This one's pretty amazing to see, given how close it is in appearance to the Ergodox and other "glove keyboards" (rather, the other way around—they all resemble IBM's patent!).
> British Utility Patent 1,363,777 (GB1363777A)
While the buckling spring switches used in the Model M (or, for those with more rarified tastes, Model F) are rightly lauded, the beamspring is less well-known. The individual modules are absolutely massive as far as keyswitches go, but they feel wonderful to type on. They were designed to evoke the Selectric so as to be familiar to new users, and some models, such as the 3278, even included a solenoid that would click with each keypress. They also featured doubleshot keycaps and were absolute bricks that make the Model M seem a featherweight by comparison.
Well, there are only so many ways to design a split mirrored keyboard that fits the shape of the human hand. The other "natural" keyboards that are a standard PC keyboard cut down the middle seem entirely pointless to me - you are already making people adapt to the split form factor, why not give them something a tad more ergonomic? Or are there other patents at play that prevented it before ErgoDox etc.?
The solenoids in IBMs keyboard did not click. It was more of a bang. I have had 2 (one F and one of those beamspring ones. Can't remember exactly which B it was).
The F was loud, the model B was just spectacular. Amazing to type one after I fixed it, but with the solenoid plugged in it was unbearable.
I wish I had had this 5 years ago. The early laptops are worth scrolling down for. Really amazing resource.
Anybody aware of similar resources for other early computer patents for Apple, Commodore, Tandy etc? Or another IBM resource specifically covering more than just keyboards ie the 5150, PC Jr etc?
Ive been collecting Model M and Model F keyboards from IBM off from Ebay over the last few years. I've got quite a collection now. Only the IBM manufactured keyboards, no Lexmark or third-party.
I remember typing on a Model M as a kid. My fingers pushing the empty spaces between CTRL and ALT, where on newer keyboards, an OS meta now lives.
I remember writing Basic. Then Turbo Pascal. Full of curiosity and wonder.
The IBM authentic keyboards have a badge on the back with the year and month of manufacture. Most of these keyboards are older than my co-workers. Many still function correctly.
Note that these are not just concepts but shipped projects. E.g. the description often says “An ornamental design depicting (name of the actual device)”.
Mostly. It was noted that the split/ergonomic keyboard was never shipped by IBM. (Though it mentioned that the patent is cited by Kinesis, presumably because the 1968 patent had expired and was being used as prior art?)
Expired in 1977 and instantly recognizable as the unique architectural profile almost exactly copied by Exxon Office Systems for the Exxon Intelligent Typewriter which was out by 1979. Later known as Qyx machines they had a magnetically levitated interchangeable daisy-wheel instead of an IBM typeball for the different fonts & symbols. Available with up to two 5 1/4" floppy drives, this was before IBM PC's arrived.
They require higher manufacturing costs and aren't compatible with the standard Cherry keyswitch that every Chinese mechanical keyboard manufacturer uses. I know a while ago someone tried to produce a buckling spring keyswitch in a Cherry form factor, but I don't think anything came out of it. There is also very low demand. In any case, you can always buy a new one from Unicomp for a reasonable price.
Love my Unicomp keyboards... but have had some minor issues... I've been mostly using brown-switch daskeyboard backlit models lately. My current desktop can't get into the bios via my unicomp 104-key, which is pretty annoying to say the least. I miss the bigger space bar and ctrl/win/alt positioning on the left side. There's really something to years of muscle memory that even years later a different keyboard can throw you off.
I also liked the buckling spring feel a bit more than MX browns. And definitely prefer Cherry MX Brown to any other brown-like knockoff switch I've tried.
I can hardly handle typing on an actual laptop keyboard... half the time, depending on my needs I'll stuff a full size keyboard in my bag. I'll also opt for either a BT mouse, or a magic pad.
> German Utility Patent 1,279,693
This one's pretty amazing to see, given how close it is in appearance to the Ergodox and other "glove keyboards" (rather, the other way around—they all resemble IBM's patent!).
