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Keyboard–switch database Alps SKCL/SKCM

Details

Manufacturer Alps
Sub-series SKCL
SKCM
Notes Switch type variants only include characteristics known to differ within the lifetime of the product, for example all SKCMAG are believed to be pine and have no logo, so these characteristics are not covered for that switch.

Created by Daniel on 2015-11-01; modified by Daniel on 2015-11-24

Timeline

SKCL Green: 2 3 4 2 2 2 1
SKCL Cream: 2
SKCL Lock: 1 1
SKCM Blue: 1 3 2
SKCM Orange: 1 1
SKCL Brown: 1
SKCL Amber: 1
SKCM Cream: 1
SKCL Compact: 1 1
SKCL Yellow: 1 2 1 1 2
SKCM White: 7 2 1 2 1 2
SKCM Salmon: 1 1 1
SKCM Black: 2 1 1 1
SKCM Cream Damped: 1
SKCM Green: 1
Total: 2 2 3 3 6 4 9 5 4 4 1 4 1
Year: 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Warning: Please note that the timeline must not be trusted until a statistically significant number of data points are present.

Switches

Switch Variants Part number Type Usage
SKCL Amber — — 1
SKCL Brown — — 2
SKCL Compact — — 3
SKCL Cream no LED; long black switchplate, no logo
no LED; unknown switchplate; no logo		 — 2
SKCL Green LED; long grey switchplate, no logo
LED; unknown characteristics
LED; unknown switchplate; no logo
no LED; long black switchplate, no logo
no LED; long grey switchplate, no logo
no LED; unknown characteristics
no LED; unknown switchplate; no logo		 — 17
SKCL Lock cream; no logo
grey; with logo		 Latching 6
SKCL Yellow LED; switchplate unknown, with logo
LED; unknown characteristics
no LED; switchplate unknown, with logo		 — 8
SKCM Black bamboo; short white switchplate, with logo
bamboo; switchplate unknown, with logo
pine; short white switchplate, with logo
pine; switchplate unknown, with logo		 — 5
SKCM Blue long grey switchplate
long white switchplate
short white switchplate
switchplate unknown		 SKCMAG Clicky 9
SKCM Brown — — 1
SKCM Cream long white switchplate, no logo SKCMAF Tactile 2
SKCM Cream Damped pine; short white switchplate, with logo SKCMBB — 1
SKCM Green bamboo — 1
SKCM Orange long white switchplate, no logo
long white switchplate, with logo
switchplate unknown, with logo		 — 3
SKCM Salmon — — 4
SKCM White all details unknown
bamboo; switchplate unknown, with logo
pine; scrawly; short white switchplate
pine; short white switchplate, with logo
pine; short white switchplate; blank
pine; switchplate unknown, with logo		 — 16

