Author Topic: Which ancient keyboard is this? (Read 3644 times)

NewbieOneKenobi · « **on:** Thu, 23 September 2010, 08:32:39 »

It must come from the Neolithic, judging by the layout. Designated as C2. Probably older than F by some, isn't it. Somebody surely must know more about this. Or whether it can be made to work on a modern computer and with how much hassle.

http://allegro.pl/1032-zabytek-klawiatura-ibm-oryginal-i1244332289.html

I've just bought it for $8.

Shawn Stanford · « **Reply #1 on:** Thu, 23 September 2010, 09:24:30 »

It's an old mainframe terminal keyboard. I don't think they're PC compatible without significant work.

NewbieOneKenobi · « **Reply #2 on:** Thu, 23 September 2010, 10:14:37 »

Thank you. Well, at worst I'll keep it for spare parts. Wonder how the keys feel.

Shawn Stanford · « **Reply #3 on:** Thu, 23 September 2010, 14:17:40 »

IIRC: Everyone who has one of these says it is amazing.

ch_123 · « **Reply #4 on:** Thu, 23 September 2010, 14:47:37 »

It's a Model F keyboard for the 3178 Model C2 Display Terminal.

NewbieOneKenobi · « **Reply #5 on:** Thu, 23 September 2010, 15:02:40 »

Thank you, sirs. Is there a way to make it work with a PC (USB) without being a physics major or do I keep it for spare parts? I don't dabble with cables but I have a friend who could help me if it were as simple as to wire the cables into a different plug and then use a premade converter (and then another) or cannibalise the USB or PS/2 controller from the cheapest Logitech or Microsoft.

He did turn a radio adapter into computer speakers for me or cut a LAN cable to give a speaker an additional yard, or install two fans on a single plug etc. for me, so if the operation doesn't require more skill, we should be able to pull it off.

Quote from: Shawn Stanford;225886

IIRC: Everyone who has one of these says it is amazing.

Perhaps transplating the alpha key springs into an M could be worth it, just to see what I get.

WhiteRice · « **Reply #6 on:** Thu, 23 September 2010, 15:04:28 »

You want an electrical or computer engineer actually.

ch_123 · « **Reply #7 on:** Thu, 23 September 2010, 15:11:38 »

Quote from: NewbieOneKenobi;225911

Thank you, sirs. Is there a way to make it work with a PC (USB) without being a physics major or do I keep it for spare parts?

As pointed out above, you'd probably need to be very experienced in electronic engineering matters. It hasn't been done before, and given how completely different the signaling is to modern keyboards, it is not a trivial task.

Quote

Perhaps transplating the alpha key springs into an M could be worth it, just to see what I get.

It's been tried before, it won't work. The springs and hammers are too different.

NewbieOneKenobi · « **Reply #8 on:** Thu, 23 September 2010, 18:09:50 »

Unicomp is selling some keyboards of the 122 kind and there's the magical word "emulator" there. Wonder if they wouldn't, say, have designed a makeshift converter already, such as in order to be able to test those on a PC.

Oqsy · « **Reply #9 on:** Thu, 23 September 2010, 21:08:03 »

crooked keycaps are crooked.

ch_123 · « **Reply #10 on:** Fri, 24 September 2010, 03:53:32 »

Quote from: NewbieOneKenobi;226000

Unicomp is selling some keyboards of the 122 kind and there's the magical word "emulator" there. Wonder if they wouldn't, say, have designed a makeshift converter already, such as in order to be able to test those on a PC.

The terminal emulator keyboard is just a standard PS/2 keyboard with extra buttons. All the emulation is done in software.

Quote from: Oqsy;226071

crooked keycaps are crooked.

Model F keycaps have a lot of 'wiggle' in them due to the way that barrels are mounted.

NewbieOneKenobi · « **Reply #11 on:** Fri, 24 September 2010, 18:56:56 »

Another find:

http://www.aukcjoner.pl/gallery/003412217-.html#I1

But this one looks very, very odd, despite the five pins in the plug...

Hak Foo · « **Reply #12 on:** Sat, 25 September 2010, 17:32:41 »

seems like a language swap on that Sanyo MBC-555 someone posted a while ago. Love the unlabelled keys, and the symbol for shift.

keyb_gr · « **Reply #13 on:** Sat, 25 September 2010, 17:40:35 »

Quote from: ch_123;225896

It's a Model F keyboard for the 3179 Model C2 Display Terminal.

As such, this thread should be worth reading.

NewbieOneKenobi · « **Reply #14 on:** Sat, 25 September 2010, 18:07:42 »

Quote from: Hak Foo;226790

seems like a language swap on that Sanyo MBC-555 someone posted a while ago. Love the unlabelled keys, and the symbol for shift.

Does the 5 din possibly yield to an AT>PS/2 converter?

Quote from: keyb_gr;226794

As such, this thread should be worth reading.

Thankee.

JohnElliott · « **Reply #15 on:** Sat, 25 September 2010, 19:44:14 »

Quote from: NewbieOneKenobi;226805

Does the 5 din possibly yield to an AT>PS/2 converter?

No, according to kbdbabel the MBC-555 protocol is completely different.

ch_123 · « **Reply #16 on:** Sun, 26 September 2010, 03:56:23 »

3178. Whoops.

News:

Author Topic: Which ancient keyboard is this? (Read 3644 times)