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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Mystic-X on Sun, 03 July 2016, 16:00:22

Title: old 129-keys ICL Terminal or Workstation Keyboard
Post by: Mystic-X on Sun, 03 July 2016, 16:00:22

Hey!

I just bought this cool ICL keyboard for just 20€.
Why I bought it?
- I'm looking for an old 120+ keys terminal-style keyboard for some time
- I've never seen a keyboard with a detachable num-pad before
- it is like new, wire still wrapped in plastic

some pictures:
(http://files.mystic-x.org/icl_keyboard_1.jpg)
(http://files.mystic-x.org/icl_keyboard_2.jpg)
(http://files.mystic-x.org/icl_keyboard_3.jpg)
(http://files.mystic-x.org/icl_keyboard_4.jpg)
(http://files.mystic-x.org/icl_keyboard_5.jpg)
(http://files.mystic-x.org/icl_keyboard_6.jpg)
(http://files.mystic-x.org/icl_keyboard_7.jpg)
(http://files.mystic-x.org/icl_keyboard_8.jpg)
plug of the num-pad is SIN too but with larger space between the pins. (Main keyboard has normal DIN style connector)
(http://files.mystic-x.org/icl_keyboard_9.jpg)
(http://files.mystic-x.org/icl_keyboard_10.jpg)
(http://files.mystic-x.org/icl_keyboard_11.jpg)

Anyone out there that has ever seen this before and may knows what it was used for?
Which company made those keys?

I will disassamble it during the next days and have a look at the controller, hopefully it is a normal AT-compatible keyboard. Otherwise I will need to make a microcontroller based adapter for it...

Title: Re: old 129-keys ICL Terminal or Workstation Keyboard
Post by: 1391406 on Sun, 03 July 2016, 17:09:32

Likely Ericsson switches. Nokia sold their PC division to ICL back in 1991, but I don't have specific info. on this particular keyboard.

Title: Re: old 129-keys ICL Terminal or Workstation Keyboard
Post by: kekman on Sun, 03 July 2016, 21:46:07

very nice find

Title: Re: old 129-keys ICL Terminal or Workstation Keyboard
Post by: Mystic-X on Mon, 04 July 2016, 02:01:12

Nokia was the Keyword!
Or better: Nokia Data

found one looking like mine here: https://deskthority.net/ebay-de-f68/nokia-data-keyboard-numpad-t1434.html

sounds like it could be AT compatible and it looks like I have to keep it out of the light to prevent it from looking like someone who sits in the bright sun 14 hours a day :eek:

and something similar with scancodes: http://homepages.cwi.nl/~aeb/linux/kbd/scancodes-5.html  (middle of the page)

EDIT:

two photos from the inside:
(http://files.mystic-x.org/icl_keyboard_12.jpg)
(http://files.mystic-x.org/icl_keyboard_13.jpg)

Can't find any information on this Motorola controller :(
had a look what is +5V and GND and this is connected like on an AT Keyboard but the mainboard I tried it on shows keyboard error...
seems like I have to go the long way and reverseengineer this thing and make my own controller  :-\