Amiga 1000 - Mitsumi keyboard

snuci · 23 Jan 2016, 16:12

There's no entries in the Wiki for any type of SMS keyboard or switches so I don't know anything about this keyboard other than it is for my Amiga 1000. It was well constructed with a metal shield on the bottom of the keyboard mechanism that had to be removed, then a plastic shield (shown).

Anyone have any knowledge on this?

Edit: Mystery solved below...

: Amiga 1000 Mitsumi keyboard - keyboard top; Amiga 1000 SMS keyboard - keyboard top.jpg (259.91 KiB) Viewed 3491 times

: Amiga 1000 Mitsumi keyboard - keyboard bottom; Amiga 1000 SMS keyboard - keyboard bottom.jpg (229.62 KiB) Viewed 3491 times

: Amiga 1000 Mitsumi keyboard - keyboard mechanism top; Amiga 1000 SMS keyboard - keyboard mechanism top.jpg (252.36 KiB) Viewed 3491 times

: Amiga 1000 Mitsumi keyboard - keyboard mechanism bottom; Amiga 1000 SMS keyboard - keyboard mechanism bottom.jpg (312.43 KiB) Viewed 3491 times

: Amiga 1000 Mitsumi keyboard - some key caps removed; Amiga 1000 SMS keyboard - some key caps removed.jpg (254.14 KiB) Viewed 3491 times

: Amiga 1000 Mitsumi keyboard - MOS controller; Amiga 1000 SMS keyboard - MOS controller.jpg (250.57 KiB) Viewed 3491 times

: Amiga 1000 Mitsumi keyboard - MOS controller; Amiga 1000 SMS keyboard - PCB markings.jpg (318.79 KiB) Viewed 3491 times

SMS Key switch pics:

: Amiga 1000 Mitsumi switch - key switch top; Amiga 1000 SMS switch - key switch top.jpg (142.32 KiB) Viewed 3491 times

: Amiga 1000 Mitsumi switch - SMS marking on bottom; Amiga 1000 SMS switch - SMS marking on bottom.jpg (347.76 KiB) Viewed 3491 times

: Amiga 1000 Mitsumi switch - bottom of key stem; Amiga 1000 SMS switch - bottom of key stem.jpg (236.29 KiB) Viewed 3491 times

: Amiga 1000 Mitsumi switch - key stem installed; Amiga 1000 SMS switch - key stem installed.jpg (138.38 KiB) Viewed 3491 times

: Amiga 1000 Mitsumi switch - key stem installed; Amiga 1000 SMS switch - internals.jpg (131.99 KiB) Viewed 3491 times

seebart · 23 Jan 2016, 16:33

We do have the Amiga page in our wiki, the Amiga 1000 was produced with the Mitsumi miniature mechanical switch:

wiki/Amiga#Amiga_1000

wiki/Mitsumi_miniature_mechanical

I do not have any knowledge on "SMS" as a manufacturer though.

snuci · 23 Jan 2016, 16:39

Hi Seebart,

Ya, I saw that and it looks very similar but I'm just not sure what SMS is. Maybe Mitsumi bought them and continued with a variation of their switches? The spring in the bottom of the key stem looks familiar with Mitsumi but the actual key stem is different. The SMS part is what I'm wondering.

seebart · 23 Jan 2016, 16:41

A Mitsumi clone? Possibly. The slider looks similair. I do not know.

ohaimark · 23 Jan 2016, 17:05

I just emailed Mitsumi asking whether they acquired a company called "SMS" in the '80s. We'll see if I get a reply.

snuci · 23 Jan 2016, 17:16

Okay, what I read as "SMS" is actually not English. It's three Japanese characters that Mitsumi used as a marking. You can read more about this on Daniel's site here: http://telcontar.net/KBK/Mitsumi/std_ty ... malous.php

From that page on his site:
"As with all the Mitsumi standard mechanical switches, they are branded on the bottom. Mine read “ミツミ” (Mitsumi); later switches use “M”."

Mystery solved. At least there's pics of an Amiga 1000 board here

seebart · 23 Jan 2016, 17:20

Hmm yes makes sense. Daniel's pictures are really good as usual. We could use your pictures for the DT wiki though.

Chyros · 23 Jan 2016, 17:28

They use the same horizontally slung spring as on the miniature switches, but they're normal height. They're Mitsumi Standard Mechanical type 2 (black), we already have them in the wiki. I have a loose switch as well and they feel just as tactile in hand as the miniature switches do - I wonder, do these go to shit completely in a keyboard as well, just like the miniature ones?