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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Justblair on Mon, 05 August 2013, 07:31:22
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I have not seen mention of this before. I recently purchased an IBM 122 Key Terminal keyboard and last night I managed to got the thing open for a quick onceover.
I had already noticed that the sticker on the underside of the keyboard looked a little different to the pictures that I have seen elsewhere on line.
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/justblair/IBM%20122%20Key%20Terminal%20Keyboard/IBM122KeyboardLabel.png)
However when I opened it I found this label on the metal base of the keyboard.
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/justblair/IBM%20122%20Key%20Terminal%20Keyboard/InternalLabel.jpg)
I am reasonably sure that this is the original machine as the manufacture dates coincide from inside to out. I just wondered if anyone could shed a little light on the matter
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Yes, I had that with all Model M keyboard I've disassembled, 2x AT and 1x 122. I guess the inner sticker is the serial number of the inner assembly, which should be the same for several international versions.
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Numbering systems seem pretty bizarre and random sometimes.
Model F XTs and ATs did not even have numbers on the outside, and others have had numbers out but not in.
And, of course, all but one of my F-122s had to be built, Frankenstein-like, out of parts salvaged from more than one carcass .....
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Thanks for that.
I can't see any rhyme or reason to the serial numbers or model numbers. It makes it hard even to buy a BS keyboard.
I managed to grab this one for about £40 online as the seller I think had no photo and did not describe it as Model M or Clicky. I think that the sheer number of model numbers worked in my favour. This model does not show up on the usual wiki pages or Model M sites so it took a little detective work to work out if it was clicky.
It is in very good condition. I have ordered key caps from Unicomp to give me a more conventional layout and a few springs.
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I am rather surprised that it does not say "Model M" somewhere, I thought that the Greenocks included that, but maybe they had to drop it outside the US after the Lexmark deal.
The 139xxxx number is a clue but not a certainty.
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I've never seen a Greenock made board with a Model F or Model M designation (although the IBM Mexico ones are marked as "Modelo M"). I think they were just manufacturing designations as I've never seen any IBM document refer to them by their model designation.
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Actually, this is perfectly normal and entirely expected. Look again at things. You have two different part numbers - of course you have two different serial numbers. You have two separate PNs for the actual buckling spring assembly and the assembled keyboard. That's normal for a Greenock.
That sticker looks like it may be a small quantity run - they'd not do a bulk sticker run for smaller batches. Just print as-needed; it's not like they don't have label printers. The PN seems common enough that it's probably a service part or FRU for a specific language configuration or specific keyboard configuration. It's not unexpected or abnormal to see labels like that.
Seems perfectly normal to me; especially for a '96. Don't read too much into mismatches like that - they happen ALL the time throughout the entire production line. As I said - you've got two distinct assemblies, it's not uncommon to have two different serials and part numbers.