Looking for Model F PC/AT "Shop Dates"

[ch_123]

On the label on the back of the AT Model F, there is a section marked "Shop Date", which has a seemingly irrelevant string of letters and numbers -



However, on the back of Beam Spring boards, the date is given in form of 'Wxx-yy' - where xx is the week of the year, and yy is the year. If we assume this system here, it would probably mean that my particular keyboard was made in the 50th week of 1987, in plant F9.

Can any other AT Model F owners list what it says under 'Shop Date' on their keyboard if they have pictures of the innards, or feel like opening the thing up for me

[HaaTa]

I assume this is what you're looking for?




Full pics of my board are here.


My Model F XT Shop Date is: F95211

[ch_123]

Ok, unless your keyboard was made in either 1911 or... next year, I think my theory may not have carried through =P

[HaaTa]

I've taken some photos of my Model F XT, including a second sticker with lots of numbers.



Here is another sticker that was underneath the board.





Made an interesting discovering though about the barrels...

Certain mold series (e.g. P) are distinctly better than others, in terms of key feel.
The barrel is more smooth, and the top edge is more rounded.
On my board I had mostly A's, but about a dozen P's.

P12 is distinctively smoother than A12.


http://lh3.ggpht.com/_6WOoTO_7VuQ/THB6jG82ctI/AAAAAAAACCw/h7-BZPjJZIk/s800/2010-08-22%2009.24.36.jpg

One on the bottom is P12, all P molds have that distinctive shiny ring around the barrel.


Bottom one is P12.


Top one is P12. Notice that the molding artifacts are different.



I haven't done the same comparison on my Model F AT, but I will in the future some time.


Oh and this connector on the Model F XT is just cool:


Here are the rest of the photos.