deskthority

Anyone seen these keyboards before? Ad says "Gerkonic" and "Tesla."
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BIG-vintage-ger ... 1211726868

TESLA is not russian brand, but ex-Czechoslovakia, most of the factories were in Slovakia actually.
they made home computers and various electronics back in eighties and nineties
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_%28company%29

...and when they say "gerkonic", they really want to say "reed switch" (ger-metic kon-tact i.e. hermetic contact)

Funny how the PF keys just say "PF" in their funny letters ;-)

I'll have to keep an eye out for a complete Tesla keyboard when I'm next in Slovakia. Even if I couldn't manage to make it work with a modern PC, the sheer cool factor for having a Tesla-branded computer item is off the charts.

Greystoke wrote:I'll have to keep an eye out for a complete Tesla keyboard when I'm next in Slovakia. Even if I couldn't manage to make it work with a modern PC, the sheer cool factor for having a Tesla-branded computer item is off the charts.

I think that keyboards are ultra rare nowadays, maybe you could be rather interested in TESLA computers which might be available on some local auction sites, something like this: http://www.root.cz/clanky/ceskoslovensk ... sh-pmd-85/

If you are really so interested in such thing,let me know,I might be able to get one for you, but just don't think I'll send it to you by mail, cos it's way too heavy ))

milankooo1978 wrote:

Greystoke wrote:I'll have to keep an eye out for a complete Tesla keyboard when I'm next in Slovakia. Even if I couldn't manage to make it work with a modern PC, the sheer cool factor for having a Tesla-branded computer item is off the charts.

I think that keyboards are ultra rare nowadays, maybe you could be rather interested in TESLA computers which might be available on some local auction sites, something like this: http://www.root.cz/clanky/ceskoslovensk ... sh-pmd-85/

If you are really so interested in such thing,let me know,I might be able to get one for you, but just don't think I'll send it to you by mail, cos it's way too heavy ))

Thanks! I've got relatives in Slovakia who may be able to locate one for me, but if that doesn't pan out I'll let you know!

I appreciate the linked information! Any idea which Tesla model/keyboard might have had the switches in the pictures above? The PCB doesn't look like it came from a Tesla Ondra, and all the PMD-85 models I've seen have staggered keys, without the vertical modifier (?) row or number pad arrangement seen above. Maybe it's from a Didaktik Alfa?

PMD-85-1

Greystoke wrote:

milankooo1978 wrote:

Greystoke wrote:I'll have to keep an eye out for a complete Tesla keyboard when I'm next in Slovakia. Even if I couldn't manage to make it work with a modern PC, the sheer cool factor for having a Tesla-branded computer item is off the charts.

I think that keyboards are ultra rare nowadays, maybe you could be rather interested in TESLA computers which might be available on some local auction sites, something like this: http://www.root.cz/clanky/ceskoslovensk ... sh-pmd-85/

If you are really so interested in such thing,let me know,I might be able to get one for you, but just don't think I'll send it to you by mail, cos it's way too heavy ))

Thanks! I've got relatives in Slovakia who may be able to locate one for me, but if that doesn't pan out I'll let you know!

I appreciate the linked information! Any idea which Tesla model/keyboard might have had the switches in the pictures above? The PCB doesn't look like it came from a Tesla Ondra, and all the PMD-85 models I've seen have staggered keys, without the vertical modifier (?) row or number pad arrangement seen above. Maybe it's from a Didaktik Alfa?

PMD-85-1

PMD_85-1.jpg

this will need an in-depth search, to find out. also it may be the case where the Tesla company was sub-contracted by any russian company, so the Tesla provided keyboards and the rest of the computer (?) was manufactured in Russia.
I'll come back to this later today and let you know if I find the proper answers

Good looking one, but the spacebar doesn't quite fit in with the rest. Really nice colors.

I've ordered one of them, so I'll take a peak at the protocol once I get back to California.

HaaTa wrote:I've ordered one of them, so I'll take a peak at the protocol once I get back to California.

I'd be curious to know what you find out! I contacted the seller to ask about complete units, with cases. He's looking into his source for these, but he did say that according to the original seller, the case is "all metal, about 3kg weight." Gotta love massively overbuilt machines!

If there are more available, I would be interested in one!


ps: Please change the title to:
Czechoslovakian Hall-Effect switches?

Oh, #$@%.

Comrades, beware keyboard. Contains key results in Gulag.

Parak wrote:Oh, #$@%.

Comrades, beware keyboard. Contains key results in Gulag.

I knew it all along, stalin's to blame for this!

Greystoke wrote:

HaaTa wrote:I've ordered one of them, so I'll take a peak at the protocol once I get back to California.

I'd be curious to know what you find out! I contacted the seller to ask about complete units, with cases. He's looking into his source for these, but he did say that according to the original seller, the case is "all metal, about 3kg weight." Gotta love massively overbuilt machines!

I finally heard back from the seller, he said that his source no longer has the keyboard case(s). Quote;

"Hi, I have not cases sorry.

The previous owner gave it to the smelting of metal..."

Damn that is awesome. I'd love to get my hands on one of those.

just another nice machine "made in Czechoslovakia"
http://pocitace.aukro.cz/pocitac-zvt-sm ... 50999.html

Hey, it has a 7bit spacebar. :p

I'm planning to order one, and I was wondering if any scandinavia friends wanted to share shipping? He has 3 boards left.

That spacebar is nuts ...

In addition to making the spacebar impossible to hit, they also expect you to type CR and LF separately … the Sadomasochist Keyboard.

Sadomasochist keyboard? I'd say it's just pro-choice, you can choose for every line whether to type a Mac, Unix or Windows line ending...

I ordered the other 3(2 of them will be distributed to my friends).
I'll take some photos and do some measuring.

Nice

Mine arrived a while ago, but I am currently on another continent ATM

Finaly, I have more of a vintage keyboard than HaaTa :p

mine arrived, incoming pictures of the switches and a key, also a little comparasion to normal he's since this seems to be another switch.

switch: http://www.imgur.com/w1Vc8WD.jpeg

keys (? left, HE right): http://www.imgur.com/PzZ1SLr.jpeg
so, whatcha say? it kinda reminds me of very early cherry swotches.