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Author Topic: Identifying Model M keyboards  (Read 3082 times)

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Offline codek

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Identifying Model M keyboards
« on: Fri, 29 October 2010, 20:22:44 »
How do you identify these keyboards, did a quick google search and found nothing.

I heard the early model m's are the most sought out.  

What years are these two.  thanks!

IBM 82G3278 Model M PS/2

IBM 42H1296 Model M PS/2
« Last Edit: Fri, 29 October 2010, 20:44:04 by codek »
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Offline codek

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Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 29 October 2010, 20:47:51 »
Quote from: kishy;240358
Both of those are 1990s. However, they were both made for numerous years. Both will be either Lexmark, Unicomp (or perhaps IBM Greenock?) depending on age and some other factors.

The sticker has the date of manufacture on it.


thank you for the quick reply!

Is there a website I can read like a wiki or something so I can be more knowledgeable about model m's.  I'm looking to understand why early model m's are more sought out, etc.

I also paid about $30 shipped each for those keyboards.(one with a missing ctrl cap)  Was it a good buy?
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Offline erricrice

  • Posts: 326
Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 29 October 2010, 21:19:30 »
Well, there's always the IBM Wiki here at geekhack!  Try that, probably has more information that you could find anywhere else.
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I\'m selling all my Shizz! Please buy it!

White ALPS: Northgate Omnikey 101-NCS(Real-Complicated)****Filco Zero FKBN87Z/EB(Fukka Simplifieds)****Siig MiniTouch(XM Simplifieds)
Black ALPS: Black Dell AT-101W(Real-Complicated)****ABS M1(Modded Black ALPS, Linear)
Buckling Spring: Model M 1391401(1988 & 1993)
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Cherry Blacks: Cherry G80-11900
Cherry Browns: 3X Cherry G80-8113LRCUS-2
Cherry MY: G81-7000HPBUS-2****G81-3000LANUS-0****Modded to 20g
Rubber Dome: HHKB Lite 2 (White & Black)
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Yup, Blatantly stealing this from you Kishy, hope you don\'t mind, it\'s a great idea.

Offline codek

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Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 29 October 2010, 21:23:46 »
Quote from: ripster;240368
Yeah, Wikipedia should link to that!

They've clearly been lurking because they changed the "quality declined" thing and now all of a sudden have a whole section about how good 42H drainage channels are!


definitely!
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Offline Ekaros

  • Posts: 942
Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 29 October 2010, 21:30:39 »
Quote from: ripster;240368
Yeah, Wikipedia should link to that!

They've clearly been lurking because they changed the "quality declined" thing and now all of a sudden have a whole section about how good 42H drainage channels are!


I hate wikipedia, there can't be any original reserach there, but it's ok to make wiki here and then copy info from here to Wikipedia... It's quite messed up system...

Anyway, might start to collect all the model numbers somewhere. And then make compilation about which relates to which, for those non-US layouts...
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So I should add something useless here yes? Ok, ok...
Filco 105-key NKRO MX Browns Sw/Fi-layout|IBM Model M 1394545 Lexmark 102-key Finnish-layout 1994-03-22|Cherry G80-3000LQCDE-2 with MX CLEAR
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Dell AT102W(105-key SF) (Black ALPS)|Steelseries Steelkeys 6G(MX Black) ISO-FI-layout|Cherry G84-4400 G84-4700 Cherry MLs

Offline codek

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Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 29 October 2010, 21:48:19 »
Quote from: erricrice;240367
Well, there's always the IBM Wiki here at geekhack!  Try that, probably has more information that you could find anywhere else.


thank you! exactly what i was looking for.
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Offline LawnJesus

  • Posts: 21
Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 29 October 2010, 22:08:24 »
Here I thought the post-'92 Model M's were more coveted, because of the drainage channels and all that, which is why I thought I was lucky to get a '92 for pretty dang cheap.
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-IBM Model M #1391401 09/30/92

Offline KillerBee

  • