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PLATO keyboard

Posted: 08 Mar 2017, 06:30
by Hooloovoo
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:

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Posted: 08 Mar 2017, 09:35
by Daniel Beardsmore
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!)

Posted: 08 Mar 2017, 10:17
by seebart
Wow quite exotic. Thanks for sharing.

Posted: 08 Mar 2017, 12:28
by andrewjoy
Thats impressive,

Posted: 08 Mar 2017, 13:17
by Chyros
Noice! I thought it was KT at first glance, too.

Posted: 08 Mar 2017, 14:14
by codemonkeymike
What a beautiful font!

Posted: 08 Mar 2017, 16:27
by belowgeek
I miss those keycaps. Used to have plenty of them back in the 90s.xD

Posted: 08 Mar 2017, 20:38
by Hooloovoo
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.

Posted: 08 Mar 2017, 23:19
by ideus
Cute keyboard, but it has a weird layout. Are you actually using it?

Posted: 08 Mar 2017, 23:33
by rsbseb
Nice keyboard, awesome font.

Posted: 09 Mar 2017, 00:15
by Daniel Beardsmore
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).

Posted: 09 Mar 2017, 01:46
by Hooloovoo
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.