Strange IBM XT-like terminal keyboard (5640991)

[EverythingIBM]

Here's a really WEIRD keyboard I found here, I'm wondering if anyone knows about it a bit more.



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:


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

[kw71]

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.

[ch_123]

IBM Wiki is your friend.

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

[quadibloc]

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

[ch_123]

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



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

[quadibloc]

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.

[kw71]

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.

[TexasFlood]

There is an entry in the Geekhack Wiki Keyboard Reference on the 3178.

[ch_123]

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.

[microsoft windows]

Here's a really WEIRD keyboard I found here, I'm wondering if anyone knows about it a bit more.

Show Image

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

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.

[ch_123]

Welcome to the identification party.

You're slightly late...