NARROW KEYCAPS FROM
Apple IIgs original KBD
#A9M0330 - TAIWAN
"Apple Desktop Bus Keyboard"
FOR APPLE IIGS OR ADB VINTAGE MAC
ALPS-KEYSWITCH COMPATIBLE
(The ALPS keyswitches are offered
in this Ebay ad, 5 for $8.50)
$8.50 FOR FIVE LOW-DEMAND
IIgs KEYCAPS IN A LOT,
ANY COMBINATION
This LOW PRICE applies only to
alphabet letters, or to punctuation
characters, such as: ;: /? [{ ]}
-_ =+ \| * -
LIMITATION ON MULTIPLES
OF POPULAR KEYCAPS
March 6, 2018
You can order several of keycaps of "low-demand"
letters or numbers from the main central field of the
keyboard. But I must limit purchase of high demand
KEYCAPS from the keyboard array, so that those
popular keycaps are available to others. Examples:
/ SHIFT / CONTROL / RETURN /
/ DELETE / SPACE-BAR / CAPS-LOCK /
/ TAB / OPEN-APPLE / ESC /
/ (numbers on top-row) (numbers on numpad) /
(all numbers) 1! 2@ 3# 4$ 5%
6^ 7& 8* 9( 0) 1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 0
This new rule was prompted by a buyer's
request for four space-bars. If you are
buying fifty or more keycaps, with most
of them from the central field of narrow
characters or numbers, then a second
keycap from the "wide" category may
be purchased, if still available. The
high demand IIgs keycaps are now sold
$3.40 for each, in a separate Ebay ad.
Search for that ad for wide keycaps
with this advertisement-number:
2232 2190 0665
I have most of the characters; I have about
200 keycaps from this Apple Desktop Bus
keyboard, so most keycaps you specify will
be supplied. For larger / longer keycaps
(e.g., SPACE BAR or SHIFT), the metal
spring-rod on the bottom side is taped
to the keycap so that you receive a
complete keycap unit. The keycaps were
pulled from their ALPS-keyswitches using
a proper keycap-puller tool, so none
of the keycaps have a broken stem.
The $1.70 price is for each low-demand standard
IIgs keycap item, with minimum five per lot.
The keycaps for the # 4081 (made in Japan)
IIgs keyboard have LIGHT TAN color on their
bottom side, while keycaps for # 0330 (made
in Taiwan) have BLACK color on the bottom
side. Mention which version keyboard you
have; I will try to match the keycaps.
Sold in multiples of five items in a lot.
$8.50 per lot.
IIgs Keyboard # 0330 was made in TAIWAN by
Forward Electronics. IIgs Keyboard # 4081 was
made in Japan by ALPS Electronics. On the keycaps,
the Taiwan keycaps have BLACK bottom plastic. Its
important to match the type correctly; the Taiwan
keycaps have slightly higher HEIGHT than the keycaps
made by Alps in Japan.
Interesting that Apple had two totally different source
companies for the two versions of IIgs keyboards. I
suspect that the Japanese ALPS company was unable
to produce the keyboards as quickly and as many as
needed by the 1986 introduction of the Apple IIgs.
This was also true for the 5.25" floppy drives for the
Apple IIe. SHUGART (USA) made the floppy drives
first, then ALPS of Japan was added for floppy drives
later. With floppy drives, the ALPS-JAPAN drives
were quieter, smoother, and less expensive than the
USA-Shugart floppy drives. Inside the floppy drive,
the Japanese ALPS version has smoother looking
metalwork than the noisy/rougher USA-Shugart
drives.
When ordering KEYCAPS, specify which
characters you prefer on the keycaps, and
mention several alternative characters, to
be sent if the first-choice keycaps have
already been sold. If you want ALPS
keyswitches as alternatives, they will be
this ALPS keyswitch stem-color: CREAM.
ATTENTION OVERSEAS
BUYERS:
Foreign buyers have told me that Ebay's
shipping charges in the "Global Shipping Program,"
(GSP) are extremely high. Therefore, to reduce
those shipping costs, I now ship keycaps
or keyswitches via first class international
airmail. Shipping cost to a foreign address
will be approximately $17.00; if actual
mailing cost is less than what you paid,
then I will refund the overpayment as
soon as the packet has been shipped.
I SHIP COMBINED
IN FLAT-RATE
PRIORITY BOXES
Look at my other ads! If you buy any larger items that
ship in a medium or large priority mail box, then it is likely
that other items like this IIe Owner's Manual, can fit into the
box also, enabling a refund on the smaller items' shipping box.
To save money on shipping, "Fill the flat-rate shipping box!"
60-Day Return if Dissatisfied
If returned for refund, buyer pays shipping in both
directions. Items returned for refund must be in
their original condition, without modifications.
(editorial comment)
REGARDING APPLE II
"KEYCAP SHARKS"
I looked through the Ebay ads at others' offers
for these keycaps - some are charging as high as
$8.95 each for these keycaps or keyswitches.
Yes, $8.95 for EACH KEYCAP! That high price
is outrageously disgusting. No one at the annual
KansasFest conference overcharges at all; Some
at K-Fest give away their surplus items for free.
The Ebay predators who overcharge are not part of
the Apple II community; they are "sharks" who have
heard that there is big money to be made from Apple
II loyalists. These "sharks" would likely sell admission
tickets to their mother's funeral if they believed that
anyone would buy. They calculate that Apple II users
are so desperate for particular items that they will pay
ridiculously high prices. I hope that my low $1.70
price on these standard keyswitches and keycaps under-
prices all the sharks, and puts them out of business!
COMBINED SHIPPING: PRIORITY
MAIL FLAT-RATE BOXES
Any excess postage will be refunded back to you,
if you have been overcharged by Ebay on shipping.
Combined shipping discount
On hardware purchases, you pay mainly the single largest shipping
cost. Other hardware items in same parcel, will be shipped with
minimal extra cost. Weighed shipments will be the actual cost.
Free local pickup at Gallup NM 87301.
I am a self-proclaimed Apple II expert, having authored five articles
in Apple II magazines during the 1990s. My Apple II inventions were
featured at the Apple II conference KANSASFEST 1996,
2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022, at Kansas City MO.
=====================
Stephen Buggie, psychology professor, UNM-Gallup