> British Utility Patent 1,363,777 (GB1363777A)
While the buckling spring switches used in the Model M (or, for those with more rarified tastes, Model F) are rightly lauded, the beamspring is less well-known. The individual modules are absolutely massive as far as keyswitches go, but they feel wonderful to type on. They were designed to evoke the Selectric so as to be familiar to new users, and some models, such as the 3278, even included a solenoid that would click with each keypress. They also featured doubleshot keycaps and were absolute bricks that make the Model M seem a featherweight by comparison.
Well, there are only so many ways to design a split mirrored keyboard that fits the shape of the human hand. The other "natural" keyboards that are a standard PC keyboard cut down the middle seem entirely pointless to me - you are already making people adapt to the split form factor, why not give them something a tad more ergonomic? Or are there other patents at play that prevented it before ErgoDox etc.?
The solenoids in IBMs keyboard did not click. It was more of a bang. I have had 2 (one F and one of those beamspring ones. Can't remember exactly which B it was).
The F was loud, the model B was just spectacular. Amazing to type one after I fixed it, but with the solenoid plugged in it was unbearable.
I wish I had had this 5 years ago. The early laptops are worth scrolling down for. Really amazing resource.
Anybody aware of similar resources for other early computer patents for Apple, Commodore, Tandy etc? Or another IBM resource specifically covering more than just keyboards ie the 5150, PC Jr etc?
Ive been collecting Model M and Model F keyboards from IBM off from Ebay over the last few years. I've got quite a collection now. Only the IBM manufactured keyboards, no Lexmark or third-party.
I remember typing on a Model M as a kid. My fingers pushing the empty spaces between CTRL and ALT, where on newer keyboards, an OS meta now lives.
I remember writing Basic. Then Turbo Pascal. Full of curiosity and wonder.
The IBM authentic keyboards have a badge on the back with the year and month of manufacture. Most of these keyboards are older than my co-workers. Many still function correctly.
They're a joy to use.
Note that these are not just concepts but shipped projects. E.g. the description often says “An ornamental design depicting (name of the actual device)”.
Mostly. It was noted that the split/ergonomic keyboard was never shipped by IBM. (Though it mentioned that the patent is cited by Kinesis, presumably because the 1968 patent had expired and was being used as prior art?)
Eliot Noyes Sighting!
One of the GOATS. Thanks for posting - there's so much awesome stuff here beyond his designs, but as an architect I gotta rep my man.
Take a look at 194,856 by Noyes.
Expired in 1977 and instantly recognizable as the unique architectural profile almost exactly copied by Exxon Office Systems for the Exxon Intelligent Typewriter which was out by 1979. Later known as Qyx machines they had a magnetically levitated interchangeable daisy-wheel instead of an IBM typeball for the different fonts & symbols. Available with up to two 5 1/4" floppy drives, this was before IBM PC's arrived.
I'm surprised buckling spring keyboards are not widely available, despite being years out of patent
They require higher manufacturing costs and aren't compatible with the standard Cherry keyswitch that every Chinese mechanical keyboard manufacturer uses. I know a while ago someone tried to produce a buckling spring keyswitch in a Cherry form factor, but I don't think anything came out of it. There is also very low demand. In any case, you can always buy a new one from Unicomp for a reasonable price.
Love my Unicomp keyboards... but have had some minor issues... I've been mostly using brown-switch daskeyboard backlit models lately. My current desktop can't get into the bios via my unicomp 104-key, which is pretty annoying to say the least. I miss the bigger space bar and ctrl/win/alt positioning on the left side. There's really something to years of muscle memory that even years later a different keyboard can throw you off.
I also liked the buckling spring feel a bit more than MX browns. And definitely prefer Cherry MX Brown to any other brown-like knockoff switch I've tried.
I can hardly handle typing on an actual laptop keyboard... half the time, depending on my needs I'll stuff a full size keyboard in my bag. I'll also opt for either a BT mouse, or a magic pad.
Exceptional archive, thanks for your work!
There's a company who's remaking the IBM Model F (even better feeling than a Model M).
https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/
Not cheap but I think he got the patent, tooling, and all.
Praise Kier!