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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: Barney on Wed, 27 April 2011, 11:21:31

Title: Acquired new keyboard yesterday: IBM 6247440
Post by: Barney on Wed, 27 April 2011, 11:21:31
I acquired a new keyboard yesterday from a thrift shop.  It's an old IBM rubber dome keyboard from what what I can tell.  It is large and built like a model M but doesn't have the click in they keys.  On the back of the keyboard is a 3 way toggle switch which changes the volume on the built in speaker.  The model number is 6247440.  I tried using it on all my computers but had no luck.  It would not register, just make a loud humming sound.  Does anybody out there have any info on this keyboard?  Thanks.
Title: Acquired new keyboard yesterday: IBM 6247440
Post by: Mazora on Wed, 27 April 2011, 11:55:41
Great find ! ^^ are rubber dome model Ms popular in here? ^^
Title: Acquired new keyboard yesterday: IBM 6247440
Post by: Barney on Wed, 27 April 2011, 12:12:31
Here are a few more stats on this keyboard:  Manufacture date September 4, 1989.  Made in Japan.
Title: Acquired new keyboard yesterday: IBM 6247440
Post by: Mazora on Wed, 27 April 2011, 13:32:41
Barney, how much did you pay for that ?
Title: Acquired new keyboard yesterday: IBM 6247440
Post by: keyb_gr on Wed, 27 April 2011, 13:33:03
Hmm, Japan? Mind putting up some pictures of the thing?
Title: Acquired new keyboard yesterday: IBM 6247440
Post by: Barney on Wed, 27 April 2011, 16:40:04
Here are several pictures of this keyboard.  Let me know what you can about it.
Title: Acquired new keyboard yesterday: IBM 6247440
Post by: theferenc on Wed, 27 April 2011, 16:57:21
Those keys are awesome. Wish I could make use of them on some of my boards, but they don't fit the BS keyboards, if I recall correctly.
Title: Acquired new keyboard yesterday: IBM 6247440
Post by: Barney on Wed, 27 April 2011, 16:57:56
I paid $10 for it.
Title: Acquired new keyboard yesterday: IBM 6247440
Post by: Barney on Wed, 27 April 2011, 17:13:48
The port on the back is a ps/2 port.  I was able to plug a cable into it and connected it to my modern computer.  It made a buzzing sound out of its speaker but did not work.  I tried connecting it into two older systems (486/DOS and Win 95/K6-2) but the computer didn't boot correctly.  The video would not work with this keyboard installed.

Barney
Title: Acquired new keyboard yesterday: IBM 6247440
Post by: Barney on Wed, 27 April 2011, 17:37:53
I think your right.  It did make a buzzing sound, but I don't think it was harmful in any way.  My computers still work fine and Im sure the keyboard does also.
Title: Acquired new keyboard yesterday: IBM 6247440
Post by: Barney on Wed, 27 April 2011, 19:53:20
Quote from: kishy;338262
Cool...next step would be inside :)

I'll tell you right now, IF that is indeed for the 5086, it is not PS/2 or anything like it and further connection attempts could fail in spectacular ways...those connect via, if I am to understand it correctly, a D-sub on the other end of the cable and are super-proprietary. (don't quote me on this - may or may not be true - as I said, I'm sitting on info that needs to be confirmed)

 
Out of curiosity, what info are you sitting on?  Is my keyboard worth $225,000....I wish.  Do you know somthing fascinating about this keyboard that I don't.  Let me know, I'm dying to know.
Title: Acquired new keyboard yesterday: IBM 6247440
Post by: Barney on Wed, 27 April 2011, 20:43:06
Well, for a while there you had me thinking I had a rare as hell keyboard....only a total of 8 ever built.  Oh well.
Title: Acquired new keyboard yesterday: IBM 6247440
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Wed, 27 April 2011, 21:49:29
You could always buy it from him kishy. I'm sure we'd all see internal pics then.
Title: Acquired new keyboard yesterday: IBM 6247440
Post by: Barney on Wed, 27 April 2011, 22:12:47
I can get you some internal pics.  I already opened it once but It was a pain.  Everything is mounted to the top of the case instead of the bottom.  I'll get some together and post them tomorrow.
Title: Acquired new keyboard yesterday: IBM 6247440
Post by: Barney on Wed, 27 April 2011, 22:21:51
I figured what the hell, why not do it now.  Here is a pic of the inside.  I didn't remove the metal plate from the casing but you can see a good shot of the circuit board inside.