deskthority

Hi, new member here. I’m doing a bit of research on the first real computer keyboard, and HaaTa suggested this might be a good place to tap into other people’s knowledge/prior research. :·)

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I think early computer keyboards can be divided into four groups:

A. Detached teletype/punch console. Teletype or an alphanumeric key punch disconnected from a computer (“off-line”), used to punch cards or paper tape – or some other means of preparing data/program to eventually get into the computer. Tons of early 1940s/50s computers did this: ABC, Zuse Z3, Harvard Mark I, Manchester Mark 1, Univac with Unityper, etc.



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B. Built-in teletype/typewriter. A teletype or an electric typewriter built into a computer, used as an input, output, or input/output device (“on-line”). IBM System/360 from 1965 had that, and IBM 7030 Stretch from 1961 (this one had an early pre-release Selectric, many computers later used converted Selectric or Selectric I/Os). Univac from 1951 had that, too (but it also had a separate console). ERA 1103 from 1953, too?



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C. Built-in typewriter-like console. A dedicated keyboard/console built into a computer that uses the technology of a teletype or an electric typewriter, but is customized in some way. 1962 LINC seems appropriate here: it had a keyboard made by Soroban that was solenoid-based and it seems very similar to an electric typewriter/teletype – but custom for this machine.


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D. A dedicated, not typewriter-like keyboard, or a console built into a computer that has new tech for registering key presses. All of the keyboards with beam springs/reed switches will belong here, of course. Or this Cherry switch from 1959. But I’m curious what’s the first keyboard in this category – and whether it’s even possible to clearly delineate C from D (or B from C, for that matter). It seems like the Univac console from 1951 might be the first contender here? But I’m not sure exactly what is the switch here.



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What do you think? Is this a good way to draw the gradient between typewriters and computers?

Those 50s [wiki]Cherry miniature open[/wiki] switches were designed for switching mains power (10 A at 125 VAC, and 5 A at 250 VAC), and were were not intended for keyboards. At some point they were re-engineered with gold crosspoint contacts for reliable low-voltage switching yielding a very small sub-series (still available in the 70s). It wasn't even possible to attach a keycap to them — the keycaps had to be supported separately.

I suspect few of us know more than HaaTa does on anything this far back! Even the "modern" switch module designs fall off the knowledge radar long before you go back that far. For example, we've never conclusively proved when Cherry's dedicated switch modules came into being, but it's around 1969–71 depending on what data you use. Clare/Pendar is a good one, as I've found nothing to indicate how far back their keyboard switches go. RAFI's small switches go back to the mid 70s. Hi-Tek also go back only to the early 70s if you go by the patents.

You'd have to scavenge HaaTa's collection for clues, but the written material is buried in random forum topics.

Microswitch/Honeywell definitely had keyboard switches (reed), by 1966.

DSC02714
https://www.flickr.com/photos/triplehaa ... 400411814/

I believe, this keyboard was made for/by Mohawk Data Systems, but I don't actually have any proof of that (hint from the ebay listing).

Pretty sure this is the oldest true "keyboard" in my collection. I have older things such as teletypes, typewriters, calculators, as well as a solenoid linotype->typewriter converter and teletype interface (I really need to clean this up and take some pics, as it's super cool: http://www.ebay.com/itm/C-N-Brewer-Tele ... 2509947166).

Thanks to both of you!

After some digging, it still looks like the 1951 Univac is the earliest dedicated keyboard connected to a computer that was not a repurposed teletype or an electric typewriter. It doesn’t have individual key switches, though, and it looks a bit more electromechanical than we’re used to today – as a matter of fact you can peek a bit of its mechanism in this photo with Grace Hopper herself:

I found this in the UNIVAC 1 maintenance manual (http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/www. ... _Jan58.pdf):

1-128. The keyboard unit houses three keyboards, keyboard microswitches, and capacitors (one of each for each key), and a resistor-matrix encoder. When a key is punched, it closes a microswitch to discharge the associated capacitor. Discharge pulses from information keys go into the encoder, which is mounted on the back of the keyboard unit. The encoder sends out coded signals on seven output lines consisting of microphone cable. These seven lines, plus single-wire lines from the control keys, are wired to a connector and cable mounted at the right of the encoder.

and

5-16. All of the character keys operate microswitches under the keyboard, discharging capacitors through an encoding matrix to send pulse combinations into one of the two input-synchronizer registers.

