Datanetics
 | |
| Industry | Keyboard and keyswitch manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Fountain Valley, CA, USA |
Datanetics was an American keyboard and keyswitch manufacturer. Datanetics are best known for their DC-50 series tactile switches used by early Apple computers. It appears that "Datanetics Corp" was abbreviated to "DC" and "DNC" in their quality control stamps used on completed keyboards.[1][2]
Contents
History
Founded in 1967, the original business plan was the manufacture of CRTs for the emerging terminal market. By December 1969 they decided to focus instead on keyboard manufacture, with diaphragm-based switch technology. In 1971, with rising sales, they were chosen by Monroe to build the keyboards for the Monroe 1200, the calculator company's first electronic printing calculator.
In 1972, with only two major customers (Monroe and Computer Design Corporation), Datanetics decided to broaden their customer base with a discrete keyswitch design. This became DC-50 series, fully introduced in 1973. DC-60 series, of low-profile, lower-cost switches designed specifically for high-end calculators, was also introduced in 1972. In the same year, the diaphragm switching technology was licensed to Futaba, which might have formed the origin of Futaba complicated linear with its sealed contact assembly.
Datanetics first shipped keyboards to Apple in 1976. Somewhere around 1978, Datanetics designer and general manager Michael Muller left to form The Keyboard Company, which later became the Apple Accessory Products Division, itself later bought by Alps Electric.[3]
Datanetics was bought by ITT; according to Michael Muller, this occurred around 1976 (prior to his departure),[3] but based on Meryl Miller's notes, this occurred in 1979.
In 1982, TEC Incorporated bought Datanetics from ITT.[4]
Products
Gallery
Sales models, 1968–1969
DC-50 series switches
DC-60 series switches
DC-50 switch assembly in the factory
Assembled DC-50 switches in the factory
Datanetics history summary 1967–1975 page 1, from Meryl Miller, one of the founders of Datanetics
Datanetics history summary 1967–1975 page 2
Datanetics's first invoice, number 101, to RCA for their first shipped keyboard, $600, issued 1967-12-14
References
- ↑ The Apple 1 Computer 1976 — Datanetics Keyboard Assembly Complete
- ↑ Deskthority — Fluke 1720A Programmer Keyboard - Switches?
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Apple 1 Project — The Keyboard Company - History
- ↑ Newspapers.com — Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona · Page 23
