Re: Apple II paddles

[Paul Hagstrom <paul@yesterbits.com>]

On 2013-04-20 20:26:32 +0000, Steven Weyhrich said:

> On Wednesday, March 27, 2013 8:48:14 AM UTC-5, Sean Fahey wrote:
> > As I recall, they became a separate product when Apple acquired the 
> > Keyboard Company shortly after they began producing the beige paddles 
> > and joystick. Prior to that, the various black paddles were always 
> > included -- it was in fact a selling point for the Apple II, that it 
> > came with controllers.
>
> Haven't heard of "The Keyboard Company". Do you know anything about it, 
> and why Apple aquired them? (Was it FOR the paddles Keyboard Company 
> produced?)

I knew the Keyboard Company as the original producers of the numeric 
keypads and the beige/orange game paddles, before Apple took them over 
and sold them under its own name.  But this:

http://www.apple1notes.com/old_apple/History_files/The%20Keyboard%20Company.htm

indicates that it's actually an outgrowth of Datanetics, who were the 
producers of the early Apple II keyboards and those commonly use for 
the Apple 1.

Interesting, I didn't know about that connection before.

-Paul