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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: microsoft windows on Mon, 09 September 2013, 19:45:59

Title: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: microsoft windows on Mon, 09 September 2013, 19:45:59
I've got two IBM model M's running on my fleet of computers. One is a conventional-style Model M made in June 1986. The other one is an M5-2 with a trackball that was made in 1994. Both of them found their way out of garbage cans at one time or another.

When were your model M's made?
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 09 September 2013, 20:20:54
I have two.

One is 02-Mar-1993 (51G8572).

The other is 29-Nov-1995 (52G9658).
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 09 September 2013, 20:22:19
My SSK was born on 09/26/1987. It's so cute :D
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: The_Beast on Mon, 09 September 2013, 20:24:55
My SSK was brought into this world on 7/25/1991
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: Tarzan on Mon, 09 September 2013, 20:25:53
08-22-90

122-key terminal model
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: PadawanGeek on Mon, 09 September 2013, 20:28:45
Dunno if mine's counted as a Model M, it's a Lexmark Model M, and it graced our world on 6th October '93....
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 09 September 2013, 20:30:02
I have about 5 dating from about mid-1986 to late-1991.

The earliest 2 are 1390131s and the later 3 are 1931401s.

I have had several others including more 1391401s, Lexmarks from the mid-late-1990s (42s, 52s, and 92s) and a couple of Unicomps from the early 2000s.
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: Gunni on Tue, 10 September 2013, 07:47:14
I'm currently looking at a Model M on eBay that I want to purchase and "restore". It was made in 1988.
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 10 September 2013, 08:16:10
I'm currently looking at a Model M on eBay that I want to purchase and "restore". It was made in 1988.

That one will have wire stabilizers on the long keys and a heavy back plate. Presumably it is a 1391401 and would be a very good candidate for restoration and "collectors' value".
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: PadawanGeek on Tue, 10 September 2013, 08:19:59
Jeez, everyone else seems to have the IBM Model M, looks like I'm the only one with a Lexmark. :confused:
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 10 September 2013, 08:33:16
Jeez, everyone else seems to have the IBM Model M, looks like I'm the only one with a Lexmark. :confused:

IBM churned them out for almost a decade. There must be millions of IBMs out there, "only" thousands of the others.

Elitists turn up noses at anything after the 1391401, but the later ones are perfectly good (but I will say that neither of my Greenock 42Hs worked).
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: 0100010 on Tue, 10 September 2013, 10:02:50
<------ 03/24/99, a young Unicomp
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: Tarzan on Tue, 10 September 2013, 10:06:24
<------ 03/24/99, a young Unicomp

Heh!  I forgot that I actually have a 101-key Unicomp Model M, created on 08/11/2006.  Practically a newborn.
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: snoopy on Tue, 10 September 2013, 10:09:19
my daily-ssk: 02-19-93
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: jkercado on Tue, 10 September 2013, 11:05:17
October 1989.
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: regack on Tue, 10 September 2013, 11:52:49
I have 9 of them ranging 1986 to 1997.  I think the daily driver is 1989.  I cataloged them once, but now I forget where the catalog is...
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: Retrete on Tue, 10 September 2013, 13:16:42
122 key old M ; 30-05-1986 (current one)
2x 122 key normal M; 26-10-1989
+20x blue label M from 1994
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: Daniel Beardsmore on Tue, 10 September 2013, 15:49:33
17-09-96
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 10 September 2013, 15:51:15
My trio were made in '85, '91 and '97. Don't remember the exact dates.
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: Gazeb0 on Tue, 10 September 2013, 17:37:16
08-29-90 (1391401)

Just got it last week, and love typing on it. But it's HUGE! Looking to get an SSK model to replace it.
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: snuci on Tue, 10 September 2013, 18:07:17
1390120 - Jan 13, 1986
1390120 - Feb 19, 1986
1391401 - Feb 3, 1990
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: smknjoe on Tue, 10 September 2013, 18:23:21
Jeez, everyone else seems to have the IBM Model M, looks like I'm the only one with a Lexmark. :confused:

IBM churned them out for almost a decade. There must be millions of IBMs out there, "only" thousands of the others.

Elitists turn up noses at anything after the 1391401, but the later ones are perfectly good (but I will say that neither of my Greenock 42Hs worked).

Over at DT the Europeans seem to think that the Greenock plant was pumping out the majority of Model Ms for their entire production life-span. I would think that the majority of them were made here in the USA.

...anyway, I have 2 SSKs from 87 and one full size from 88. Great boards, great tactile and audible feedback. And, of course, there is the nostalgic factor as well.
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: dorkvader on Tue, 10 September 2013, 20:18:18
(http://i.imm.io/11OCn.jpeg)
03march86
D2297. sadly the other plant has lower serial numbers, but FL2 appears to be much less common in general. Was worth the $25 I spent.
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: Game Theory on Tue, 10 September 2013, 20:34:18
PN 1391472
09-Nov-1987
2178673
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: Tony on Wed, 11 September 2013, 01:08:37
09-07-96
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: czarek on Wed, 11 September 2013, 02:22:26
The oldest I have is from October 1986, that's 1390120 model.
Title: Re: When was your IBM Model M made?
Post by: ch_123 on Wed, 11 September 2013, 04:11:52
Over at DT the Europeans seem to think that the Greenock plant was pumping out the majority of Model Ms for their entire production life-span. I would think that the majority of them were made here in the USA.

Really? Who is saying that?

(Of course, the Greenock plant made the majority of the European layout Model Ms, if that's what you mean)