Chicony KB-5181

This article requires additional photographic illustration

Chicony KB-5181
Chicony KB-5182

FCC ID	E8H5IKKB-5181
Manufacturer	Chicony
Layouts	101/102-key Asian 101
Keyswitches	Alps SKCM Blue Alps SKCM White SMK Alps mount (Monterey Blue) Omron B3G-S series (Amber) Futaba MA series (MX Mount) Cherry MX Black Cherry MX Blue
Interface	XT/AT switchable
Introduced	1988 (FCC registration)
Price	$49.99 (1992)<ref name="PCMag-19920225" />

The Chicony KB-5181 is an XT/AT switchable keyboard from Chicony. It features a big-ass Enter key and single-unit backspace. There is also an ISO version, the KB-5182. Both keyboards were supplied with a wide variety of switches, including Monterey. Two-height flip-out feet are provided.

Switches

The official list of switch manufacturers according to Chicony, in order of production, is as follows:

• Alps Electric
• Cherry
• SMK
• Mitsumi
• Aristotle (Yali)

Aristotle were the manufacturer of the Cherry MX clone switches found in these keyboards.

Possibly due to manufacturing crossover between the Chicony KB-5161 and its successor, the KB-5181, Futaba switches were still in use in the KB-5181, although Chicony have no record of this being the case. KB-5161 and KB-5181 keyboards appeared to have compatible parts.<ref name="ARC" />

Specific switches confirmed found in KB-5181 and KB-5182 keyboards:

• Alps SKCM White
• Alps SKCM Blue
• Cherry MX Blue<ref>geekhack — Trent's Mega Sell Thread [Part 2!]</ref>
• Blue SMK Alps mount "Monterey" switch
• White Cherry MX mount ("inverse") Futaba clicky switch<ref name="gh-5181-rc" />
• Cherry MX Black<ref name="mxblack" />
• Omron B3G-S Amber

Variants

Variants identified to date:

KB-5161F/5162F

Cherry MX Blue switches in a PCB taken from Chicony KB-5161; this is cited as being 484 × 205 × 44 mm and weighing 1532 g<ref name="ARC" />

KB-5181F

White Cherry MX mount Futaba clicky switch (from plate)<ref name="gh-5181-rc" />

KB-5181/5182KT

Blue SMK Alps mount "Monterey" switch ("SMK SW", 1990 PCB)<ref name="Sandy" />

KB-5181PT

Alps SKCM White (from rear label)<ref name="eBay-5181PT" />

Re-Brands

The KB-5181/2 was re-branded under several other marques, including Hyundai<ref name="eBay-5181PT" />, ARC<ref name="ARC" /> (American Research Corporation), and SIIG (as both the SIIG Suntouch 101 or "K101" (model K101)<ref name="gh-Suntouch" /> and as the SIIG SuperTouch<ref name="amazon-SuperTouch" /> (model JK-WJ0032<ref name="gh-SuperTouch" />)). The SIIG Suntouch 101 is one of the keyboards with the distorted Alps logo and hand-carved mould numbering.<ref name="gh-Suntouch" />

Gallery

Cherry MX Blue switches

• 
  Top, with ARC branding
• 
  Bottom
• 
  Internals
• 
  Internals with keycaps removed
• 
  PCB underside
• 
  Assorted; controller date is 8942 (42nd week 1989)
• 
  Assorted
• 
  Assorted; PCB is from the KB-5161

SMK "Monterey" Blue Alps-mount switches

• 
  Top, showing switch
• 
  Bottom
• 
  Reference card front
• 
  Reference card inside

SMK "Monterey" Blue Alps-mount switches, UK layout

• 
  UK layout "Monterey" version

Alps SKCM White switches

• 
  Alps SKCM White switch

References

<references> <ref name="Sandy">Sandy — chicony_kb-5181</ref> <ref name="eBay-5181PT">eBay — Hyundai Computer Systems Keyboard Model KB 5181 PT RARE ^{[Volatile reference]}</ref> <ref name="gh-5181-rc">geekhack — recycling center keyboard (Chicony KB-5181F)</ref> <ref name="ARC">KBTalking — ▲▲▲ARC KB-5181特規cherry青軸▲▲▲</ref> <ref name="mxblack">geekhack — Chicony 5181 and 5161 with new switches</ref> <ref name="gh-Suntouch">geekhack — FS: RARE+COOL:: Hall Effect!, IBM Refurbs, New stuff, vintage kbs and radio stuf</ref> <ref name="gh-SuperTouch">geekhack — Suntouch K101</ref> <ref name="amazon-SuperTouch">Amazon.com — SIIG SuperTouch Mechanical Keyboard (Clicky Keyboard), White ALPS Sliders, 5 pin DIN Connector, XT-AT Switch</ref> <ref name="PCMag-19920225">Google Books — PC Magazine, February 25, 1992 (The Write Stuff, pp. 303–329)</ref> </references>