Perkin-Elmer 3700 keyboard

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Perkin-Elmer 3700 keyboard
PerkinElmer3700kb-front top view.jpg
Branding Perkin-Elmer
Manufacturer Hi-Tek
Keyswitches Hi-Tek High Profile and Hi-Tek Dovetail Series
Keycaps double-shot spherical
Interface 37 pin male D-sub
Years of production mid 1980s
Discontinued Yes[1]

The Perkin-Elmer 3700 keyboard is the keyboard of the Perkin-Elmer Data Station 3700. This 'microcomputer' was used to record, process, analyze, visualize, manipulate and store data obtained from a range of Perkin-Elmer's chemical analysis instruments. Typical applications were infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, atomic spectroscopy and gas chromatography.

Top view.

Design and features

Interfacing with the Data Station computer is realized via a male, 37 pin D-sub connector of which only 16 pins are populated. The innards of the keyboard are enclosed in a very sturdy plastic case with wall thicknesses measuring up to 11.5 mm. A trapless wheel protrudes through the back side (function unknown). The keys are organized in 1) an alphanumeric block, 2) a numpad including cursor keys and operating keys and 3) a number of half size function keys. The largest part of the top of the case consists of an aluminium inlay. Different inlays would allow configurations with more or less function keys; the PCB supports up to 32. Inside of the keyboard, a buzzer is installed on the PCB.

The very sturdy case.

Keycaps

The keycaps are thick, spherical double shots in three color combinations: white legends on black, white legends on blue and black legends on white. All rows have the same profile. Only the space bar makes use of a proper wire-type stabilizer while the RETURN key is stabilized by simply spanning two switches. Worth noting is that the half size, blank function keys have a split mounting stem which seems otherwise identical to a normal cap's mounting stem.

A closer view of the keycaps.

Switches

The Perkin-Elmer 3700 keyboard makes use of Hi-Tek High Profile grids and discrete Hi-Tek Dovetail Series modules. The main alphanumeric area is a 63-key flat-top High Profile grid, and the numeric keypad uses two waffle frame 3×4 grids placed side by side to form a 6×4 area of keys. The remaining keys use six 1×4 Dovetail modules placed sideways to give 4×1-key rows. The 63-key grid includes the stabilizing system for the space bar and an alternate action switch for the Shift lock key.

Hi-Tek Dovetail switches.

Gallery

External links

Adverts

Examples of some advertisements featuring predecessors of the Perkin-Elmer Model 3700 Data Station:

Other

References

  1. As of Dec-2013, the Data Station 3700 has been discontinued for over 25 years — Private communication with a Perkin-Elmer service person.