Polymorphic Systems keyboard

snuci · 09 Oct 2015, 03:30

Now you guys have me relooking at the keyboards that go with my vintage computer systems...

This is one of my best looking keyboards. It's from a Polymorphic System model 8813 system. The picture doesn't show the brushed aluminum surface too well but matches the brushed aluminum face of the computer it goes with.

The key switches (according to what I found in the wiki) are Hitek. It's very similar to my IMSAI IKB-1 but this is a dumb keyboard where the IKB-1 was "smart".

Here's a couple of quick pics. I can take more if there is interest.

: Polymorphic Systems keyboard; Poly keyboard.jpg (324.48 KiB) Viewed 2701 times

: Ploymoprhic keyboard - Hitek key switch; Poly keyboard key switch.jpg (290.88 KiB) Viewed 2701 times

terrycherry · 09 Oct 2015, 06:58

Wow, that nice aluminum case. How great you have it! A 60% Hi-Tek linear or modular keyboard that I want to have.
More picture inside the keyboard, please.

Chyros · 09 Oct 2015, 09:45

Very nice

. I think a more sideways shot would show off the aluminium more, it's not too visible on these pictures. Also, how are the Hi-Teks?

seebart · 09 Oct 2015, 16:00

Wow very nice. I own a Hi-Tek linear keyboard, but without a case. I'd like to see more pictures please snuci.

snuci · 09 Oct 2015, 23:34

More pics:

: Poly keyboard - external profile; Poly keyboard - external profile.jpg (287.29 KiB) Viewed 2584 times

: Poly keyboard - bottom of external case; Poly Keyboard - bottom.jpg (288.8 KiB) Viewed 2584 times

: Poly keyboard - opened; Poly keyboard - opened.jpg (461.23 KiB) Viewed 2584 times

: Poly keyboard - inside of case; Poly keyboard - inside of case.jpg (305.76 KiB) Viewed 2584 times

: Poly keyboard - top; Poly keyboard - top.jpg (401.84 KiB) Viewed 2584 times

: Poly keyboard - bottom of board; Poly keyboard - bottom board.jpg (466.19 KiB) Viewed 2584 times

: Poly keyboard - internal profile; Poly keyboard - internal profile.jpg (313.49 KiB) Viewed 2584 times

: Poly keyboard - keyboard profile; Poly keyboard - keyboard profile.jpg (372.24 KiB) Viewed 2584 times

: Poly keyboard - under space bar; Poly keyboard - under space bar.jpg (441.31 KiB) Viewed 2581 times

Muirium · 10 Oct 2015, 00:16

A very nicely cased old board. I'm not a fan of those HiTek/Stackpole waffle frames but this board's pretty bad assed. And the system has an interesting history too. I just found this:

And some trivia

Stuart Woods wrote his second novel, Run Before the Wind, using WordMaster on a PolyMorphic 8813 system.

He ended the book with a page entitled A Technical Note, describing how the text was transmitted to his publisher electronically, using communication software written by your webmaster, Bob Bybee. Stuart's note ended with "I believe that in the future, books will be routinely transmitted in this manner."

Yeah, and most everything else!

terrycherry · 11 Oct 2015, 16:57

Thank for the photos. Glad to see the space bar of Hi-Tek linear or modular linear.
I love this.

seebart · 11 Oct 2015, 17:03

Great shots snuci, thanks for sharing. I can think of at least two of my vintage boards that I wish had a sweet case like this!