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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: didjamatic on Tue, 13 April 2010, 09:11:54

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: didjamatic on Tue, 13 April 2010, 09:11:54

What is the oldest usable keyboard you guys know of?

Oldest AT compatible?

Oldest XT/Terminal/Other that has a commonly available adapter or protocol translation option for use on PS/2 or USB systems?

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: trievalot on Tue, 13 April 2010, 09:34:48

well AFIK, its the Model F AT unless you want to spend lots of time and energy on the XT boards. Anything else older would be serial or other non standard connect.

Ill swap you my Model F for your topre :P

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 13 April 2010, 10:07:10

Quote from: didjamatic;171821

Oldest AT?

This is a fine example of an almost self-answering question...

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: hyperlinked on Tue, 13 April 2010, 10:11:21

Quote from: ripster;171832

Pirates in the early 1700s preferred this one.

That's not very ergonomic. I'd have a really hard time isolating keys with my hook hand on that fraud of a device.

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: didjamatic on Tue, 13 April 2010, 10:29:52

If someone sent Alexander from KBDbabel an IBM Displaywriter keyboard, I think he would make a protocol translator for one.  He told me he would really like to make one and said he might even be able to do it by seeing photos of the PCB/Controller.  I've seen other keyboards that have parallell interfaces and same pins missing from the connector, so a Display Writer translator might work for other parallel interfaces as well.

Anyone in Europe have a display writer and want to send it to Alexander in Cologne Germany?  :)   I would chip in on shipping costs.

I haven't pulled mine apart, maybe I will try that and sending him a photo first, unless someone has a photo already.


EDIT: Updated OP to say AT compatible which is what I meant.  It's possible there is an older keyboard than an IBM AT that is AT compatible.

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: didjamatic on Tue, 13 April 2010, 11:08:02

I sent him a link to this thread, maybe he will chime in.  It might also be possible to send him just the controller.  I've never pulled mine apart, maybe this weekend.

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: kishy on Tue, 13 April 2010, 11:12:08

VAT/customs fees shouldn't be an issue, it really ought to be declared as a gift both directions on account of the fact there's no profit going either way.

That'd be like going to a store with free samples (Costco as an example in North America) and them charging you sales tax on the samples.

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: didjamatic on Tue, 13 April 2010, 11:17:20

Just look how happy she is typing on that Display Writer keyboard:
(http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/pc/images/02108.jpg)

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: didjamatic on Tue, 13 April 2010, 11:23:57

Wow, same parallel interface as displaywriter?  I've never even seen an auction for a 3278 keyboard.

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 13 April 2010, 12:45:33

Quote from: didjamatic;171872

Wow, same parallel interface as displaywriter?  I've never even seen an auction for a 3278 keyboard.

Same style of connector, but I seriously doubt that they are compatible.

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: Mental Hobbit on Tue, 13 April 2010, 16:55:56

Quote from: kishy;171865

VAT/customs fees shouldn't be an issue, it really ought to be declared as a gift both directions on account of the fact there's no profit going either way.

Webwit isn't talking about borrowing his displaywriter to Alexander. He's talking about someone buying him another one first so he can borrow his old one to Alexander. There's no VAT or customs among EU states. Shipping would be ~€20 in either direction.

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: kishy on Tue, 13 April 2010, 17:04:35

Well then, that's why we SHOULD form a North American Union like the conspiracy theorists are so terrified of...

No more dumbass customs fees for items from the US!

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 13 April 2010, 17:11:37

Gazzads! The Canadian is clearly part of the Zionist conspiracy! Get him!

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: kishy on Tue, 13 April 2010, 17:13:37

Quote from: ch_123;171963

Gazzads! The Canadian is clearly part of the Zionist conspiracy! Get him!

I am Prince Shamwow of Nigeria. I have no idea what you're talking about.

Want my inheritance?

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 13 April 2010, 17:17:37

Sure. Where do I forward the ten grand deposit?

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: kishy on Tue, 13 April 2010, 17:28:08

Quote from: ch_123;171967

Sure. Where do I forward the ten grand deposit?

Just send 1000 Euros and all your keyboards to my accountant in Canada. He'll work it out for you.

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: microsoft windows on Tue, 13 April 2010, 18:30:43

I would say that the oldest AT-compatible keyboard I know about is the 122-key Model F keyboard. Those I believe were made between '83 and '85.

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: kishy on Tue, 13 April 2010, 19:20:18

I believe the original question required it to have complete functionality right "out of the box".

As far as the earliest implementation of the AT protocol goes, you've probably got that right, and even then it's a "nonstandard" implementation.

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: sethstorm on Wed, 14 April 2010, 03:19:03

Quote from: didjamatic;171821

What is the oldest usable keyboard you guys know of?

Oldest AT compatible?

Oldest XT/Terminal/Other that has a commonly available adapter or protocol translation option for use on PS/2 or USB systems?

Terminal F.  Answers both questions except for the fact that neither Blue Cubes(unless you like codes being chomped off) nor USB controllers will not work on them(different design).  

611xxxx part number.  I can vouch for the 1985 & 1984 ones existing (as documented by recycled goods and my own 6110668).

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Wed, 14 April 2010, 07:21:02

IIRC: Series/1 keyboards used a serial port...

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: didjamatic on Wed, 14 April 2010, 08:25:24

Has anyone tried using a serial keyboard on a serial port in windows?  A serial to USB adapter is also an option.

Title: Oldest Usable Keyboard
Post by: sethstorm on Wed, 14 April 2010, 14:39:47

Quote from: Shawn Stanford;172055

IIRC: Series/1 keyboards used a serial port...

Those would happen to be beam-spring keyboards (if you know)?