# Maxi Switch

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The **Maxi Switch Company**, later **Maxi Switch, Inc.** (stylized as **Maxi-Switch**), was an American electronics manufacturer active from 1968 to 2009. The company primarily manufactured and sold [computer keyboards](/source/Computer_keyboard), although it also acted as a [contract manufacturer](/source/Contract_manufacturer) for larger companies. The company was originally founded in [Minneapolis](/source/Minneapolis), Minnesota but moved to [Tucson, Arizona](/source/Tucson,_Arizona), in the late 1980s following its acquisition by EECO, Inc., a California-based electronics company. In 1990, it was acquired by the Taiwanese electronics company [Silitek](/source/Silitek). Maxi Switch remained a division of all these companies before quietly dissolving in 2009.

## History

Maxi Switch was founded in [Minneapolis](/source/Minneapolis), Minnesota, in 1968 by Glenn M. Stout (1924–2004).[1]: 1B[2] The company started out as a manufacturer of keyswitch assemblies for [jukeboxes](/source/Jukebox) and other electrical equipment,[1] designing so-called *keystrips*, which were one-dimensional arrays of keyswitches either wired individually or [electromechanically](/source/Electromechanics) linked. By the early 1970s, the company had in its catalog, among other products, illuminated keyswitch assemblies, as well as keystrips that were interlinked with one another to encode [bits](/source/Bit) of information in [binary-coded decimal](/source/Binary-coded_decimal).[3]

In June 1972, Maxi Switch acquired the keyboard and keyswitch patents and assets from [Amphenol Corporation](/source/Amphenol), then owned by [Bunker Ramo](/source/Bunker_Ramo). This acquisition allowed Maxi Switch to fully break into the computer industry.[3] By 1982, the company was manufacturing 500,000 computer keyboard assemblies annually for companies including [Xerox](/source/Xerox), [Tandy](/source/Tandy_Corporation) (then the owners of [Radio Shack](/source/Radio_Shack)), and [Kaypro](/source/Kaypro), generating $7.5 million in sales. The company had a worldwide presence, manufacturing keyboards with different [layouts](/source/Keyboard_layout) for international markets such as [Germany](/source/German_keyboard_layout), [France](/source/French_keyboard_layout), and [Greece](/source/Greek_keyboard_layout), among others.[1]: 13B In 1983, it even produced a keyboard for the [IBM PC](/source/IBM_Personal_Computer) in the [Dvorak layout](/source/Dvorak_keyboard_layout), being one of the first companies to offer a dedicated Dvorak computer keyboard.[1]: 1B

In March 1984, Maxi Switch agreed to be acquired by EECO, Inc., a manufacturer of [AV](/source/Audiovisual) gear and computer hardware based in [Santa Ana, California](/source/Santa_Ana,_California), for between $3.4 million to $5 million in cash.[4][5] The acquisition was finalized in April 1984.[6] Craig Stout, the son of Glenn M. Stout, took over as CEO of Maxi Switch in January 1985, following Glenn's poor health.[7] Under ownership of EECO, Maxi Switch opened an assembly plant in [Tucson, Arizona](/source/Tucson,_Arizona), as well as keyswitch manufacturing plants in [Caborca](/source/Caborca), and [Scotland](/source/Scotland), and a keypad manufacturing plant in [Phoenix, Arizona](/source/Phoenix,_Arizona).[8] Revenues at Maxi Switch peaked at $40 million in 1987 before declining to $10 million in 1989. EECO itself filed for [Chapter 11 bankruptcy](/source/Chapter_11_bankruptcy), putting Maxi Switch on the market to be acquired by another company as a consequence.[5]