Keyboards

Model Year(s) Switches Serial PCB codes Reference Notes
BIOS Express KCME907L None Alps SKCM Blue (unknown) — 12KC619BK sandy55.fc2web.com
Wyse 00-600-02 None Alps SKCL Green (no LED; SP:LB, L:N) 1010001065 98-043-01 REV B geekhack.org No idea what this is — none of the numbers on the back turn up a single thing. The PCB is marked “C WYSE TECHNOLOGY 1984” and from the switches, it’s unlikely to be much newer than that.
Visual Technology LK201 copy None Alps SKCL Brown — 12KCA10AK deskthority.net This keyboard is a non-exact copy of the DEC LK201 keyboard, with a big-ass enter amongst other layout changes. The corresponding terminal is not known.
NTC KB-6153EA None Alps SKCM White (pine; SP:?, L:Y) 11027254 deskthority.net
HP C1414A None Alps SKCM Cream (SP:LW, L:N) 2850J00234
93M00055 (int.)		 mousefan.telcontar.net
Focus FK-8000 None Futaba 2G Type 2 MX mount
Alps SKCL Yellow (LED; SP:?, L:Y) (lock)		 930505604 deskthority.net
NTC KB-6151N None Alps SKCM Blue (unknown) — deskthority.net The IC reads only "NTC-6151" and no photo exists of the rear label (so the FCC ID, serial number and model number cannot be confirmed).
Magnavox VideoWRITER keyboard (VideoWRITER keyboard) None Alps SKCM Brown
Alps SKCL Lock (cream; L:N) (lock)
Alps SKCL Compact (function row)		 — deskthority.net
SPC KB-5170 None Alps SKCM Blue (unknown)
Alps SKCL Lock (cream; L:N) (lock)		 — imgur.com The keyboard has no model, but the Chicony OEM product details are clearly visible on one of the feet; using that as the model number for now.
Apple Apple Desktop Bus Keyboard (658-4081) None Alps SKCM Orange (SP:?, L:Y)
Alps SKCL Lock (cream; L:N) (lock)		 — deskthority.net
Apple M0116 None Alps SKCM Salmon
Alps SKCL Lock (grey; L:Y) (lock)		 — deskthority.net
IBM 5550 keyboard 1983 (IC) Alps SKCL Green (no LED; SP:LB, L:N) 9924922 12KC218A kbd.rzw.jp
Fujitsu キーボード部 1983 (label) Alps SKCL Green (no LED; SP:?, L:N) MP2988 kbd.rzw.jp
Mindset M-1002 1984 (IC) Alps SKCL Green (no LED; SP:?, L:N)
Alps SKCL Cream (no LED; SP:?, L:N) (space bar)
Alps SKCL Lock (cream; L:N) (lock)		 001224
42Y00942 (int.)		 12KC353B www.flickr.com Alps provided only the keyboard PCB. The interface PCB ICs are dated to 1983, but the sockets are from 1984, so this year is logged instead.
Zenith Z-161 keyboard 1984 (case)
1984 (IC)		 Alps SKCL Green (no LED; SP:LB, L:N)
Alps SKCL Cream (no LED; SP:LB, L:N) (space bar)
Alps SKCL Green (LED; SP:?, L:N) (lock)		 0053292-00138 12KC397A, HEATH P/N : 163-16 deskthority.net
Panasonic Business Partner 286 keyboard 1986 (IC) Alps SKCM Blue (SP:LG)
Alps SKCL Green (LED; SP:?, L:N) (lock)		 71R7D00182 (int.) 12KC626B, KFCMEA015A mousefan.telcontar.net Not sure how to record this one; using the "MFG No" as the serial number, but the visible branding as the model, for now.
IBM 5550 keyboard 1986 (IC) Alps SKCL Green (no LED; SP:LG, L:N) 99C9659 kbd.rzw.jp
Zenith Z-150 1986 (IC) Alps SKCL Green (no LED; SP:?, L:N)
Alps SKCL Green (LED; SP:?, L:N) (lock)		 — 12KC564B kbd.rzw.jp No idea where he gets the model number from, as it’s not written anywhere.
