Editing Clare-Pendar (section)

==Products==
The history of Clare-Pendar's product range is fairly complicated. For the purposes of the wiki, "Clare-Pendar" covers all switches known to have been introduced during the Clare-Pendar era, in particular those which at any point in their lifetime carried Clare-Pendar branding or were found in keyboards made by Clare-Pendar.

The term "Clare/Pendar" covers the European product range, which overlaps with the North American product range using different part numbers. The European range was manufactured under the same part numbers both by Clare and Pendar but Clare and Pendar in Europe were never merged.

Some switches are Clare-Pendar branded, but some series were left unbranded.

*[[:Category:Clare-Pendar switches|Clare-Pendar switches]]
*[[:Category:Clare-Pendar keyboards|Clare-Pendar keyboards]]

===Part numbers===
Clare-Pendar keyboard switch part numbers followed a strict pattern, as detailed in the [[General Instrument Series S950]] catalogue page:

:'''S'''NNAOC [mod …]

;S
:Switch
;NN
:"Configuration and case dimensions", forming the first two digits of the series name; the derivation of these digits is yet to be discovered
;A
:Action: 0 = [[momentary]], 1 = [[alternate action]] (non-latching), 2 = latching alternate action
;O
:Number of normally-open contacts
;C
:Number of normally-closed contacts

Momentary switch part numbers begin with the series name, but non-momentary switches do not. A [[Clare-Pendar Series S880|S880]] momentary SPST NO switch would be S88010 (S880 + 0, 1 NO, 0 NC), while the latching equivalent would be S88210 (S880 + 2, 1, 0).

Without modification codes, keyboard switches are assumed to have a vertical [[keystem]] and to be non-illuminated. Designs other than the default are indicated by "modification" codes, which follow the part number. As many modification codes as are needed are appended to the part number. The 11° stem "modification" code is E9, so S880 SPST NO is part number S88010 E9.

===ASM MEXICO===
"ASM MEXICO", short for "Assembled in Mexico", is a marking found on switches in the product range that started out with Pendar or Clare-Pendar. The single dated example of a switch marked "ASM MEXICO" is from an Ampex-made Cray Research keyboard with [[Clare foam and foil]] switches, manufactured in 1982;<ref name="Ampex" /> this keyboard has a single module branded "CP CLARE". It is curious that this switch series was associated directly with the parent company C P Clare, instead of the Clare-Pendar subsidiary, and long after C P Clare took over Pendar.