Alps SKCM Amber

Alps SKCM Amber

Manufacturer	Alps Electric
Family	Alps SKCL/SKCM series
Switch type	Clicky
Sense method	Metal leaf
Keycap mount	Alps mount
Switch mount	Plate mount

Alps SKCM Amber, or Amber Alps / Taxi Yellow Alps, is a clicky switch in the complicated Alps SKCL/SKCM series.

Description

Amber Alps switches appear to have only been used in a single keyboard, that of the memory expansion Apple IIc. Based on this, the switch appears to have been produced from 1986 to 1988.<ref name="DT-IIc" /> The amber color earned them the moniker of "NYC Taxi Yellow" or simply "Taxi Yellow", though this same color has also been used for linear switches.<ref name="rzwv-KCLEA907" /> The slider color is very similar to that of Amber Omron B3G-S series switches, but not quite as saturated.

The switches are considerably higher weighted, coming in at somewhere between 80 and 100 gf.<ref name="DT_SKCM_amber" /> Variation in characteristics due to age must be considered however, before this is taken as fact.

The bottom of the click leaf is not folded inwards as with other Alps switches. The slits are the shorter revised design. There is no logo on the upper shell.

Variants

Known variants include:

Switchplate Color	Switchplate Length	Alps Logo	Generation
Black	Long	No Logo	Pine (with slits)
Grey	Long	No Logo	Pine (with slits)
White	Long	No Logo	Pine (with slits)

Keyboards

• Some Apple IIc keyboards (Model: A2S4100) <ref name="DT-IIc" /><ref name="DT-AppleIIc" />

Gallery

The following switches were sourced from eBlueJay seller Apple2OnlineStore and are believed to have been taken from an Apple IIc keyboard.

• 
  Amber Alps switches from an Apple IIc computer
• 
  Subtle variation in colour
• 
  Side view
• 
  Rear view
• 
  Colour comparison with typical Alps SKCL Yellow (left)
• 
  Colour comparison with SKCM Orange, SKCM White and SKCM Cream Damped
• 
  Colour comparison with Amber Omron B3G-S series
• 
  Slider colour comparison with Amber B3G-S and SKCM Orange
• 
  Internals viewed from below, and comparison with Alps SKCM White
• 
  Apparent lubricant on the slider
• 
  Top views of the switch components
• 
  Bottom views of the switch components
• 
  Spring comparison with SKCM White
• 
  Comparison of return springs between SKCM Amber (ca. 80–100 gf) and SKCM White (70 gf)

References

<references> <ref name="DT-AppleIIc">Deskthority — Apple IIc ALPS Yellow Slider Click</ref> <ref name="rzwv-KCLEA907">ちゃたりたいね — PACKARD BELL KCLEA907L ALPS茶軸リニア</ref> <ref name="DT_SKCM_amber">Deskthority — Alps SKCM Amber</ref> <ref name="DT-IIc">Deskthority — Convert Apple IIc to usb (post 12)</ref> </references>