PLATO keyboard

Hooloovoo · 08 Mar 2017, 06:30

I have acquired a PLATO keyboard.

It has a really nice feel to it, and the switches are linear, extremely smooth and relatively stiff. On #deskthority HaaTa helped me determine that it has magnetic reed switches, which produce a quiet ping when a key is pressed.

Here are some pictures:

Daniel Beardsmore · 08 Mar 2017, 09:35

An insect. Curious.

Not quite Key Tronic, but very similar — maybe the switch modules have branding on the sides or base.

Also, early flipped space bar? (And a wrong-size space bar!)

seebart · 08 Mar 2017, 10:17

Wow quite exotic. Thanks for sharing.

andrewjoy · 08 Mar 2017, 12:28

Thats impressive,

Chyros · 08 Mar 2017, 13:17

Noice! I thought it was KT at first glance, too.

codemonkeymike · 08 Mar 2017, 14:14

What a beautiful font!

belowgeek · 08 Mar 2017, 16:27

I miss those keycaps. Used to have plenty of them back in the 90s.xD

Hooloovoo · 08 Mar 2017, 20:38

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: An insect. Curious.

I haven't had a chance to clean it out yet. It had been laying around for quite some time.

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: Not quite Key Tronic, but very similar — maybe the switch modules have branding on the sides or base.

No branding can be seen on the modules, though there is a manufacturer code like "T00 735 30 74" (on the single-switch spacebar module) and a manufacture location "MEXICO" below.

A little more info can be had on the operating manual page though it still doesn't identify the specific switch.

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: Also, early flipped space bar? (And a wrong-size space bar!)

I'm not sure what's up with that. it seems as if not all keyboards have it, according to the picture on Wikipedia.

ideus · 08 Mar 2017, 23:19

Cute keyboard, but it has a weird layout. Are you actually using it?

rsbseb · 08 Mar 2017, 23:33

Nice keyboard, awesome font.

Daniel Beardsmore · 09 Mar 2017, 00:15

Mexico eh? Could be Maxi Switch then, although theirs are different again: photos-f62/maxi-switch-2900-series-hex- ... t4115.html

The two keyboard manufacturers I associate with Mexico are Maxi Switch and General Instrument (owner of Clare-Pendar).

Hooloovoo · 09 Mar 2017, 01:46

ideus wrote: Cute keyboard, but it has a weird layout. Are you actually using it?

this is something that I wouldn't like to separate from its terminal, as it is fairly fragile.

Daniel Beardsmore wrote: Mexico eh? Could be Maxi Switch then, although theirs are different again: photos-f62/maxi-switch-2900-series-hex- ... t4115.html

The two keyboard manufacturers I associate with Mexico are Maxi Switch and General Instrument (owner of Clare-Pendar).

I would guess, then, that these are Maxi Switch, but I'm not too willing to take any of the switch modules themselves apart to prove that.