deskthority

I was curious about this company as the DT wiki did not show much. Wanted to share some links to save time for anybody else searching. I saw a few archived threads here and on GH of users who had old Aydin keyboards.

History-
http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company- ... p-history/

Emulator-
https://www.pc8800.com/pc5200.html

I thought the funding universe history run down was just as colorful as their keycaps. There was mention in older threads of Aydin using Clare Pendar magnetic reed switches. If anybody has anything to share, please do.

that thing looks amazing! the keycap confetti reminds me of old Sony video editing keyboards with Omron Alps clones

Anybody out there in internet land who has used one of these workstations, please fire me a PM or email...

This link is a 2013 article about general early computer graphics companies listed 1961 to 1978.
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.10 ... 1-4932-3_7

And the 2020 current site company history link here- https://www.aydindisplays.com/about-us/history/
Some early bits understandably left out compared with the funding site history, but has basic later info.

GH 2015 thread- https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=76744.0

DT 2014 thread mentions Clare Pendar switches- viewtopic.php?t=7570

Attached is a photo of a 5153, and a 5219 with "mouse." Every single picture I have run across of 5200 Aydin keyboards have the off white lower keys rather than the grey ones in the advertisement with the 5217.


Misc links with Aydin references:

https://www.computer.org/csdl/magazine/ ... 3rRUEgs2FT
https://coek.info/pdf-apple-tablets-.html
https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/7212461
https://www.qeiinc.com/wp-content/uploa ... erator.pdf

And the reason for my curiosity- I am trying to get my hands on one of the 5217 keyboard innards.. will post if I do.

I am told a grey keycap lower repair module (per above ad copy) has finally shipped out to me today. No idea what shape it is in.

The grey keycap Aydin looks like its got all its keycaps. I was worried those holes were missing keys, but it looks like they are just optional slots that most configurations do not utilize. They shipped it in a vintage cardboard box too. The stamps from the box say January 1989 and Louisiana. I'm not sure if it was pulled from service in 1989 or put into service in 1989. Or if the box has nothing to do with the keyboard.

That's really neat. A laser cut + bent sheet metal case would be "ideal" but a wooden case would look great next to all the colored keys. I don't imagine they have any others when you bought that one

I picked one of these up a long time ago: https://flic.kr/s/aHskqR9W7G

Untitled

The bent metal cases are pretty great. I wonder what it'd cost to have a similar case made today (If I ever get access to a break press and a laser cutter it'd probably be fairly straightforward).

From what I understand the Altar 8800 was sold in an "off the self" metal enclosure, are keyboard sized metal boxes made/sold?

Edit: Altair 8800 not 8080

Those keycaps and switches look identical to my PESA Subtitler. Clare pendar switches and keycaps indeed.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23793&p=463199#p463199