Cray keyboard terminal found?

[snuci]

Further to my Cray Research keyboard post, I was very happy to have found a similar terminal that was made by the OEM... or so I thought. I had found the Ampex D175 terminal on eBay and was really hoping I found the matching terminal for the keyboard (as us vintage computer folks like to do). Well, it was CLOSE but not quite

Below are some pics:

Here is the Ampex D127 terminal with both keyboards. The Ampex "D172" branded keyboard on the left and the Cray branded keyboard on the right.

Ampex D175 keyboard - terminal with both keyboards

Ampex D175 keyboard - terminal with both keyboards.JPG (196.29 KiB) Viewed 2645 times

Both keyboards are shown with the D175 keyboard on top and Cray keyboard on bottom. You will notice the cables are different. That's what killed the possibility of this being the same right off.

Ampex D175 keyboard - fronts

Ampex D175 keyboard - fronts.JPG (290.2 KiB) Viewed 2636 times

Here are the keyboard backs. You will notice that the Cray keyboard is painted and the wear has worn down the paint to show the same colour plastic as the D175 keyboard. The Cray keyboard must have been painted to match the Cray terminal or whatever it was connected to. It certainly wasn't this type of terminal. The stickers and inspection stamp are on the painted portion so this was clearly painted at the factory.

Ampex D175 keyboard - backs

Ampex D175 keyboard - backs.JPG (235.97 KiB) Viewed 2636 times

With the top covers removed, you can see that the keyboard mechanisms are slightly different. The metal plate on the Cray keyboard covers the entire keyboard PCB where as the D175 keyboard has a smaller plate (probably to make it a little cheaper for fabrication).

Ampex D175 keyboard - top plates removed

Ampex D175 keyboard - top plates removed.JPG (318.25 KiB) Viewed 2636 times

Since the Cray keyboard PCB is not viewable from the top, the bottom of the PCB is also different so the keyboard design is different. Date stamps show these are 20 weeks apart with the Cray being from 43rd week of 1982 and the D175 keyboard being from week 11 of 1983.

Ampex D175 keyboard - PCB backs

Ampex D175 keyboard - PCB backs.JPG (296.17 KiB) Viewed 2636 times

I thin the "coolest" part of the Cray keyboard is the purple springs. The colour different may be because of a specific weight. Here is a picture of both (Cray first) with different springs. You can clearly see the differing number of coils per spring bewtween the two keyboards. Believe it or not, the Cray keyboard key weight feels heavier! I would have guessed it be the other way around.

Cray Ampex keyboard - purple springs

Cray Ampex keyboard - purple springs.JPG (220.67 KiB) Viewed 2636 times

Ampex D175 keyboard - normal spring colour

Ampex D175 keyboard - normal spring colour.JPG (209.88 KiB) Viewed 2636 times

Lastly, the double shot key caps are different between the two keyboards. Oddly enough, the Ampex keyboard has sculpted caps where the Cray keyboard does not. The key placement and legends are slightly different so this would be a Cray-specific key layout on the Cray keyboard.

Cray Ampex Keyboard - key caps

Cray Ampex Keyboard - key caps.JPG (256.82 KiB) Viewed 2636 times

Ampex D175 Keyboard - key caps

Ampex D175 keyboard - keycaps.JPG (276.95 KiB) Viewed 2636 times

All this to say that this Ampex D175 is not a re-badged OEM for the matching Cray terminal/keyboard. Maybe next time...

[seebart]

Jeez snuci, you're about the only person here who can find another rare version of an already rare vintage keyboard. Nice comparison, but the Cray label is much nicer. Looking foreward to your upcoming Micro Switch thread.

[snuci]

Jeez snuci, you're about the only person here who can find another rare version of an already rare vintage keyboard. Nice comparison, but the Cray label is much nicer.

Thanks seebart. I also noticed that this key switch is a slight variation where the key cap fits onto the key stem. I will take some additional pics when I get a chance.

Looking forward to your upcoming Micro Switch thread.

Me too. Can't wait until it arrives! Hopefully she will clean up nicely.

[terrycherry]

Goddness, thanks for telling hat rare Clare Pender capactive switch having two variants.
These early Ampex keyboard are very rare to see.
Maybe you're the best rare keyboard and computer collector here.

[snuci]

While I do appreciate the vote of confidence, I am definitely not the best rare keyboard collector here. I collect vintage computers and by extension, computer terminals. I also collect keyboards to try to match them up with their computer/terminal later. I think the distinction of best vintage keyboard collector could go to one of many other people here. As for vintage computer collector. there is a possibility on that one.