Xerox terminal

TicTocTom

07 Feb 2018, 04:25

Today, I came across two Bell telephone terminals in a junk shop. It looks like they are made by Xerox. Not sure what these would have been used for, but maybe a telephone operators terminal. One machine is missing a space bar and another key the other looks complete. The switches look familiar, but I don't know what they are. I did a quick search for Xerox on the forum and came up blank. Please let me know what you think.
Bell - Xerox terminal
Bell - Xerox terminal
pDqLkXnoSSerYkSJfM%aUA.jpg (1.71 MiB) Viewed 2173 times
Bell - Xerox keycap
Bell - Xerox keycap
YmimCGu4RuSQxaC5lI1d3w.jpg (1.28 MiB) Viewed 2173 times
What is this switch? Bell - Xerox
What is this switch? Bell - Xerox
mkGArhY1QjS18vNVZfrbMw.jpg (1.71 MiB) Viewed 2173 times
Bell telephone company - Xerox
Bell telephone company - Xerox
9mdkPKxbQFS3KIFcKO3drQ.jpg (1.72 MiB) Viewed 2173 times
Function menu
Function menu
H8qrDVU+Q9Wa6kEuE77cHQ.jpg (1.93 MiB) Viewed 2173 times

User avatar
OldIsNew

07 Feb 2018, 04:35

Looks like a DEC teleprinter/terminal (can see a "digital" logo in one pic) with Hi-Tek switches.

User avatar
OleVoip

07 Feb 2018, 13:20

That's a Digital DECwriter-III from around 1980. They were used as teletypewriters but more often as printing terminals. DECwriters were the preferred operator/master consoles not only for VAXes and PDPs but also for similar systems of the era that were made by other manufactures (which, as the sticker suggests, may have been a Xerox system). The keyboard has Hi-Tek high-profile switches and virtually is the same one as that of the DEC vt100 terminal, except for the cursor keys having been replaced by keys specific to teletypewriters.

The Bell label just marks the item as being serviced by Bell. Also the Xerox label does not look like a manufacture's one. The "digital" logo at the numpad is the relevant indicator.

TicTocTom

07 Feb 2018, 19:59

OleVoip wrote: That's a Digital DECwriter-III from around 1980. They were used as teletypewriters but more often as printing terminals. DECwriters were the preferred operator/master consoles not only for VAXes and PDPs but also for similar systems of the era that were made by other manufactures (which, as the sticker suggests, may have been a Xerox system). The keyboard has Hi-Tek high-profile switches and virtually is the same one as that of the DEC vt100 terminal, except for the cursor keys having been replaced by keys specific to teletypewriters.

The Bell label just marks the item as being serviced by Bell. Also the Xerox label does not look like a manufacture's one. The "digital" logo at the numpad is the relevant indicator.
That makes perfect sense. There is a big built in printer. I love the aesthetics of this machine, but it is too big to even fit in my car. Can anyone recommend a reason to pick this up?

TicTocTom

06 Jan 2019, 18:04

Update: going to pick up this beast later today. Hoping to convert the keyboard with a Teensy, or maybe Soarers converter (doubt it will be that simple). Also need to build a case for it. I’ll post some links to others who have undertaken work on these.

Post Reply

Return to “Keyboards”