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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Wildcard on Sun, 13 April 2014, 20:07:12

Title: IBM SSK Question
Post by: Wildcard on Sun, 13 April 2014, 20:07:12
Has anyone encountered an IBM model M SSK with a white barrel plate? I have an SSK that has a white barrel plate, which is very interesting because I can't find another like it.


Edit: maybe this didn't come from a white label SSK, still not sure.
Title: Re: IBM SSK Question
Post by: Pacifist on Sun, 13 April 2014, 20:08:36
whoa pics? :eek: I wanna see one
Title: Re: IBM SSK Question
Post by: Wildcard on Sun, 13 April 2014, 20:22:46
Here's a photo (top 87' stock, bottom with odd white barrel plate)

I actually have two SSK's in parts which I've never got around to finishing (the other one isn't pictured) so maybe I got the barrel plate from another board, possibly non white label?

(http://i.imgur.com/qMSJIKC.jpg)
Title: Re: IBM SSK Question
Post by: dorkvader on Sun, 13 April 2014, 21:46:30
IBM switched to white (beige) barrel frames in about 1989-1991 or so for the "beige label" model Ms of the time. Lexmark switched back to black, so beige was only used for a short while.

My first M was from 1990, and when I bolt modded it I was confused as to why it was white instead of black.
Title: Re: IBM SSK Question
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 13 April 2014, 22:37:35
Quote from: dorkvader on Sun, 13 April 2014, 21:46:30
IBM switched to white (beige) barrel frames in about 1989-1991 or so for the "beige label" model Ms of the time. Lexmark switched back to black, so beige was only used for a short while.

My first M was from 1990, and when I bolt modded it I was confused as to why it was white instead of black.

Such knowledge!

Wow!

I'm amazed where you learn all this stuff from :)
Title: Re: IBM SSK Question
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 15 April 2014, 03:39:53
My SSK has the white barrel plate too (March 1990)
Title: Re: IBM SSK Question
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 15 April 2014, 06:56:46
I have had a number of Ms and at least a third of them had the beige barrel plates (including M-122s), but I never realized that it was specifically date-related. I never really thought to look.

I go back and forth about whether I prefer them to the black.
Title: Re: IBM SSK Question
Post by: madhias on Fri, 08 August 2014, 03:24:56
I have '91 SSK which has a beige frame / barrel plate, and my '87 SSK has a black frame / barrel plate.

I like the beige frames more, it fits much better to the case and caps! I asked Unicomp if they sell beige frames, but unfortunately they only have black ones.