Royal / Triumph Adler Alphatronic PC

snuci · 16 Jul 2016, 00:26

Here is a Royal / Triumph Adler Alphatronic PC from 1984. I wish this was a better keyboard example because you can clearly see rust on the switch plate but I am considering restoring this plate and re-painting it. This is a fairly rare computer with a low profile keyboard with Futaba low profile linear switches.

Here are some pics:

: Royal TA Alphatronic PC - computer front; Royal TA Alphatronic PC - computer front.JPG (297.18 KiB) Viewed 3220 times

: Royal TA Alphatronic PC - computer back; Royal TA Alphatronic PC - computer back.JPG (267.84 KiB) Viewed 3220 times

: Royal TA Alphatronic PC - key cap profile; Royal TA Alphatronic PC - key cap profile.JPG (314.65 KiB) Viewed 3220 times

: Royal TA Alphatronic PC - keyboard mechanism; Royal TA Alphatronic PC - keyboard mechanism.JPG (235.21 KiB) Viewed 3220 times

: Royal TA Alphatronic PC - keyboard pcb back; Royal TA Alphatronic PC - keyboard pcb back.JPG (347.49 KiB) Viewed 3220 times

: Royal TA Alphatronic PC - keycaps removed; Royal TA Alphatronic PC - keycaps removed.JPG (247.57 KiB) Viewed 3220 times

: Royal TA Alphatronic PC - rusty plate; Royal TA Alphatronic PC - rusty plate.JPG (521.77 KiB) Viewed 3220 times

: Royal TA Alphatronic PC - Futaba switch profile; Royal TA Alphatronic PC - Futaba switch profile.JPG (256.83 KiB) Viewed 3220 times

: Royal TA Alphatronic PC - Futaba switch side; Royal TA Alphatronic PC - Futaba switch side.JPG (210.19 KiB) Viewed 3220 times

: Royal TA Alphatronic PC - PC dated ICs (1984); Royal TA Alphatronic PC - PC dated ICs (1984).JPG (387.74 KiB) Viewed 3220 times

: Royal TA Alphatronic PC - double shot low profile key caps; Royal TA Alphatronic PC - double shot low profile key caps.JPG (186.04 KiB) Viewed 3220 times

seebart · 16 Jul 2016, 00:45

Cool stuff as usual snuci, I just stumbled over this official TA Triumph-Adler page about the history of the alphatronic series.

http://www.triumph-adler.com/C125713A00 ... 0E00695A08

LewisR · 16 Jul 2016, 01:07

I think the design idea of the circle around the number with the orange F-keys is interesting and aesthetically pleasing. I am assuming those would function as F-keys anyway.

snuci · 16 Jul 2016, 01:14

LewisR wrote: I think the design idea of the circle around the number with the orange F-keys is interesting and aesthetically pleasing. I am assuming those would function as F-keys anyway.

I agree with you. I like that idea. It's hard to see but there is also a small "channel" above the function keys. Looks like a plastic label holder might have fit there to define what the keys do. I've seen this idea done with overlays on other keyboards of the era so those keys could be labelled anything. There is a cartridge slot hidden at the top right (there is currently a Micro Text cartridge in it). No labels were with it though.

terrycherry · 16 Jul 2016, 02:28

It's unusual another keyboard having this switch!
Could you mind solder the switch to see which having the Futaba logo on the base?
My keyboard having the clone of it(black lock tab, original Futaba low-profile linear is the white lock tab)

snuci · 17 Jul 2016, 15:53

terrycherry wrote: Could you mind solder the switch to see which having the Futaba logo on the base?

Hi Terrycherry,

Sorry, couldn't get to it yesterday. Here's a pic. No logo.

: Royal TA Alphatronic PC - Futaba switch bottom; Royal TA Alphatronic PC - Futaba switch bottom.jpg (162.3 KiB) Viewed 3127 times

snuci · 17 Jul 2016, 17:04

A couple of more pics here (I am terrible at these internal pics) but this does seem different than the current one in the Wiki. This one has two leaf pieces where the wiki version seems to only have one. This also was fused together where the hole was at the bottom and was kinda difficult to pull apart. You can see some debris on both sides.

: Royal TA Alphatronic PC - Futaba white plastic rear cap; Royal TA Alphatronic PC - Futaba white plastic rear cap .JPG (241.57 KiB) Viewed 3115 times

: Royal TA Alphatronic PC - Futaba low profile linear internals; Royal TA Alphatronic PC - Futaba low profile linear internals.JPG (247.32 KiB) Viewed 3115 times

: Royal TA Alphatronic PC - Futaba low profile linear metal leafs; Royal TA Alphatronic PC - Futaba low profile linear metal leafs .JPG (259.24 KiB) Viewed 3115 times

Note: the leads also unscrewed and looked like the leads in the Wiki so I didn't take a picture of those.

seebart · 17 Jul 2016, 17:39

Switch internals and close ups are though to shoot, good work!

tigpha · 17 Jul 2016, 17:46

I see a face, two thumbs up and blowing a raspberry! Sorry, couldn't resist.

snuci wrote:

terrycherry · 18 Jul 2016, 07:37

Thanks your switch internal photos. I got to see my switch later.