deskthority

Just curious, anyone know what kind of switches these are?

https://imgur.com/a/TVVNoWh


I saw someone post about it over at /r/vintagecomputing


https://imgur.com/gallery/4j9sWnT

I have no idea but I like that name morse-a-keyer

Alps mount? Dang those might be the coolest alps caps I've ever seen.

I saw this on craigslist, anyone know what it has under the caps?



I got a message from the seller. It's an Alps SM-101, which is their buckling spring board.

Literally all Dell Quietkeys...

I saw this lot for sale on craigslist and I'm going to look at it tomorrow. These are the best pictures they have. Send me your positive mechanical keyboard vibes.

Oh sorry, I thought you meant which model of switch. I got all my mitsumi switches from old swintec typewriters. I can see if I still have the actual model numbers somewhere.

What switches exactly?


Mitsumi standard mechanical switches.


Can you give me some examples of what models? I love Mitsumi switches.


They're all Type 1, although I have a few different housing colors.
https://deskthority.net/wiki/File:Mitsumi_std_1_momentary_--_top.jpg

I have a ...

abrahamstechnology wrote: 03 May 2019, 19:38

SpacemanToby wrote: 03 May 2019, 13:47 I have like 1000 of those switches if anyone wants some.

What switches exactly?

Mitsumi standard mechanical switches.

I got into the mechanical switch world by finding cheap electric typewriters and converting them. You can find some good stuff, but they mostly used heavy linears. There's a sharp typewriter that pops up every once in a while that has alps skcl greens on it. Mitsumi is the most common I've found. I ...

My area has a store called The Grid, which is like a gamestop but owned by goodwill. Every goodwill around me sends all their computer/video game stuff to The Grid, but since they want to brand themselves like a gamestop, they won't sell any keyboards older than usb. All the older stuff just gets ...

Have any pictures of the board?

Lol, $4k eBay listing for a Beamspring. This is becoming the new Bitcoin. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F143040925703

No, it's just this seller in particular being a dick as they have done in the past just to troll us "keyboard kids". They have an ...

Let me know. I have a decent Apple II collection and am always looking for certain models.

Definitely. I've already bought a IIe from the guy in really rough condition (picture below), but I'm excited to see if I can bring it back to its former glory. He says he has a couple more, maybe older ...

I've recently gotten into restoring vintage computers in a pretty big way, and it was all because of my searching for keyboards. I came across a big lot of computers and computer parts that I bought solely because I saw there was a Leading Edge DC-3014 in the mix. I figured I would just resell ...

Found this at a thrift store. Victor 660 adding machine with alps SKCC cream switches.

PM'd

That was the first group buy I've been seriously tempted by, as I tend to mostly use 60% boards. I didn't end up pulling the trigger in the end though. Too rich for my blood.

My assumption was that he bought it for the switches. I guess if he's actually going to use the videowriter keyboard as a usb keyboard it wouldn't make sense.

You could always replace the switches with matias or something. It would still work the same.

It's definitely a hit at the office. Many memos are getting printed and distributed. Also it's fun to feed different kind of paper through and try to line up what you're printing. I prints surprisingly well on paper towels.

Thanks for the help! I was able to figure out that all the problem keys were in the same column, and there was one with a bad solder. I resoldered that pin and it works again! Such a cool machine, I'm glad I didn't break it.

Anyone have a good guide on how to map out keyboard matrixes? I've done a lot of handwiring, but I have next to no experience with pcbs.

Thanks for taking a look! 60, 65, and 71 look bad because alps mashes down the pins on some of the switches, and I accidentally messed up the solder pads that connect to the trace during the de-soldering process. I i had to expose some of the trace copper and wired the pin directly to the trace ...

I've tried briefly to follow the trace, but that is tough to do. I'll have to spend more time on it.

That is is one thing I have done, and my multimeter beeps on the continuity setting when I press the key down.

Hey guys.

Does anyone have some tips or links to reading on how to debug old pcbs? I got a video writer the other day, and I wanted to replace the alps brown switches with greens so the unit could remain operational. After replacing them, a couple won't work. I've tested all the switches, and a ...

Gambled on a videowriter and it paid off. It's a very complete unit, with the original box, instructions, floppy disks, and extra ribbons. I'm thinking about replacing the switches with skcl greens or something and trying to find someone who really wants a complete functional videowriter.

https ...

Some yellowing shows character. Some is just gross.

Zrrion is correct. I have a Zenith Ztx-1 terminal that has the same profile. Another cheapish skcc keyboard is the Texas Instruments T99 4a computer. But again, it won't be the same cap profile.