In August 1990, [Silitek](/source/Silitek) of Taiwan agreed to purchase Maxi Switch from EECO, Inc., for an undisclosed sum.[9] Silitek retained ownership of Maxi Switch's Tucson plant, naming it the headquarters of Maxi Switch, while the Caborca plant was sold back to a group of Mexican investors formerly employed by EECO, who nonetheless continued to supply keyboards to Silitek.[5][9] The Scotland and Phoenix plants, meanwhile, remained property of EECO, who signed a non-exclusive agreement with Silitek to produce keyboards on a contract basis.[9]

In the early 1990s, Maxi Switch signed a contract with [Gateway 2000](/source/Gateway,_Inc.) to produce the [Gateway AnyKey](/source/Gateway_AnyKey), a programmable computer keyboard that was sold as an option for some of Gateway's [desktop computers](/source/Desktop_computer).[10][11] Gateway introduced the AnyKey in the spring of 1991.[12] It was also sold by Maxi Switch themselves, as the [ProKey II](/source/ProKey_II) (later the [ProKey 124](/source/ProKey_124)).[13][14] The AnyKey proved very popular, especially among [power users](/source/Power_user) and computer programmers, and soon gained a [cult following](/source/Cult_following).[15]

By 1992, Maxi Switch was producing 60,000 keyboards a month from its Tucson headquarters and plant.[5] That year, it also began producing [game cartridges](/source/Game_cartridge) for [Sega](/source/Sega) and its [Genesis](/source/Sega_Genesis); the following year, it began producing select hardware components for [Nintendo](/source/Nintendo)'s game consoles, including the [Game Boy](/source/Game_Boy).[16]: 13D[17]: 207 Starting in 1994, Maxi Switch branched out to the healthcare sector, producing [SMT](/source/Surface-mount_technology) circuit boards for medical devices and exercise equipment.[16]: 13D In December 1995, Maxi Switch acquired several [buckling spring](/source/Buckling_spring) keyboard designs from [Lexmark](/source/Lexmark), formerly a division of [IBM](/source/IBM), allowing the company to produce derivatives of the highly popular [Model M keyboard](/source/Model_M_keyboard).[16]: 13D[18][19]

Silitek itself was absorbed by its parent company [Lite-On](/source/Lite-On) in 2002, with Maxi Switch surviving as a division thereafter.[20] Maxi Switch ultimately dissolved in December 2009.[21]

## See also

- [Keyboard technology](/source/Keyboard_technology)

## References

1. Staff writer (December 1, 1983). ["'Maverick' computer keyboard geared to nontypists' abilities"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-maverick-computer-keyboar/185121921/). *Star Tribune*. p. 1B, [13B](https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-maverick-computer-keyboar/185121936/). – via Newspapers.com.

1. ["Stout"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-glenn-m-stout-obituary-80y/87223818/). *Star Tribune*. May 16, 2004. p. B10. – via Newspapers.com.

1. Staff writer (June 21, 1972). ["Company sells keyboard line"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/stickney-life-and-forest-view-company-se/185121911/). *Stickney Life and Forest View*. p. 7. – via Newspapers.com.

1. Staff writer (March 20, 1984). ["EECO to Buy Computer Switch Company"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-eeco-to-buy-comput/185121950/). *Los Angeles Times*. Times-Mirror Company. p. C4. – via Newspapers.com.

1. Gary, Roderick (October 12, 1992). ["Success smooths Maxi Switch's bumpy road"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-success-smooths-maxi/185121965/). *Arizona Daily Star*. p. D2. – via Newspapers.com.

1. Staff writer (April 4, 1984). ["Nelson Research Signs Deals to Develop Azone Products with Eli Lilly"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-nelson-research-si/185122000/). *Los Angeles Times*. Times-Mirror Company. p. A4, [B4](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-nelson-research-si/185122005/). – via Newspapers.com.

1. Staff writer (January 10, 1985). ["Industry Notes"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-industry-notes/185121958/). *Los Angeles Times*. Times-Mirror Company. p. D5.

1. Takahashi, Dean (August 1, 1990). ["EECO Sells Off Its Maxi-Switch Division"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-01-fi-1618-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. Times-Mirror Company. p. 8. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250804074419/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-08-01-fi-1618-story.html) August 4, 2025 at the Wayback Machine.

