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Datanetics keyboards

Datanetics keyboards are rarely encountered outside of Apple computers.

The first photo below, from Meryl Miller’s collection, shows three early sales model keyboards. According to Meryl, the one in the middle (shown again separately) had a wooden case. This model was demonstrated at the NEPCON show in Anaheim, California around 1968 and was responsible for Datanetics’ first production keyboard order. All three models are from circa 1968–69.

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Models and series

Model 33

Model 33 is the earliest-known advertised Datanetics keyboard, appearing in Datamation in March 1969. The output is 8-bit ASCII “through a 402C Bell System Data Set”. “Data Set” is an old term for a modem used by Bell System, and thus together with the 402C this keyboard forms a data input terminal used presumably with telephone lines. (“C” in this instance denotes the transmitter unit.) Few details are currently available on the 402C; Bell System’s Technical Reference catalogue from December 1975 simply describes the arrangement thus:

Data Sets 402C (transmitter) and 402D (receiver) compose a medium speed, binary, parallel data transmission system for DATAPHONE Service or private line service.

The Technical Reference catalogue refers the reader to publication PUB41405, a copy of which is not presently available.

The Model 33 keyboard also provides keypunch output, with an in-key indication of this mode’s activation.

DC series

Advertised in The Electronic Engineer in 1973, these are tri-mode MSI encoded units. The switch type is neither stated nor depicted, but batch-fabricated array is the most likely type.

DC900

Currently of unknown definition. There is a DC900 batch-fabricated array and a DC900 DC-50 example, both MOS/LSI-encoded. The former is from 1971, and the latter from 1976.

Series 700

Series 700 was advertised in Electronic Design in 1976. These devices are 0.15″ (3.8 mm) thick and are said to be “waterproof and completely sealed”.

Keyboards for Apple

Datanetics produced two keyboards for the Apple II. The first, assembly number 01-0425, used a National Semiconductor MM5740 single-chip quad-mode encoder (specifically the MM5740AAE/N). Apple’s technical reference material notes that Apple consider this keyboard non-serviceable.

The second model was assigned assembly number 01-0551-0. This second type has the encoder on a separate PCB from the switch matrix. As with the two successor keyboards produced by the Keyboard Company, this model uses a General Instrument AY-5-3600 single-chip quad-mode encoder, according to Apple’s technical material; these also used a SMC KR3600, which is a compatible part to the AY-5-3600.

Both Datanetics models use DC-50 switches. Illustrations of the first type can be seen on Mike Willegal’s Early Apple Keyboards page. The part Apple called “01-0425” appears to have had at least two variations.

Examples

Documentation

All documents scanned by Bitsavers unless otherwise noted.