L3 Communications Keyboard

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OldIsNew

12 Nov 2017, 08:28

I picked up a L3 Communications Telemetry-West 49050046-1 Rev J Data Entry keyboard. Not positive about the date but there's a sticker with 3-87-S on the PCB. I hadn't heard of this company before, but apparently they do a fair amount of defense contracting work. I thought was kind of cool mainly because of the hexadecimal keypad:
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The entire case is metal, and fairly heavy.
case_back_sm.jpg
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PCB_incase2_sm.jpg
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board_front2_sm.jpg
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As can see from the PCB, it's a KeyTronic foam and foil - but the "vintage" type which I like. The foam was of course shot, so replaced it - getting faster at it at least.
PCB_front2_sm.jpg
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new_foam_sm.jpg
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Again the xwhatsit works great with these boards:
xwhats2_sm.jpg
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Replaced the missing feet (accidentally ordered grey instead of black - oh well) and good to go.
new_feet_sm.jpg
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final_sm.jpg
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depletedvespene

13 Nov 2017, 13:06

Now THAT is a numpad I would have killed for back in the day. :-)

Excellent find.

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seebart
Offtopicthority Instigator

13 Nov 2017, 17:53

Ahh another nice vitage job, the keycaps look very similair to mine:

keyboards-f2/key-tronic-corp-serial-no- ... y%20tronic

nivloM droL

17 Nov 2017, 07:16

Wow this is really SICK!!!!!!

Lbibass

17 Nov 2017, 16:07

Wow, this looks incredible!

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just_add_coffee

18 Nov 2017, 04:57

Nice! And inspiring! Thank you for sharing this!

g972ckv

14 Apr 2021, 10:52

Hi there, just sent you a PM. I work for an Aerospace company in the UK and we require this keyboard for data entry into one of our devices - would you be willing to sell it? Thanks.

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Muirium
µ

14 Apr 2021, 12:19

It's been converted to USB so I doubt it would still work with the vintage original equipment!

g972ckv

14 Apr 2021, 19:36

Hoping he still has the original parts so we can make it as it was. Awaiting a reply. Will make it worth his while

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