Author Topic: Does anyone have a IBM Model 300 keyboard? (Read 3304 times)

phoenix · « **on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 21:20:15 »

I saw this on kbtalking while looking for information about the mystery keyboard ligo posted:

http://kbtalking.cool3c.com/article/23272

1990 IBM Model 300, Part # 6019303, POS terminal keyboard. Is it a buckling spring keyboard? The layout is very nice.

Edit: Uploaded one of the pictures from there so that you don't have to wait for that page to load if you are on a slow connection.

Edit 2: Deleted "made in Armonk, NY."

Nonmouse · « **Reply #1 on:** Fri, 04 June 2010, 23:45:11 »

I'll let you know some time next week when the page finishes loading....

ch_123 · « **Reply #2 on:** Sat, 05 June 2010, 03:17:54 »

Quote from: phoenix;189786

I saw this on kbtalking while looking for information about the mystery keyboard ligo posted:

http://kbtalking.cool3c.com/article/23272

1990 IBM Model 300, Part # 6019303, POS terminal keyboard, made in Armonk, NY. Is it a buckling spring keyboard?

Show Image

Edit: Uploaded one of the pictures from there so that you don't have to wait for that page to load if you are on a slow connection.

Wow, that page is slooooooooow...

If it wasn't for the stamp on the plug and the label I'd say it's a clone. Although the keycaps are almost certainly IBM ones.

Just a few observations -

* In the 80s, it was common for IBM to specify the model of the computer it was designed to be connected to on the keyboard. This is why the 56409xx keyboards are labeled "Model C1/C2/C3/C4" depending on example - they were not Model C keyboards, they were the Model F keyboards of the Model C1(etc) terminals that they were designed to be connected to. Judging by the shape of the case, this keyboard looks like a Model F.

* The labeling is misleading - Armonk is the location of IBM's corporate headquaters, this would have been made in their plant in Kentucky.

I might have more observations when the page from Korea loads next year.

kishy · « **Reply #3 on:** Sat, 05 June 2010, 12:52:40 »

I find the page loads quickly...the images, on the other hand, don't actually load. I get about maybe a 50-pixel horizontal bar of each image and then they just give up, with refresh not helping kickstart them either.

ch_123 · « **Reply #4 on:** Sat, 05 June 2010, 17:21:49 »

It loads now.

Made in April 1990... Possibly it was a Model M assembly retrofitted into a Model F design?

phoenix · « **Reply #5 on:** Sat, 05 June 2010, 18:02:18 »

Quote from: ch_123;189987

Possibly it was a Model M assembly retrofitted into a Model F design?

Looking at the layout, I now think it's likely not a Model M or Model F assembly inside, because it has an extra key by Alt. Model M assemblies are remarkably consistent between wheelwriters, 122-key terminal boards and regular keyboards. None of them has cylinders in that position. It would not have been cost-effective for IBM to add keys there for a model that's so short-lived. Maybe it's a micro switch, like that rubber dome 24 f-key tenkeyless terminal?

ch_123 · « **Reply #6 on:** Sat, 05 June 2010, 18:10:59 »

Not really, they made them in all shapes and sizes, and if you look at the Beam Spring keyboards and Model F/M keyboards, there were keys that were only there for cosmetic purposes.

It is possible that a variation on this board used these keys and that this type did not.

But yes, that was one of the odd things about the keyboard that hit me when I saw it first. It's unusual, but back to your point - if it was a purpose-made rubber dome keyboard, why include them anyway? On that assesment, they are as likely to be buckling spring as they are rubber dome.

ch_123 · « **Reply #7 on:** Sat, 05 June 2010, 18:22:28 »

Of course I knew that, I was just testing you!

*coughs*

phoenix · « **Reply #8 on:** Sat, 05 June 2010, 18:26:48 »

Quote from: webwit;190000

You guys are so lame. The 77 key keyboard for IBM 4704 bank teller system.

Finally! So, what switch does it have?

JBert · « **Reply #9 on:** Sun, 06 June 2010, 14:26:03 »

Too bad it doesn't have a PS/2 plug or we could have called it the model F space saving keyboard.

ch_123 · « **Reply #10 on:** Sun, 06 June 2010, 15:27:51 »

From the sound of it, it's perfectly conceivable that it's just using RS-232... That would make conversion trivial.

phoenix · « **Reply #11 on:** Sun, 06 June 2010, 17:08:50 »

Quote from: ch_123;190331

From the sound of it, it's perfectly conceivable that it's just using RS-232... That would make conversion trivial.

It's probably not RS-232. It only has 4 pins.

rantenki · « **Reply #12 on:** Mon, 07 June 2010, 00:24:15 »

Quote from: phoenix;190362

It's probably not RS-232. It only has 4 pins.

Power, ground, tx, rx: No flow control, but enough lines for serial. RS-232 or (more likely) just TTL level serial. Opening it up to look at the pcb would probably make reversing it pretty trivial.

phoenix · « **Reply #13 on:** Mon, 07 June 2010, 00:59:26 »

Quote from: rantenki;190440

Opening it up to look at the pcb would probably make reversing it pretty trivial.

That's probably the easy part. The hard part is actually getting my hands on one of these keyboards

Almost no information exists on the internet and I haven't seen one sold on eBay yet. And then there's the question of whether it's really a Model F keyboard and worth the trouble.

ch_123 · « **Reply #14 on:** Mon, 19 July 2010, 07:37:19 »

Quote from: phoenix;190362

It's probably not RS-232. It only has 4 pins.

As far as I know, far less 9 pins actually get used.

trievalot · « **Reply #15 on:** Mon, 19 July 2010, 07:40:09 »

USB and PS2 have less than 9 pins.....

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Author Topic: Does anyone have a IBM Model 300 keyboard? (Read 3304 times)