This ZX Spectrum model has a plastic keyboard that was “invented” by TIMEX Portugal to deal with complaints regarding Spectrum’s keyboard. It was sold in Portugal (and perhaps even in Spain), but none have been found in the UK.

Technically, TIMEX copied a product that already existed (and that is also on display) but recreated it for its’ own keyboards. It is enclosed inside this glass case because the keys fall off easily and to assure its’ protection.

The initiative to create external keyboards was not unheard of or strange, since we had already seen it happen with the ZX81 (as you were able to see on display in the Sinclair area). There, we also have all the information TIMEX Portugal produced for some of the external keyboards that have been mentioned in this exhibition, and that would be glued on to the computer.