STM Pied Piper

[snuci]

This is another Canadian computer from STM called the Pied Piper that looks a little worse for wear but the paint wearing down actually exposes a metallic finish underneath. This is actually a very good feeling keyboard for a rare computer based on CP/M that died pretty quickly with not many of these sold. As such, it doesn't even have a Wikipedia page to point to for more details but I did put link to the "Old Computer" website. I think the lines of the design are unique and it does make it look pretty cool to me.

Here are some pics of the keyboard:

STM Piped Piper - computer

STM Piped Piper - computer.JPG (70.25 KiB) Viewed 1942 times

STM Piped Piper - keyboard close up

STM Piped Piper - keyboard close up.JPG (106.66 KiB) Viewed 1942 times

STM Piped Piper - top of keyboard mechanism

STM Piped Piper - top of keyboard mechanism.JPG (91.69 KiB) Viewed 1942 times

STM Piped Piper - bottom of circuit board

STM Piped Piper - bottom of circuit board.JPG (391.21 KiB) Viewed 1942 times

STM Piped Piper - side of keyboard mechanism

STM Piped Piper - side of keyboard mechanism.JPG (70.3 KiB) Viewed 1942 times

STM Pipe Piper - key switches and key caps

STM Pipe Piper - key switches and key caps.JPG (89.61 KiB) Viewed 1942 times

[terrycherry]

Wow, I never seen this Futaba complicated linear[(White with YELLOW base)Cross mount]! We always see this variant with orange base only!
And the layout is smailiar with the Texas Instrument TI-99／4A) keyboard and early TeleVideo keyboard!
Is this pretty boy has the latching switch?

[snuci]

Is this pretty boy has the latching switch?

By "latching switch" do you mean the Caps Lock key? If so, I'll have to check when I get home from work.

[terrycherry]

Yes, the caps lock. Right back got you buddy=]

[snuci]

Hi Terrycherry,

Just a quick update. I checked this morning and the caps lock DOES latch down when pressed.

[terrycherry]

Good morning, snuci.
That Black one is the latching lock.

[snuci]

Just posting a couple more pics. For reference, this computer is from 1983 as checked on several components around the keyboard. The keyboard assembly itself does not have any components to check dates.

Piped Piper - key switch close ups

Pied Piper - key switches.jpg (210.11 KiB) Viewed 1832 times

Piped Piper - Caps Lock close up

Pied Piper - black caps lock.jpg (248.36 KiB) Viewed 1832 times