Wyse PCE INT'L with "RRE" switches — Indian Cherry MX clones?

[stratokaster]

When I got my Wyse PCE INT'L, I immediately noticed that some of the keys felt somewhat different to others. I thought that the keyboard just needed cleaning. Today I finally got around to cleaning it, and much to my surprise, I discovered that it indeed uses two different types of switches! Switches marked "Cherry" are used for all F-keys and modifiers, with switches marked as "RRE" being mostly used for alphanumerics.

It appears that both the keyboard itself and the switches were manufactured by this company: http://www.rre.in/

As you can see from my rather poorly-done photos, RRE switches use shinier plastic than their Cherry counterparts, and their top part is very slightly narrower. In terms of feeling they are somewhat more springy and scratchy. Cherry switches are smoother and easier to bottom-out.

The switch alongside its Cherry counterpart:

rre-cherry.jpg (395.24 KiB) Viewed 5203 times

The inside of the lower case. You can clearly see the date:

wyse-date.jpg (208.1 KiB) Viewed 5203 times

Sticker on the PCB. I think it's safe to assume that this keyboard was made on November 4, 1995. Or that it was the 486th keyboard manufactured in November 1995.

rre-sticker.jpg (276.11 KiB) Viewed 5203 times

The Wyse sticker clearly states that the keyboard is "made in India".

wyse-sticker.jpg (373.5 KiB) Viewed 5203 times

[stratokaster]

Another picture showing switches "in situ" mixed with genuine Cherry MX Black.

switches-in-situ.jpg (409.34 KiB) Viewed 5202 times

[IvanIvanovich]

Interesting. I have never come across one of those before, and I have bought LOADS of old Wyse, Link, Reynolds, etc various brands that all share the same reference design keyboards and have never gotten any with those switch. But then, I think the ones I have had were made in Korea mostly not India.

[stratokaster]

Unfortunately, I was not able to find any information about those switches online.

But I definitely don't like typing on this keyboard. My rubber dome IBM KB-6323 feels more pleasant to type on.

[Compgeke]

The mix of switches is a bit odd, especially since they seem to be fairly randomly placed in the alpha area.

I wonder if some of the switches quit working at one point and someone replaced them with the closest thing they could find - MX blacks.

[stratokaster]

The mix of switches is a bit odd, especially since they seem to be fairly randomly placed in the alpha area.

I wonder if some of the switches quit working at one point and someone replaced them with the closest thing they could find - MX blacks.

Doesn't look like it, to be honest. There're no signs of soldering or repair on the circuit board.

[ray4jc]

Perhaps the first cherry MX clones? Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

[stratokaster]

Right now I'm having an internal debate whether to actually use this keyboard (and convert it to USB), or to sacrifice it for scientific purposes.

[justin4232000]

Are Reynolds keyboards super rare?
This one was listed for $225, and was snapped up immediately.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/115167977179?h ... WlzMzCeEbD

[photekq]

Are Reynolds keyboards super rare?
This one was listed for $225, and was snapped up immediately.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/115167977179?h ... WlzMzCeEbD

Those aren't even mechanical, they're rubber dome. Not particularly good ones either.

I'd usually say they were bought by people who thought they'd be getting NOS vintage blacks, but I'm not sure.. You don't often see those rubberdome WYSE boards get sold, they usually just sit there for ages because people know they're not MX. I'm surprised these ones sold, especially for $225 - even if they were NOS with MX, that wouldn't be a great price or anything.

[thefarside]

Right now I'm having an internal debate whether to actually use this keyboard (and convert it to USB), or to sacrifice it for scientific purposes.

Instead of sacrificing it could you disassemble and desolder a switch? That should allow discovery and not ruin the board. Either way it’s an interesting find!