Perkin-Elmer 3700 keyboard

Perkin-Elmer 3700 keyboard
Branding	Perkin-Elmer
Manufacturer	Hi-Tek
Keyswitches	Hi-Tek High Profile and Hi-Tek Dovetail Series
Keycaps	double-shot spherical
Interface	37 pin male D-sub
Years of production	mid 1980s
Discontinued	Yes

The Perkin-Elmer 3700 keyboard is the keyboard of the Perkin-Elmer Data Station 3700. This 'microcomputer' was used to record, process, analyze, visualize, manipulate and store data obtained from a range of Perkin-Elmer's chemical analysis instruments. Typical applications were infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, atomic spectroscopy and gas chromatography.

Top view.

Design and features

Interfacing with the Data Station computer is realized via a male, 37 pin D-sub connector of which only 16 pins are populated. The innards of the keyboard are enclosed in a very sturdy plastic case with wall thicknesses measuring up to 11.5 mm. A trapless wheel protrudes through the back side (function unknown). The keys are organized in 1) an alphanumeric block, 2) a numpad including cursor keys and operating keys and 3) a number of half size function keys. The largest part of the top of the case consists of an aluminium inlay. Different inlays would allow configurations with more or less function keys; the PCB supports up to 32. Inside of the keyboard, a buzzer is installed on the PCB.

The very sturdy case.

Keycaps

The keycaps are thick, spherical double shots in three color combinations: white legends on black, white legends on blue and black legends on white. All rows have the same profile. Only the space bar makes use of a proper wire-type stabilizer while the RETURN key is stabilized by simply spanning two switches. Worth noting is that the half size, blank function keys have a split mounting stem which seems otherwise identical to a normal cap's mounting stem.

A closer view of the keycaps.

Switches

The Perkin-Elmer 3700 keyboard makes use of Hi-Tek High Profile grids and discrete Hi-Tek Dovetail Series modules. The main alphanumeric area is a 63-key flat-top High Profile grid, and the numeric keypad uses two waffle frame 3×4 grids placed side by side to form a 6×4 area of keys. The remaining keys use six 1×4 Dovetail modules placed sideways to give 4×1-key rows. The 63-key grid includes the stabilizing system for the space bar and an alternate action switch for the Shift lock key.

Hi-Tek Dovetail switches.

Gallery

Top front view.
Top view. The "SYS" key is missing (lower right corner).
Closeup.
Front view.
View from the back.
Bottom view.
Side view.
Without keycaps.
D-sub connector.
Keycaps. Note the space bar in the back.
Keycaps from different angles.
Bottom side of the RETURN keycap.
Detail of the space bar and its stabilizer mount.
Perkin-Elmer SHIFT keycap (left) vs. a row3 Signature Plastics SA family keycap (right, from the Round 4 group buy).
Perk-Elmer SHIFT keycap (left) vs. a row3 Signature Plastics SA family keycap (right, from the Round 4 group buy).
The case shell. Marked August 1985.
Innards, side view.
Top view of the PCB.
Bottom view of the PCB.
Top left corner of the PCB, with Dovetail modules.
Buzzer and wheel on the PCB.
HI-TEK CORPORATION inscription on the switch assembly.
Hi-Tek High Profile switches.
Several broken switch sliders.
Two 3×4 blocks of switches.
Latching switch for the SHIFT LOCK key.