Zenith ZKB-2 1987 (label) Alps SKCL Green (no LED; SP:LG, L:N)
Alps SKCL Green (LED; unknown) (lock)		 9628268 205-1934-E hw001.spaaqs.ne.jp
Apple M0116/M0118 (M0116) 1987 (IC) Alps SKCM Orange (SP:LW, L:N)
Alps SKCL Lock (cream; L:N) (lock)		 — kbtalking.cool3c.com Serial number reads something like “387689”
Packard Bell KCLEA907L 1987 (IC) Alps SKCL Brown
Alps SKCL Amber (space bar)		 006750 12KC619BK kbd.rzw.jp
Utopian KB-5160C 1988 (IC) Alps SKCM Blue (SP:LG) 8035676 kbtalking.cool3c.com
Tulip ATK 030244 1988 (IC) Alps SKCM Blue (SP:LG) R01 88 100802 deskthority.net
Leading Edge DC-3014 1988 (case)
1988 (IC)		 Alps SKCM Blue (SP:LG) 80526775
80524818 (int.)		 kbd.rzw.jp
NeXT “AAE” keyboard 1988 (IC) Alps SKCM Cream (SP:LW, L:N) AAE0210976 56AAA0384C deskthority.net Branding is “NeXT, Inc.”
Zenith ZKB-2R 1988 (label)
1988 (case)		 Alps SKCL Green (no LED; SP:?, L:N)
Alps SKCL Green (LED; SP:?, L:N) (lock)		 9622578 kbd.rzw.jp
Costar CSK-1101P 1988 (IC) Omron B3G-S Click Amber (un-Japan; R:N)
Omron B3G-S Click White (un-Japan; R:N) (space bar)
Alps SKCL Compact (function row)		 89006191 CSK-1101P VER 1.7 deskthority.net Another component has a 1989 date, which matches the serial number.
Wang 724 (724) 1989 (label)
1989 (IC)
1989 (PCB)		 Alps SKCM Orange (SP:LW, L:Y)
Alps SKCL Green (LED; SP:?, L:N) (lock)		 — PWB 820-0222, A/W 820-0222 REV G deskthority.net
Focus FK-2001 1989 (case) Alps SKCM Blue (SP:LG) — sandy55.fc2web.com
Zenith ZKB-2R 1989 (case) Alps SKCL Yellow (LED; unknown)
Alps SKCL Green (no LED; unknown) (lock)		 — kbd.rzw.jp
Packard Bell FDA-102 1989 (IC) Alps SKCM Blue (SP:SW) T8025 FD-12KC004B kbd.rzw.jp Model number taken from the controller IC; Sandy does have an FDA-101 (Model F(AT) clone) with a label showing the OEM and model
Monterey K108 1990 (IC) Alps SKCM White (unknown) KB 20237378 utensilia.tk There’s just enough exposure in the image to confirm that the switch shell is Alps-shaped, but nothing more.
KB-6251EA (NTC) 1990 (IC) Alps SKCM White (pine; SP:SW, L:Y) 10178411 NTC 71-6071A-505, KB-6251EA V5.0 deskthority.net
ETC Power Glide 105 1990 (IC) Alps SKCM White (pine; scrawly; SP:SW)
Futaba 2G Type 2 MX mount lock (lock)		 9202075 deskthority.net Another chip has what could be a 1992 date code, and the serial does begin “1992”. The FCC grantee should be “GM8” not “GMB”, which is a mistake.
Monterey K104 1990 (case) Alps SKCM White (pine; SP:?, L:Y) KB 20136144 31-42400-024, K102A-H3 deskthority.net
DSI DSK105 1990 (IC) Alps SKCM White (pine; SP:SW; blank) 34990171 VER.:D 7/28/1990, NO.:1613105409 deskthority.net
Leading Edge DC-2214 1989 (case)
1990 (IC)		 Alps SKCM White (pine; SP:?, L:Y) DKD10202448
PC-7A10103018 (int.)		 P/N 2305004000 kbd.rzw.jp The PCB is branded "AMICO CORPORATION" — it is not clear if Amico is the PCB manufacturer or the OEM.
Apple Apple Desktop Bus Keyboard (A9M0330) 1990 (IC) Alps SKCM Salmon 014811 deskthority.net
Ortek MCK-101SX 1990 (label)
1990 (IC)		 Alps SKCM White (pine; SP:?, L:Y) 0802111 MCK101 SX plus.google.com
