30 Aug
2004
30 Aug
'04
8:40 a.m.
Speaking of various keyboards: some time ago I received a bare (no machine, no case, no
ID) keyboard utilising magnetically-activated reed relays for the key contacts. Reed
relays were commonly used for calculator keyboards in the late-60s/early 70s and it
probably dates from this era, but this is the only occasion I have seen reed relays used
in an alphabetic keyboard. I've been mildly curious as to what machine/terminal it was
used in. The keycaps are glossy white with black characters, 4 cursor keys in a column on
the left and a TAB next to the CR (on the right).
(The sealed reed relays would have been very effective against coffee-spilling. The keys
have a nice smooth travel to them, too bad it's not 'in' something.)