Apple IIc Keyboards

The Apple IIc was a microcomputer part of the greater Apple II family released by Apple Computer in 1984. Meant to be a more compact version of the Apple IIe, the computer's keyboard was revised several times over it's lifespan. It is currently the only keyboard known to have been shipped with Alps SKCM Amber.

All variants of the Apple IIc microcomputer appear to have shared the same construction, with a beige plastic case that housed the keyboard, floppy drive and computer itself.

The keyboards switches used can be roughly categorized into two “generations”, those procured with the Apple Hairpin Switch and Alps SKCL/SKCM series.

The Apple Hairpin Switch variants appear to have been the earliest versions of the keyboards, having been produced at least until 1986. As the Caps Lock, 80/40 Column toggle and Keyboard toggles all necessitated latching switches, these keys used presumably a latching variant of Alps SKFL.

The original Hairpin Switch keyboards were eventually succeeded by those procured with Alps switches, the overwhelming majority of which used Alps SKCM Amber, with Alps SKCL Lock replacing Alps SKFL for the appropriate keys. A limited number of examples appear to have been shipped with Alps SKCM Blue, but it is unclear as to when Alps ceased production of models with the amber switches, or if there was a “clean break” between amber and blue alps models at all.¹⁾

The later Apple IIc Plus would be shipped with Alps SKCM Orange, symmetrical with the switches carried by other Apple keyboards from the time.

Variants with Alps switches used dye-sublimated keycaps with a flat profile.