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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: EverythingIBM on Fri, 12 March 2010, 00:28:37

Title: Strange IBM XT-like terminal keyboard (5640991)
Post by: EverythingIBM on Fri, 12 March 2010, 00:28:37

Here's a really WEIRD keyboard I found here (http://www.recycledgoods.com/products/IBM-Vintage-Clicky-IBM-3178-Terminal-Keyboard.html), I'm wondering if anyone knows about it a bit more.

(http://www.recycledgoods.com/product_images/i/941/s_p_17096_1__13310_zoom.jpg)

There's a funny blue switch at the top, along with some kind of removed pad? And look at the extra keys! It weighs 9 pounds! That must be the world's heaviest keyboard.

Here's the tag:
(http://www.recycledgoods.com/product_images/g/256/s_p_17096_3__78343_zoom.jpg)

1985, that's fairly "new" for such an old looking keyboard.

Title: Strange IBM XT-like terminal keyboard (5640991)
Post by: kw71 on Fri, 12 March 2010, 03:10:40

The 3178 is a "3270 terminal."

I can't believe that guy is asking $90.  What a clown.  Maybe on his planet, people are still using 35 year old terminals hooked up via twinax to a 50 year old computer.

Title: Strange IBM XT-like terminal keyboard (5640991)
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 12 March 2010, 03:30:04

IBM Wiki is your friend.

Recycled Goods drop their prices eventually. A bunch of people got those from them at about $30 a piece

Title: Strange IBM XT-like terminal keyboard (5640991)
Post by: quadibloc on Fri, 12 March 2010, 03:32:19

The weird layout, incidentally, is designed to resemble that on a keypunch.

Title: Strange IBM XT-like terminal keyboard (5640991)
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 12 March 2010, 03:40:41

Not sure what sort of keypunch you mean, certainly doesn't look like the IBM 029 -

(http://www.dvq.com/oldcomp/photos2/1k/ibm_129c.jpg)

However, the layout is almost identical to the 3278. Given that the terminals were designed for the lower cost 3178, it makes sense.

Title: Strange IBM XT-like terminal keyboard (5640991)
Post by: quadibloc on Fri, 12 March 2010, 11:33:20

It's true that the overall layout is like that of a 3278. I was thinking of the main typing area, which indeed is very much like that of the Model 29 keypunch.

Basically, the 3278, and its prececessor, the 3277, came in several different keyboard styles, there being a "data entry" keyboard which was designed like a keypunch instead of a typewriter. Naturally, the other keys which were required to control the terminal functions didn't change. I wasn't saying that the mystery keyboard was for a keypunch.

Title: Strange IBM XT-like terminal keyboard (5640991)
Post by: kw71 on Fri, 12 March 2010, 16:44:25

Are there logical reasons for the layout?

If you look at a PC keyboard and the ASCII chart, the shift/control keypresses usually generate one bit difference.

Title: Strange IBM XT-like terminal keyboard (5640991)
Post by: TexasFlood on Fri, 12 March 2010, 16:47:07

There is an entry in the Geekhack Wiki Keyboard Reference (http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Keyboard+Reference) on the 3178.

Title: Strange IBM XT-like terminal keyboard (5640991)
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 12 March 2010, 16:51:59

Quote from: kw71;163487

Are there logical reasons for the layout?

If you look at a PC keyboard and the ASCII chart, the shift/control keypresses usually generate one bit difference.

IBM terminals historically only supported one case of lettering. IIRC, the blue switch on those keyboards was to switch between single case only, and having two cases.

Title: Strange IBM XT-like terminal keyboard (5640991)
Post by: microsoft windows on Fri, 12 March 2010, 16:58:45

Quote from: EverythingIBM;163372

Here's a really WEIRD keyboard I found here (http://www.recycledgoods.com/products/IBM-Vintage-Clicky-IBM-3178-Terminal-Keyboard.html), I'm wondering if anyone knows about it a bit more.

Show Image

(http://www.recycledgoods.com/product_images/i/941/s_p_17096_1__13310_zoom.jpg)

There's a funny blue switch at the top, along with some kind of removed pad? And look at the extra keys! It weighs 9 pounds! That must be the world's heaviest keyboard.

Here's the tag:

Show Image

(http://www.recycledgoods.com/product_images/g/256/s_p_17096_3__78343_zoom.jpg)

1985, that's fairly "new" for such an old looking keyboard.

That keyboard you've got yourself there's a Model F for a terminal.

Title: Strange IBM XT-like terminal keyboard (5640991)
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 12 March 2010, 17:00:49

Welcome to the identification party.

You're slightly late...