1. Staff writer (August 20, 1990). ["EECO keyboard facility in Tucson sold to Silitek"](https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A8919976/GPS?u=fcla_main&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=7b557555). *Phoenix Business Journal*. Vol. 10, no. 41. American City Business Journals. p. 15. – via Gale.

1. Brown, Bruce (August 1991). ["Gateway's Haute Couture Mini Desktop"](https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A11161759/GPS?sid=wikipedia). *Computer Shopper*. Vol. 11, no. 8. SX2 Media Labs. p. 356 *et seq*. – via Gale.

1. Maybury, Rick (March 9, 2004). ["Faqs! Facts! Fax!"](https://www.proquest.com/docview/317813454/). *The Daily Telegraph*. p. 33.

1. Marburg, Robert (April 15, 1991). ["Gateway 2000 Unveils Low-cost 286, 386SX PCs"](https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A10596063/GPS?sid=wikipedia). *PC Week*. Vol. 8, no. 15. Ziff-Davis. p. 29. – via Gale.

1. Schneider, Paul (August 21, 1992). ["'Custom' keyboard hits market"](https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A12674583/GPS?sid=wikipedia). *Arizona Business Gazette*. Vol. 112, no. 34. Gannett Company. p. 8. – via Gale.

1. Goldsborough, Reid (February 7, 1997). ["In search of the perfect keyboard"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-messenger-in-search-of-the-perf/145338196/). *News and Messenger*. p. B8. – via Newspapers.com.

1. Gunn, Angela (September 1994). ["The Fastest 486s"](https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A16268684/GPS?sid=wikipedia). *Home Office Computing*. Vol. 12, no. 9. Line56. p. 86 *et seq*. – via Gale.

1. Fischer, Alan D. (January 22, 1996). ["Keyboard firm ranks with best"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-keyboard-firm-ranks-w/185121980/). *Arizona Daily Star*. p. 1D [13D](https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-keyboard-firm-ranks-w/185121988/). – via Newspapers.com.

1. Kline, Stephen; Nick Dyer-Witheford; Greig De Peuter (2003). [*Digital Play: The Interaction of Technology, Culture, and Marketing*](https://www.google.com/books/edition/Digital_Play/gw5V10iLEsUC). McGill-Queen's University Press. p. 197–217. ISBN 9780773525917. – via Google Books.

1. Goldsberry, Clare (December 11, 1995). ["Maxi Switch Obtains Rights to Keyboards"](https://www.plasticsnews.com/article/19951211/NEWS/312119984/maxi-switch-obtains-rights-to-keyboards). *Plastics News*. Crain Communications. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190525005708/https://www.plasticsnews.com/article/19951211/NEWS/312119984/maxi-switch-obtains-rights-to-keyboards) May 25, 2019 at the Wayback Machine.

1. Robertson, Adi (October 7, 2014). ["King of click: the story of the greatest keyboard ever made"](https://www.theverge.com/2014/10/7/6882427/king-of-keys). *The Verge*. Vox Media. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251009061401/https://www.theverge.com/2014/10/7/6882427/king-of-keys) October 9, 2025 at the Wayback Machine.

1. Dickie, Mure (June 11, 2002). ["Taiwanese Lite-On venture aims to lower costs"](https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A87065238/GPS?u=fcla_main&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=e23f27d9). *The Financial Times*. p. 29. – via Gale.

1. ["Maxi Switch, Inc."](https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_ca/1568773). OpenCorporates. n.d.

## External links

- [Official website](https://web.archive.org/web/20140107133423/http://www.maxiswitch.com/) January 7, 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- [Comprehensive history of Maxi Switch](https://telcontar.net/KBK/Maxi-Switch/) by Daniel Beardsmore at Telcontar.net

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Maxi Switch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxi_Switch) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxi_Switch?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.