Any ideas about the switches on this 1991 Hitachi computer?

[ishigoya]

Hello,

I just bought this Hitachi B32LXT on Yahoo Auction and I'm puzzled about the key switches.

I couldn't find much information about the machine online, but the most comprehensive was this page in Japanese from Hitachi, boasting of the machine's colour TFT screen, pricing for the masses at 678k yen, and fast 16MHz processor.

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The smaller key switches at the top are green, and the alphanumeric key switches are white. After having a browse through the wiki, I think the green keys might be Alps SKCL, but I'm not sure about the white ones. They're clicky, but they bottom out just below the actuation point. I think for someone who isn't ham-fisted like me they might be quite pleasant to type on!

After removing the keyboard, I noticed the Alps label on the underside. I found the wiki page on Alps keyboard codes, but the ASSY No., which starts with KFP, doesn't appear in the list.

Any more information about this behemoth, key switches or otherwise, would be very welcome!

[Muirium]

The green switches are indeed "half height Alps": SKCL compact.



The white ones are more mysterious but almost guaranteed to be an Alps design as well, since this is clearly an Alps-made keyboard as you see on the PCB.

Looks a classy beast.

[Findecanor]

Switches with very sliders more often have an integrated rubber dome inside. What do they feel like?

[ishigoya]

The green switches are indeed "half height Alps": SKCL compact.

That would make sense given the smaller keycap stems

Looks a classy beast.

Beast is the right word I think!

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[ishigoya]

Switches with very sliders more often have an integrated rubber dome inside. What do they feel like?

I'm not that experienced with mechanical keyboards, but there is a click near the end of the travel, which feels like a Cherry MX brown. After that it feels a bit boggy.

[photekq]

It's Alps integrated dome.

[Findecanor]

Indeed. The wiki article has a picture of one with black slider, but not much more info.

I've added a mention of this variant. Please do take pictures of the switch for the wiki if you have time.

[ishigoya]

Good to know, thanks!

I'll update the wiki page with a photo after I've cleaned it up.