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Focus FK-727

Focus FK-727
1-alps-fk-727.jpeg
Switch Alps SKCM Blue
Omron B3G-S Cyan
Sense method Metal contact
Protocol AT / XT
Keycaps ABS Pad-print

The Omron version is missing photos; please provide them if you can!

Description

The Focus FK-727 was one of Focus's first keyboards and was likely their first AT layout keyboard.
So far, it has only been documented to have been rebranded by Northgate Computer Systems1)
It uses a DIN-5 cable and could come with two different types of switches: Alps SKCM Blue and Omron B3G-S Cyan 2)

Construction

Case and Internals

The keyboard consists of three parts: a ABS top case, painted steel bottom case, and an internal assembly

Top case

The top is ABS plastic and uses a sloped design similar to many AT layout keyboards of the time.
Externally, it has a long sticker above the top row with blocks for writing F key functions and transparent windows for the lock-light bank.
Internally, it has a PCB for the lock-lights, a Focus Logo in the top left corner and standoffs for the case and assembly. The case standoffs are plastic and the assembly standoffs use brass inserts.

Bottom case

The back is made of painted steel.
Externally, it has an AT/XT switch and four feet in total: two non-slip feet and two flip-out feet with hooks for routing the DIN-5 cable. The back also has a S/N sticker, a QC sticker and a country of origin stamped into the bottom-right corner.
Internally, it has the AT/XT switch PCB and a grounding point for the DIN-5 cable.

Assembly

The assembly consists of a PCB and painted steel switch mounting plate. The PCB has a marking of “FK-727(/)747 A/T:

Keycaps

The keycaps are Focus's early Alps mount OEM profile ABS pad-prints. Rather uniquely, the spacebars on these early Alps mount Focus keycaps use clone Cherry MX stabilzers.

Alps Version
Omron Version
Acknowledgements

Pictures taken by KBI discord user @landofsunshine and used with permission under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

Unconfirmed Claims

A unarchived listing of the FK-727 on Xianyu revealed it could also come with Omron B3G-S White switches of an unknown type.

1)
gainsborough's Northgate “Gold Label” Trio DT posthttps://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?t=19769
2)
Chyrosran22's Omron B3G-S Cyan reviewhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYwjGe2IBKs