SORD M243EX keyboard

The photographs below (from UncleFan) depict a SORD M243EX keyboard, manufactured by Hirose Cherry Precision. This unit has internal Hirose model number B25-2450A and Hirose date code or serial number 59110178; the SORD serial number is obliterated. This gives us a manufacture date of 1984 (昭和59), possibly November; the case is marked December 1984. Unlike the earlier M243EX example with all black switches, here we see the more normal colour coding practice. Normal switches have white (“clear”) plungers, and the special switches for space bar and the numeric keypad enter key have blue plungers. While space is a deeper shade of blue than numeric keypad enter, this may simply be a difference in pigmentation.

The encoder chip is a Motorola M5L8279P-5, accompanied by a considerable amount of TTL chips.

The switch PCB inscription is only barely legible. It could be marked “001-0203-C” but this is not certain.

Due to the poor condition of this example, the useful parts were salvaged and the rest was discarded.