More and more convinced this is the real deal!

My Micro Switch magnetic reed terminal keyboard is not nearly as old being from 1969/1970 but still might we worth mentioning:
Here is my original post:

photos-videos-f64/honeywell-micro-switc ... tch%20reed

I have something that may take the position of the first computer keyboard, it is a Binary Coding Keyboard, #19 of god knows how many produced, and still in existence.

Its Military Property, USAF tagged. so predates civilian application
its simply called a Soroban Coding Keyboard Model is FK-104zd serial number 19

sorry to throw an oddball here, but ive been trying to get info on this piece for years, and have never found anything on it, so i do believe as of now, this is the only known one of its kind remaining

the keys are very similar to a teletype

closest ive found was in designs from US Navy Teletype Equipment - 1950's & 1960's, but it seems to predate many of those machines,
any input is appreciated. I will sell the piece for the right price, but i dont even know where to start/

FactoryCat, can you post some photos?

<a href="http://s96.photobucket.com/user/nick36o ... 7.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l197/ ... 185957.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20171224_185957.jpg"></a>

heres a better quality pic

FactoryCat, neither of these work – they show “please update your account to enable 3rd party hosting” images.

oh, thats dumb, looks good on my end, heres the link http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/nic ... Zw==/?ref=

Sorry, that also doesn’t work. Tried in Chrome and Firefox. I would suggest testing in incognito mode on your end? They might work only because you’re signed in and the site recognizes you.

what a pain in the a55 lol, let me know if that last one works, its a worthy sight, i promise

FactoryCat wrote: ↑what a pain in the a55 lol, let me know if that last one works, its a worthy sight, i promise

Original ones are working for me (Firefox).

No luck for me. I tried a few browsers and in incognito myself.

i made that for you, if it doesnt work its a bug on your end

Thanks! I see it now. Fascinating. I have scant idea what this does! I’ll ask around.

Soroban Engineering was founded in 1954, so that means it can’t qualify as the first computer keyboard, though.

Visually, it seems similar to the LINC keyboard Soroban did, but I’m sure you found that one already.

im curious if the first keyboard is binary like so or qwerty

but its a start, i would place this as an early model, so 54 to 56 im guessing , ill see if i can dig up more, but i have never seen anything like this

It sort of depends on your definition of a keyboard…? Many early computers had binary toggles/switches on the console, but I personally don’t consider them keyboards. There were also weird hybrids, like a BINAC in 1949 which had a 0–7 octal keypad and a typewriter that could only output digits 0 to 7. (Which is kind of hilarious.)

this is why im glad i came here, i just dont know enough about this time in history, i just took apart a varian data machine for gold scrap and it was mind blowing the amount of engineering that went into it/
Im going to assume this had some influence of missile programming, i have alot of early tech thats just very hard to get info on, from fighter plane parts, to laser and nuclear equipment. you really have to know alot to understand what you really have, but i do appreciate the info, i do feel one step closer to knowing what this is

Umm, I think I’m going to throw up. Please don’t gold-scrap computers where they potentially only made a few hundred of them.

Dunno how much gold you got out of that thing but I wouldn’t be surprised to see you’d have gotten more money from a collector. They still run nuclear power stations on those things and pdp11s

FactoryCat, here’s Soroban 1963 catalog. You can read more about your keyboard (or its siblings) on PDF pages 2, 43–45, and 75–76.

Also, this has stuff in Appendix A.

The varian data machine was pulled from a scrap pile. it was completely destroyed, there is more on ebay, was for some kind of electron microscope

the other thing is it takes up alot of space, and the ones have been on ebay for a long time , so i dont see a collector buying it, the 2 ounces of gold was more valuable than the machine, but while breaking it down, i did find a blown cap which may have been the reason for its demise
very complex machine, the wiring was like the NYC pipe system.
i still have parts from it if youd like the for the low

Understood.

An interesting read.

http://www.quadibloc.com/comp/kyb01.htm