampened tactile switches (a la Salmon or Orange).

[fohat.digs]

$100 with shipping. Probably too much considering

Not a bad price at all, under $1 per switch delivered, plus a set of doubleshot Alps caps (including color).

Such a shame to ditch that solid well-built case .....

[sth]

Try to convince Edgar Matias to introduce more switches. I think his best bet would probably be a non-dampened tactile switches (a la Salmon or Orange).

only if he does a complicated-style switch plate. wobbly alps feel cheap and fragile compared to complicated alps.

[bcredbottle]

Try to convince Edgar Matias to introduce more switches. I think his best bet would probably be a non-dampened tactile switches (a la Salmon or Orange).

only if he does a complicated-style switch plate. wobbly alps feel cheap and fragile compared to complicated alps.

That is my sole complaint about clicky Matias switches. They really do clatter more than clack.

[Defect]

Hard to find a Blue ALPS board for under 100.  I caved and dropped around 130 shipped to get mine (see link in Sig)

[chyros]

Beautiful boarrd, but the mountain plate looks extremely dirty. Are the switches really OK? Alps usually get really grouchy when exposed to dust.

[sean]

Beautiful boarrd, but the mountain plate looks extremely dirty. Are the switches really OK? Alps usually get really grouchy when exposed to dust.

The switches actually had a sandy type of dust in them. I took them all apart and separated the click leafs, springs, stems, and plastic shells. I cleaned the soldered on pieces of the switch with a paint brush and air. until the dust was gone. I washed the plastic shells and let them dry overnight. Lastly I separated the stems by the amount of lube each of them had (the amount of lube varied quite a bit from none at all to a lot) so my 60% keyboard will have the best lubed switches. I then put the switches back together on areas like the numpad, F keys, etc since I figured they are in the best shape for longevity sake. All that's left to do is desolder the switches

[cheddarbek]

A sandy type dust? Eep!

I'm pretty sure that's the dry lubricant that makes blues so smooth....

[Sed8op8]

I'm struggling to find info on some alps boards. For some reason a lot of the deskthority links are dead or empty for me. I'm trying to find a very smooth tactile alps that are reminiscent of an ergo -clear. It might be easier to source some matias quiet clicks but the collector and hunter in me wants to find some tactile alps boards I can practice my soldering on and harvest some switches in a single go. I ordered a couple of boards that were improperly listed and I am a little bummed.

Definitely excited to try some different switches and good luck on hunting down some blues !

[jbondeson]

I'm struggling to find info on some alps boards. For some reason a lot of the deskthority links are dead or empty for me. I'm trying to find a very smooth tactile alps that are reminiscent of an ergo -clear. It might be easier to source some matias quiet clicks but the collector and hunter in me wants to find some tactile alps boards I can practice my soldering on and harvest some switches in a single go. I ordered a couple of boards that were improperly listed and I am a little bummed.

Definitely excited to try some different switches and good luck on hunting down some blues !

The smooth part is the only hard part as Alps aren't good with dust so it's a bit luck of the draw. The good news is that you can disassemble and clean them. Platypus has also talked about swapping the plate and spring in from a Matias quiet to get a like new switch.

As for the type I'd say Orange or Salmon would be what you're aiming for, and those can be found on Apple desktop bus keyboards.

[fohat.digs]

As for the type I'd say Orange or Salmon would be what you're aiming for, and those can be found on Apple desktop bus keyboards.

This. Apple Extended Keyboards (M0115) are not rare, although not particularly common. Or buy two M0116s.

These are solid, well-made boards. Just use them as-is and you will get an excellent feel for them.
 

[digi]

As for the type I'd say Orange or Salmon would be what you're aiming for, and those can be found on Apple desktop bus keyboards.

This. Apple Extended Keyboards (M0115) are not rare, although not particularly common. Or buy two M0116s.

These are solid, well-made boards. Just use them as-is and you will get an excellent feel for them.
 

Yup, swooped on a M0116 on the cheap, great switches!

[sean]

A sandy type dust? Eep!

I'm pretty sure that's the dry lubricant that makes blues so smooth....

I can say with certainty the dust was foreign matter getting into the switch, especially since the keyboard is 30 years old. The lube reminded me very much of graphite lube that is used in small wheel bearings and whatnot.

I'm struggling to find info on some alps boards. For some reason a lot of the deskthority links are dead or empty for me. I'm trying to find a very smooth tactile alps that are reminiscent of an ergo -clear. It might be easier to source some matias quiet clicks but the collector and hunter in me wants to find some tactile alps boards I can practice my soldering on and harvest some switches in a single go. I ordered a couple of boards that were improperly listed and I am a little bummed.

Definitely excited to try some different switches and good luck on hunting down some blues !

The smooth part is the only hard part as Alps aren't good with dust so it's a bit luck of the draw. The good news is that you can disassemble and clean them. Platypus has also talked about swapping the plate and spring in from a Matias quiet to get a like new switch.

As for the type I'd say Orange or Salmon would be what you're aiming for, and those can be found on Apple desktop bus keyboards.

I'm curious to know if switching the plate and spring with a Matias switch will make any difference. Might as well see... for science!