I found a thing lol

[TarableCode]

http://imgur.com/a/o9gpg

Looks to be a neat keyboard with apparently both an ADB interface and one for the earlier Macs that used that phone jack kind of connector.

For $5 it's in pretty good shape but I don't have any ADB macs to test it with at the moment.

Still pretty neat though

No idea what I'll do with it.

 

[Johnnya101]

Oh jeez THATS what that port is for! I have a similar one and I never really thought what that phone jack port was...

 

[olePigeon]

Looks like a nice keyboard.  Does it have mechanical key switches?  It's the right age.

 

[TarableCode]

It's a heavy click, but I'm not sure if it's mechanical or not without opening it up.

 

[Themk]

I would be curious if you removed a keycap so we could see what is going on underneath the keycap.

 

[TarableCode]

Backspace key removed: http://i.imgur.com/3pVrjh7.jpg

 

[Themk]

that looks mechanical to me.

 

[TarableCode]

Oh cool, maybe I'll put more effort into getting it working then.

I've tried the adb_usb converter from the tmk_keyboard project and it seems to power on but its not registering any key presses, I'll have to get around to debugging it then

 

[Brett B.]

Wow, that's cool.  I don't normally get too excited about keyboards but it looks identical to the KeyTronic ones that were real popular in the late 90's.  I like those a lot. Very nice score, hope you get it working.

 

[TarableCode]

No luck so far, bleh.

This is going to be a pain in the ass lol.

 

[TarableCode]

Does anyone have a manual for this?

The LED on the power key stays lit red and while the debug output shows the keyboard is started, it doesn't work.

There is a 4 switch block under a panel on the back of the keyboard, maybe it switches between the old and ADB keyboard protocols?

I know there's only 16 possible positions but idk if I wanna do that in case it messes with something and blows it up.

e:

 

[Compgeke]

that looks mechanical to me.

Slider over membrane or foam and foil. Very foam and foil look too me, which could explain no keys working if it is and the foam's rotten.

 

[Themk]

Yup, realized that latwr as I looked farther. Foam and foil like on those old keytronics isn't too bad. Not as good as IBM Buckling Spring, or Cherry or Alps keyswitches, but better than most rubberdomes you see today.

 

[TarableCode]

Slider over membrane or foam and foil. Very foam and foil look too me, which could explain no keys working if it is and the foam's rotten.

That is a possibility, however none of the keys are working.

The controller might possibly be okay because if I leave the data line disconnected the hid_listen app shows errors, with it connected it shows the keyboard starts fine.

The only other thing I can think of is that the VCC pin of the Pro Micro clone isn't giving enough power, I don't think I have an easy way of testing that though.

 

[TarableCode]

It works now, I put the pullup resistor on the wrong pin...

Also I used the RAW pin instead of VCC so it looks like a combination of both got it working.

The switches definitely need work though, some keys are sticking or not clicking.

 

[TarableCode]

Not Apple related, but I found another thing, this while cleaning up some junk.

Neat stuff, idk what I'd do with it and I don't have a way of testing it.

 

[Carboy7]

What a beauty!

 

[Themk]

Made in 1983, 25th week, almost right in the middle of the year.

 

[TarableCode]

I think I almost have enough to test it in one of those z80 testing circuits except for the lack of a 555 timer.

Kinda hesitant to put it on ebay because it's likely just gonna get scrapped, might keep it for the ~~future~~