Editing MEI T-5 series (section)

==Flavours==
MEI T-5 switches can broadly be divided into two flavours: dual gold plated and single gold plated. The switches sold by RS have both terminals gold plated, but the switches were also sold with only one terminal gold plated, specifically the one that doubles as the stationary contact. The dual gold plated version has been found with black sliders, while the single gold plated version has been found with grey sliders, both the supposed T-5L-M-NO shown above and the Compukit UK101 switches.<ref name="Compukit-UK101-2" />

Switches with single gold plated terminals have flattened tips to the terminals, while the RS switches with dual gold plated terminals have tapered tips.

<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:RS 337-217 -- terminals.jpg    | RS 337-217 with dual gold-plated terminals and MEI branding on the base
File:MEI T-5L-M-NO -- terminals.jpg | Supposed T-5L-M-NO with single gold-plated terminal, and WEAB branding on the base
</gallery>

The two MEI WEAB switch types depicted below (momentary and alternate action) are unclear. One photo suggests that the momentary action switches have a lower-carat gold plating while the alternate action switch is of the true single gold plated form (one terminal deep gold colour and the other terminal a silver colour). The photos are simply not clear or precise enough to make any determinations about these switches and how they fit. The alternate action switch is not "WEAB" branded, though.

===WEAB===
Jacob Alexander's original name for these was "MEI WEAB". This seemed logical as the MEI switches used in the [[Volker Craig VC404]] terminal keyboard were branded "MEI" on the base, and "WEAB" on the top of the slider retention frame. Subsequently, this situation has become increasingly unclear. The Compukit UK101 switches resemble T-5C, but have "WEAB" moulded into the top of the slider adjacent to the keystem; again, the base is branded "MEI". However, the visually corresponding T-5L switch has no slider branding, and the base is instead branded "WEAB", with no mention of "MEI".

No meaning for the term "WEAB" has ever been found. It does not remotely resemble the part numbers, and it is not known to have been any parent company or subsidiary of either Mechanical Enterprises or its successor, Datalux. It does not appear to be a series or model name, as "T-5" is the only term that Datalux have offered to describe the series,<ref>Conversation with Robert Twyford Jr. of Datalux, 2016-08-08</ref> which was given unprompted prior to confirming this name by way of the RS catalogue excerpt.

As such, neither the term "WEAB" nor the slider colour can be conclusively related to any subset of T-5 switches (by design or by age) at this stage, as too few examples of these switches are known. The rarity of the switch hinders the rate of progress of understanding it.