Zenith ZKB-2 1990 (label)
1990 (case)		 Alps SKCL Yellow (no LED; SP:?, L:Y)
Alps SKCL Yellow (LED; SP:?, L:Y) (lock)		 024RF0229T0U kbd.rzw.jp
Wang 724 (724) 1991 (PCB) Alps SKCM Salmon — PWB 820-0222, A/W 820-0222 REV K utensilia.tk
Great Wall KBD5-B 1991 (case) Alps SKCM White (pine; SP:?, L:Y) — bbs.zol.com.cn Rear label attributes the product to “Shenzhen Huaming Electronics Industry Co”
Datacomp DFK192AGRBA09 1991 (case)
1991 (IC)
1991 (PCB)		 Alps SKCM White (pine; SP:?, L:Y) 37910704 deskthority.net
NeXT “ABP” keyboard 1991 (IC) Alps SKCM Black (pine; SP:?, L:Y) ABP1515271 56AAA0384D deskthority.net
NeXT “ABP” keyboard 1991 (IC) Alps SKCM Black (pine; SP:SW, L:Y) ABP1410557
14Y00951 (int.)		 56AAA0384D www.flickr.com The Flickr page depicts a single switch without the Alps logo on the bottom.
Silicon Graphics with PN 9500801 1991 (IC)
1992 (case)		 Alps SKCM Cream Damped (pine; SP:SW, L:Y) 114412 kbd.rzw.jp
ECG Computer Group DFK192ASGF140 1992 (IC) Alps SKCM White (pine; SP:?, L:Y) 44920028 deskthority.net
FK-8000 (Focus) 1992 (case)
1992 (IC)		 Futaba 2G Type 2 MX mount
Alps SKCL Green (LED; SP:LG, L:N) (lock)
Futaba 2G Type 2 MX mount lock (other)		 — deskthority.net Due to drastic lack of details or photographs, very little is known about this keyboard, so I'm compelled to leave most details blank.
Wang 724 (724) 1992 (label)
1992 (IC)		 Alps SKCM Salmon
Alps SKCL Yellow (LED; unknown) (lock)		 — blog.komar.be
ILIOS KB106/JD 1993 (label) Alps SKCM White (pine; SP:?, L:Y) K1060003788 kbd.rzw.jp Serial number is a guess as the print on the label is (as is typical for Acer) faint.
Mitsubishi M6905-3 1992 (case)
1993 (label)
1993 (IC)		 Alps SKCM White (pine; SP:?, L:Y) 83003-A0176 kbd.rzw.jp
Dell 30383 1993 (case)
1993 (IC)		 Alps SKCM Black (bamboo; SP:SW, L:Y) K9401-002161 KKPBAAS054 kbd.rzw.jp
Focus FK-8000 1993 (case) Alps SKCL Yellow (LED; unknown) (lock)
Futaba 2G Type 2 MX mount lock (other)		 931101627 deskthority.net The regular switch was never identified; it is a four-tab clone, most likely OA2 considering its age
Acer KB-106 1994 (label) Alps SKCM White (bamboo; SP:?, L:Y) K1060016914 kbd.rzw.jp
Macway TP-997KB-J 1993 (case)
1995 (IC)		 Alps SKCM White (bamboo; SP:?, L:Y)
Alps SKBM Tactile Black (Alps) (enter)
Alps “big SKFR/SKFS” Black (other)		 08960811 MAC97B, NO.1613097043 kbd.rzw.jp
Chicony KB-7061 1995 (case)
1995 (IC)		 Alps SKCM White (bamboo; SP:?, L:Y) T50B008344 001-07001-002, KB-7000M PT VER 1.0 utensilia.tk
Xerox JD-2 1995 (label) Alps SKCM Green (bamboo)
Alps SKCL Yellow (LED; unknown) (lock)
Alps SKCL Compact (function row)		 G92004 deskthority.net Label states “Manufactured: 695AL”, assumed to mean 1995.
Wang 724 (724) 1995 (label) Alps SKCM Black (bamboo; SP:?, L:Y)
Alps SKCL Yellow (LED; SP:?, L:Y) (lock)		 — deskthority.net
Dell AT101 series (AT102W) 1996 (case)
1998 (IC)		 Alps SKCM Black (bamboo; SP:SW, L:Y) M9811-21266 telcontar.net The label may also indicate 1998, but I cannot confirm the format of pre-2000 serial numbers