deskthority

Firstly: I've really tried hard to find some more info on these switches,but failed
Would you guys please be so kind to help me identify these?
thanks a million!

I would guess something hall effect based.

Edit: Looks like the HE sensor (or whatever these things are called) is made in 1983
http://katalogy.ic.cz/MH1SS1.html

rodtang wrote:I would guess something hall effect based.

Edit: Looks like the HE sensor (or whatever these things are called) is made in 1983
http://katalogy.ic.cz/MH1SS1.html

thanks for the reply and pointing to that PDF document.
but unfortunately, the guy who's selling the stuff has sent me the new photo,apologizing that the first batch of photos was incorrect.so the real deal is this:(now I'm even more confused )

looks like a MX compatible topre switch xD

honestly, i've got no idea of what this is

FINALLY I was able to obtain the pictures of the keyboard itself, quite rare one I think...

That is a true beauty! any more info on this board?

Guess we'll just have to wait for HaaTa

Neat, I don't believe I've seen this switch before (but I recall seeing something similar).
Most likely each of those 4 pin plastic boards are an IC (I don't think you can fit the ferrite version in that small of space, though it has enough pins).

Not really sure why it is mounted in the center of the switch...
Does it have 2 magnets?
Really, it just complicates the internal design (perhaps to get around Honeywell patents?).


As for the "updated pic", hmm....
Looks vaguely similar to the original George Risk switches (but not really). At first guess, key caps look Dye Subbed.
I'd be interested in the keyboard if you don't want it

Just went to a googling a bit and found some information on the keyboard. It was shipped together with the computers of Apricot brand, as the name suggests the Apricot Xen-i model, which was based on 80286 CPU family, and was the first product to be compatible with IBM's PCs, which means that the plug is standard DIN and not the custom one.
The display on the keyboard is capable to display 2 rows of text, primarily the functions assigned to special function keys below the display, which might be reprogrammed via MS-DOS utility. Also the keyboard has built in Calculator, which also uses the display. I just need to arrange the transport for this beauty, and hope for ETA 2~4 weeks.
Will make the review for you guys of course !

HaaTa wrote:Neat, I don't believe I've seen this switch before (but I recall seeing something similar).
Most likely each of those 4 pin plastic boards are an IC (I don't think you can fit the ferrite version in that small of space, though it has enough pins).

Not really sure why it is mounted in the center of the switch...
Does it have 2 magnets?
Really, it just complicates the internal design (perhaps to get around Honeywell patents?).


As for the "updated pic", hmm....
Looks vaguely similar to the original George Risk switches (but not really). At first guess, key caps look Dye Subbed.
I'd be interested in the keyboard if you don't want it

I've got tons of old HW,and my wife (probably) hates me for that ,so this beauty might be available for some barter or sell. Will let you know.

just some new photoze

another one. searched wiki,no match

That is a mitsumi switch with cherry stem.

Ascaii wrote:That is a mitsumi switch with cherry stem.

thanx Ascaii, it's hard to find things on wiki without pictures for noob like me.
so I've identified the board: http://www.kpsurplus.com/buy/vintage_ch ... 5191/87590

but wiki does not say if it's linear/tactile/clicky/whatever switch type.
is this keyboard worth 15$ ?

Yes, go for it. There are many variations of the Mitsumi switch; I have found both clicky and silent, tactile and linear switches. Those look to be lime colored, which I found on a Quantel keypad for a video editing console. Ive had salmon, lime, turquise, and yellow mitsumis and I sent them all to Haata for his collection.

Mitsumi switches are comparatively uncommon and not well documented.

The best place to go for switch recognition right now is MouseFan's switch gallery.

He shows two variants of that Mitsumi switch:

• White, possibly tactile
• Green, possibly linear

Contrary to popular belief, based on the pages above, you can see that the switches are in fact plate mount, although not all keyboards that use them have a plate.

Daniel Beardsmore wrote:Mitsumi switches are comparatively uncommon and not well documented.

The best place to go for switch recognition right now is MouseFan's switch gallery.

He shows two variants of that Mitsumi switch:

• White, possibly tactile
• Green, possibly linear

Contrary to popular belief, based on the pages above, you can see that the switches are in fact plate mount, although not all keyboards that use them have a plate.

You can find lots of pictures on haatas crawler query, though it takes a while to load.

That's not documentation.

oooh, guys, thanx so much for your kind feedback. I'll make some photos and short review once I get the kbd.