Odd Apple Keyboard II

[Scott Baret]

I found this on eBay while browsing around:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Vintage-Apple-Keyboard-II-Family-Model-SI3444BP03-/370234725614?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5633b594ee#ht_2071wt_1142

Are these for other countries or just bad fakes?

 

[~Coxy]

Boy, that really does look like a fake! All the key caps are way off.

A vague guess would be that the keyboards are used for some kiosk or specialised purpose that only needs certain keys, and has special symbols/colours on others. But why, in that case, would they have replaced all the normal letters with the 'ugly' versions?

 

[Paralel]

Agreed. It looks like some kind of special purpose keyboard. Very odd.

 

[Scott Baret]

I never thought about a kiosk application--a good theory since the modifier keys are gone. I can't tell if these caps are painted or not, although being brand new does make me wonder about the authenticity of at least the caps (the rest of it looks fine, but then again, you never know--remember those fake SNES consoles that showed up on eBay ten years ago?)

There are some legit NIB keyboards on eBay though. Most are AppleDesign or newer, but I did see a very nice Apple Keyboard II in a box on there--the later model without the colored Apple, no less.

 

[LCGuy]

I've seen one of these before, this guy has one. That email you see that someone wrote him was actually mine. As I said in my email, I think it might have come from a hospital, a special school (in which case it might have been designed for some software used by disabled kids) or a factory.