DEC VT100

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DEC VT100

Manufacturer	DEC/Hi-Tek
Layouts	DEC VT-100
Keyswitches	Hi-Tek High Profile
Interface	VT100
Years of production	1978–1983

The DEC VT100 keyboard was made by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) for the DEC VT-100 terminal, the ancestor of all modern terminals and terminal emulators.<ref>Wikipedia — VT100</ref> It is very closely related to the keyboard from the original Kaypro 100 (although the VT100 came first). When connected to the VT100 terminal, it had four status lights that could be turned on or off by sending the appropriate escape sequences from the attached computer. The caps lock key is a physically locking type.

It connects to the terminal using an unusual audio jack style connector (1/4" TRS plug, also known as a phone plug).

Notable keys

The SET-UP key was was used to enter SET-UP mode, a menu system in which keys were used to modify settings on the terminal itself, not the host it was connected to.

The NO SCROLL key paused screen output until pressed again, thus acting like the Scroll lock key on PC keyboards. <ref name="vt100">VT100 User Guide. Digital Equipment Corporation. August 1979. Retrieved from [textfiles.com] on 2018-05-07</ref>

Gallery

Black slider version

The ICs are dated 1979, and the switch frame is dated 8047.<ref name="DT-black-sliders" />

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  Top
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  Hover
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  Side
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  Bottom
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  Cover removed
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  Caps close up
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  Switches
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  Some special switches (for ctrl, no scroll, setup etc.), with very long springs and very long stems on the keycaps, and that need a lot of force to actuate
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  Latching capslock switch
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  Keycaps; these appear to be Comptec
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  PCB bottom

White slider version

Unusual white sliders with notches. The dates on the ICs are not readable.

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  Keyboard
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  Keyboard bottom
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  Keyboard mechanism in bottom
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  Keyboard mechanism front
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  Keyboard circuit board back
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  Key switches and key caps
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  Key switches side
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  Keyboard molding mark

References

<references> <ref name="DT-black-sliders">Deskthority — DEC vt100 'cyber' keyboard</ref> </references>