Maxi Switch vintage linear
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| Manufacturer | Maxi Switch |
|---|---|
| Switch type | Linear |
| Sense method | Metal contact |
| Switch mount | Plate mount |
Maxi Switch vintage linear refers to a series of switches that are virtually identical to SMK J-M0404 series. The only confirmed difference (besides the colours) is that they have been found with "Maxi" branding on the base instead of "SMK".<ref name="Geomet-200" />
In most cases, the base of the switch including the plate clips are blue instead of black, which provides a good indication that the switches are Maxi Switch instead of SMK. However, a keyboard made for the Commodore PET does indeed have largely black switch bases.<ref name="PET-Plus" /> This keyboard is shown in full-page adverts inside the PET, but no photographs of this seem to exist, and Commodore used chiefly Mitsumi for their full-travel keyboards. This Maxi Switch keyboard is referred to as an external add-on component elsewhere.<ref name="PET-Daves" /> The significance of this is in dating this keyboard, and relating the SMK and Maxi Switch timelines, especially considering the uncharacteristic black switch bases.
Switches intended for long, large and wide keys can have either a beige<ref name="Geomet-200" /> or a brown top<ref name="Kaypro" /> — this follows on directly from the SMK practice, where these keys were denoted by Apple as "low friction". Heavier switches used for space bars and occasionally other keys have a pale blue stem.<ref name="Xerox" />
It remains unknown whether these are SMK clones, or whether SMK made them for Maxi Switch (as appears to be the case with NEC vintage linear where SMK made the accompanying PCB) or whether SMK sold the tooling to Maxi Switch. A tooling sale seems unlikely considering the degree of crossover between SMK and Maxi Switch in 1984, and Maxi Switch vintage linear may be older.
Keyboards[edit | edit source]
- Commodore PET keyboard (Maxi-Switch [external])<ref name="PET-Plus" />
- Geomet 200 (years: 1984)<ref name="Geomet-200" />
- Hewlett-Packard 9826<ref name="HP9826" />
- Intelligent Systems Corp. 101894<ref name="IntelligentSystems" />
- Kaypro replacement keyboards (years: 1984)<ref name="Kaypro" />
- Xerox 928-900451<ref name="Xerox" />
Gallery[edit | edit source]
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Black switch
-
Brown switch used for larger keys -
Locking switch -
Pale Blue switch used for space bars -
Switch disassembled -
Switch with top removed -
Leaf mechanism -
Leaf mechanism disassembled
References[edit | edit source]
<references> <ref name="Geomet-200">Google+ — Geomet 200 Dated 2012-04-13. Retrieved 2015-07-29.</ref> <ref name="Kaypro">Deskthority — Vintage find: 2 NOS Maxi-Switch Kaypro replacement keyboards</ref> <ref name="Xerox">Deskthority — Xerox 820 II Keyboard (928-900451) Teardown</ref> <ref name="PET-Plus">Deskthority — Maxi Switch S/N 749-199 / CBM PET Plus 2041</ref> <ref name="PET-Daves">Daves Old Computers — Commodore PET</ref> <ref name="HP9826">Recycled Goods - Hewlett Packard 9826 HP All In One Computer As-Is</ref> <ref name="IntelligentSystems">Deskthority - Intelligent Systems Corp - newly discovered Maxi Switch Vintage Linear board</ref> </references>
