Editing Datanetics

{{Infobox Company
| company_name     = Datanetics Corporation
| company_logo     = [[File:Datanetics logo.svg|200px]]
| vector_logo      =
| company_type     = 
| foundation       = 1967
| founder          = 
| location_city    = Fountain Valley, CA
| location_country = USA
| key_people       = 
| industry         = Keyboard and keyswitch manufacturer
| homepage         = 
| footnotes        =
}}

'''Datanetics''' was an American keyboard and keyswitch manufacturer. Datanetics are best known for their [[Datanetics DC-50 series|DC-50 series]] tactile switches used by early Apple computers. It appears that "Datanetics Corp" was abbreviated to "DC" and "DNC" in their quality control stamps used on completed keyboards.<ref name="Apple_1" /><ref name="1720A" />

==History==
Founded in 1967, the original business plan was the manufacture of CRTs for the emerging terminal market. By December 1969 they decided to focus instead on keyboard manufacture, with diaphragm-based switch technology. In 1971, with rising sales, they were chosen by [[Monroe]] to build the keyboards for the Monroe 1200, the calculator company's first electronic printing calculator.

In 1972, with only two major customers (Monroe and [[Computer Design Corporation]]), Datanetics decided to broaden their customer base with a discrete keyswitch design. This became [[Datanetics DC-50 series|DC-50 series]], fully introduced in 1973. [[Datanetics DC-60 series|DC-60 series]], of low-profile, lower-cost switches designed specifically for high-end calculators, was also introduced in 1972. In the same year, the diaphragm switching technology was licensed to [[Futaba]], which might have formed the origin of [[Futaba complicated linear]] with its sealed contact assembly.

Datanetics first shipped keyboards to Apple in 1976. Somewhere around 1978, Datanetics designer and general manager Michael Muller left to form [[The Keyboard Company (manufacturer)|The Keyboard Company]], which later became the Apple Accessory Products Division, itself later bought by [[Alps Electric]].<ref name="TKC" />

Datanetics was bought by [[ITT]]; according to Michael Muller, this occurred around 1976 (prior to his departure),<ref name="TKC" /> but based on Meryl Miller's notes, this occurred in 1979.

In 1982, [[TEC Incorporated]] bought Datanetics from ITT.<ref name="TEC" />

==Products==
*[[:Category:Datanetics keyboards|Datanetics keyboards]]
*[[:Category:Datanetics switches|Datanetics switches]]
*[[:Category:Datanetics catalogues and brochures|Datanetics catalogues and brochures]]

==Gallery==
<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:Datanetics sales model keyboards.jpg       | Sales models, 1968–1969
File:DC-50 illuminated and alternate action.jpg | DC-50 series switches
File:Datanetics DC-60 assorted 1.jpg            | DC-60 series switches
File:Datanetics DC-50 keyswitch assembly.jpg    | DC-50 switch assembly in the factory
File:Datanetics DC-50 keyswitches in trays.jpg  | Assembled DC-50 switches in the factory
File:Datanetics history page 1.jpg              | Datanetics history summary 1967–1975 page 1, from Meryl Miller, one of the founders of Datanetics
File:Datanetics history page 2.jpg              | Datanetics history summary 1967–1975 page 2
File:Datanetics invoice 101.jpg                 | Datanetics's first invoice, number 101, to RCA for their first shipped keyboard, $600, issued 1967-12-14
</gallery>

==References==
<references>
<ref name="TKC">The Apple 1 Project — [http://www.apple1notes.com/old_apple/History_files/The%20Keyboard%20Company.htm The Keyboard Company - History]</ref>
<ref name="TEC">Newspapers.com — [https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/121646795/ Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona · Page 23]</ref>
<ref name="1720A">Deskthority — [https://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/fluke-1720a-programmer-keyboard-switches-t13242.html Fluke 1720A Programmer Keyboard - Switches?]</ref>
<ref name="Apple_1">The Apple 1 Computer 1976 — [http://apple1computer.blogspot.com/2010/09/datanetic-keyboard-assembly-complete.html Datanetics Keyboard Assembly Complete]</ref>
</references>

[[Category:Vintage brands & companies]]
[[Category:OEM companies]]
[[Category:American brands & companies]]
[[Category:List of all brands & companies]]