Date   : Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:29:10 +0000
From   : public@... (Daniel Beardsmore)
Subject: BBC Micro keyswitches

Good morning all

I am attempting to determine the manufacturer of the four known types of
BBC Micro keyswitch. (There may be a fifth.)

I was hoping that one of you might have some loose switches, who could check
whether there is any branding on the base of them.

Type 1: The common, white cylindrical switch, "+" mount, looks like a vintage
Futaba, but confirmed to be unbranded
Type 2: Has an angled black "+" stem, looks like a vintage SMK -- if so,
it should say "<SMK>" on the bottom
Type 3: Large white square stem, maybe by PED (never heard of them)
Type 4: Has an upright black "+" stem, looks like a vintage SMK -- if so,
it should say "<SMK>" on the bottom

The following post to MDFS appears to confirm Futaba and two different SMK
switches (one being cheaper than the other switches, maybe that's the unreliable
one), and is where I got PED from:

http://mdfs.net/Archive/BBCMicro/2005/09/14/012246.htm

However, the swiches in the Beeb don't match other Futabas, and all other
SMK switches are branded, as you can see here (this is one of the same series,
and I've pointed out to them that they meant "SMK" not "SHK" ;-):

http://www.electronicsurplus.com/Item/1894/SHK%20-%20Switch_%20p_b_%20SPST_%20Package%20of%2010_%20-%203-336/


I was only working on the assumption that Types 2 and 4 are unbranded based
on 8-bit Software calling the Type 1 to 4, without any reference to branding.


Everything I know so far:

http://deskthority.net/wiki/BBC_Micro_Type_1
http://deskthority.net/wiki/BBC_Micro_Type_2
http://deskthority.net/wiki/BBC_Micro_Type_3
http://deskthority.net/wiki/BBC_Micro_Type_4

I've only ever had Type 1 switches myself.


Regards

Daniel.