Datanetics keycaps

When Datanetics produced their initial sample keyboards for RCA in 1967–68, they sourced their keycaps from IBM, at a cost of 50¢ each (space bars cost more); IBM was the only keycap vendor that they were able to find. The keycaps chosen were those produced for the Selectric typewriters. Curiously, Controls Research Corp also sourced keycaps from IBM around that time. Some keys required legends not available in IBM’s line-up. For these keys, blank keycaps were obtained from IBM that were then engraved and infilled.

For their first commercial quantity order of keyboards for Conract, Datanetics had a local injection moulding vendor, Leo Tanaka Moldmaker Inc., produce tooling for single-unit keycaps. Initially, Tanaka were only able to mould blank keycaps. Datanetics had another vendor apply the legends, which were engraved and infilled with paint. This approach was very expensive; in later years, Datanetics changed to pad printing to reduce costs.

At least two customers—NCR and Monroe—provided the keycaps themselves; NCR in particular already had very distinctive design of keycap that they intended to continue using after adopting Datanetics switches.

The illuminated keycap style for DC-50, which has opaque sides and a translucent top, was designed by Meryl Miller along with the illuminated version of the DC-50 switch.

Listed below are all known Datanetics keycap models.

The parts above are from the Radio-Electronics article Digital Timer for your Darkroom by Raymond G Konstanty from July 1978. This project used Datanetics DC-61-05 switches. The individual keycap legends are not listed; they are simply assumed based on the appearance of the codes.