I got something old for Christmas. Micro SD 4B3S switches.

wgffwgf · 31 Dec 2017, 10:15

Hi Deskthority, I registered for this post as reddit couldn't ID my new vintage thing.

They're saying it may be a DEC VT100 aftermarket thing but I'm sure you guys can ID this better.

Also what should i do with it?

Pictures:
https://imgur.com/a/P7LyU

Chyros · 31 Dec 2017, 10:45

Honeywell Hall effect switches. It looks like it's in superb condition, and the caps are even thicker than I'm used to of them. Type 4B3S is a somewhat stiff switch, 74 g, but it should be an exceptionally smooth linear switch. Not easy to convert, but some people have managed it. A very nice find, congrats!

To my knowledge the VT-100 keyboard used all-black caps and Hi-Tek/Stackpole switches, as well as a different layout, so I don't think it's that, but I'm not sure what it actually is.

daedalus · 31 Dec 2017, 14:42

The layout is very similar to an LK101 (the VT1xx keyboard). The most obvious difference is that this keyboard has an additional row of function keys up top, the LK101 did not have these.

What sort of connector does it have? The LK101 used a phono jack plug.

Due to the popularity of the VT100, its layout was copied elsewhere, for example, the original Sun workstations had a keyboard with the same layout as the LK101. This keyboard you have shown here is probably a terminal keyboard (judging by the array of activity lights) but is probably for a non DEC terminal (which may or may not have been compatible with the VT100)

EDIT: Apologies, didn't notice the picture(s) which showed the connector... it could well be compatible with the VT1xx terminals. Still hard to call whether it's intended for a VT1xx itself, or a clone. My money would be on the latter.

Slom · 31 Dec 2017, 21:57

Hi and welcome to DT

Saw your post on reddit, nice to have you over here. Sadly I've no idea where this is coming from, but it is certainly interesting. Whatever you do, don't kill it for the switches

wgffwgf · 02 Jan 2018, 08:56

Slom wrote: Whatever you do, don't kill it for the switches

Would you take care for it? I don't really want to convert it to be honest, I don't like the feels.

Chyros wrote: A very nice find, congrats!

Do you want it?

I'm thinking about putting it up for sale.

daedalus wrote: EDIT: Apologies, didn't notice the picture(s) which showed the connector... it could well be compatible with the VT1xx terminals. Still hard to call whether it's intended for a VT1xx itself, or a clone. My money would be on the latter.

Thanks!

snuci · 02 Jan 2018, 14:01

wgffwgf wrote:
Slom wrote: Whatever you do, don't kill it for the switches
Would you take care for it? I don't really want to convert it to be honest, I don't like the feels.

If you were closer, I would consider buying it. I spent some time trying to figure out what terminal this keyboard goes with and haven't figured it out. It's a VT-100 clone with the extra function key row but I don't think it's a third-party aftermarket replacement for a DEC VT-100 or there would be a prominent logo on the keyboard. Therefore, I think it must belong to a clone terminal. What that is, I do not know.

wgffwgf · 02 Jan 2018, 15:58

snuci wrote: If you were closer, I would consider buying it.

Shipping costs are a bit troubling, but I'm sure if there's a will, there's a way.

seebart · 02 Jan 2018, 16:08

I would normally take it but I have to honor my 2018 resolution NOT to buy anymore keyboards sorry.

wiki/User:Seebart

wgffwgf · 02 Jan 2018, 16:09

seebart wrote: I would normally take it but I have to honor my 2018 resolution NOT to buy anymore keyboards sorry.

wiki/User:Seebart

Please take it away from me!!!

(also, technically I posted this before this year, so it counts towards 2017)

seebart · 02 Jan 2018, 16:13

wgffwgf wrote: Please take it away from me!!!

But why? It's so nice.

wgffwgf wrote: (also, technically I posted this before this year, so it counts towards 2017)

Good one.

Slom · 04 Jan 2018, 12:59

wgffwgf wrote:
Slom wrote: Whatever you do, don't kill it for the switches
Would you take care for it? I don't really want to convert it to be honest, I don't like the feels.

Do you want to gift it to me?

Seriously, I have got more than a handful of micro switch boards already (soon to be more than two handful, to be honest). And none of them are working yet

. Aaaanddd my new years resolution is similar to seebarts. So I guess you should put it up for sale first.

If really nobody wants it, I might reconsider.

Slom · 04 Jan 2018, 13:01

snuci wrote: I spent some time trying to figure out what terminal this keyboard goes with and haven't figured it out.

I scanned through the pictures on http://terminals-wiki.org, but no luck

snuci · 04 Jan 2018, 13:27

Slom wrote: I scanned through the pictures on http://terminals-wiki.org, but no luck

I did the same thing as well. It would have been interesting to try this keyboard on a real VT100 (which I have) just to see if it is a clone.

wgffwgf · 08 Jan 2018, 11:12

snuci wrote: I did the same thing as well. It would have been interesting to try this keyboard on a real VT100 (which I have) just to see if it is a clone.

Did I hear correctly that you're buying?

snuci · 08 Jan 2018, 12:45

wgffwgf wrote: Did I hear correctly that you're buying?

PM sent.

seebart · 08 Jan 2018, 13:41

I hope you get it snuci. I'm out, sorry I forgot to tell you wgffwgf!

alordi · 29 Sep 2018, 08:45

This keyboard from Videoton VDN-52500 terminal
http://www.muzeumkomputerow.edu.pl/nasz ... 52500.html

Slom · 29 Sep 2018, 09:59

alordi wrote: This keyboard from Videoton VDN-52500 terminal
http://www.muzeumkomputerow.edu.pl/nasz ... 52500.html

Great detective work! Thank you alordi