Front Panel - Update. - PDP=8/i and PDP-8/l - Bezels - PDP-11

[Rod Smallwood]

On 13/08/2016 19:32, Don North wrote:
> On 8/13/2016 6:20 AM, Christian Gauger-Cosgrove wrote:
>> On 13 August 2016 at 08:07, Noel Chiappa <jnc at mercury.lcs.mit.edu> 
>> wrote:
>>> I can't recall any other models with front panels? (Well, the /74, 
>>> but IIRC
>>> there are none of those extant outside museums - although people 
>>> might want
>>> some for simulators.)
>>>
>> The whole list of PDP-11 models with any sort of front panel beyond
>> just an on/off switch is:
>>> 11/20 (11/15)
>>> 11/05 (11/10)
>>> 11/40 (11/35)
>>> 11/45 (11/50, 11/55)
>>> 11/70 (11/74)
>>> 11/34 (11/04, 11/34A) --- "Calculator" style panel (like an 8/A)
>>> 11/60 --- "Calculator" style panel.
>> I've put OEM machines, and machines that are otherwise identical, or
>> nearly so in parens. The '45 and '50 panels are the same except for
>> the number, while the '55 panel is painted completely differently. The
>> same goes for the '70 versus '74 panels: Same indicators and
>> everything, just completely different paint job.
>>
>> The panel on the '74 is almost exactly like a standard '70 panel, just
>> its in "blue" (i.e. like the DECdatasystem-570 that Dave McGuire
>> owns). Compare:
>> 11/74: 
>> <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MgQBlTQEbso/Tis2KYplLSI/AAAAAAAAAEE/kqhLKWEimX8/s1280/castor-running.jpg>
>> 11/70: <http://www.neurotica.com/w/images/5/58/DEC-PDP1170-KB11C-7.jpg>
>> The only other major difference between the '70 and '74 panels is that
>> the '74 uses the "chiclet" switches as on the '05/'10 instead of the
>> "normal" triangular plastic ones you find on a standard '70.
>>
>> There's also different coloured versions for many of the panels too.
>> E.g. there's a brown-and-white '70 panel used in OEM typesetting
>> systems by CSI Systems (if I recall right). There's a blue-and-red '40
>> panel sold by DEC in their "INDUSTRIAL-11" version. A photo exists
>> showing an 11/20 and an 8/e in "labratory" green (i.e. the LAB-8/e
>> colour scheme).
>>
>>
>> With regards to the 11/74, last I heard there were no machines extant.
>> Apparently there's an 11/74 panel plexiglass "floating around", but I
>> don't recall who owns it.
>
> Like this maybe:   http://www.ak6dn.com/stuff/1174.jpg
>
> This is a 'true' 11/74 panel from the never-production variation of 
> the 11/74, with CIS.
> Not just a relabeled/recolored 11/70 panel. Note the additional LEDs 
> on the right hand side.
> AFAIK no front panel exists that mates with this plexiglass.
>
> I also have a complete DEC DataSystem-570 panel (frame, plex, 
> switches) which is just
> a standard 11/70 panel, but recolored in light blue / dark  blue / 
> gray color scheme.
>
> Don
>
>>
>> As an aside thought: I'd love to see a "blue" 11/70 or an 11/74 panel
>> running with either blue LEDs or white LEDs. That would probably look
>> very nice… hopefully Rob will do a one of those panels because that
>> sounds like a fun project.
>>
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Christian
>>
>>
>
Thank you all very much. I'm collating all of this most useful data.

Regards
Rod (Panelman) Smallwood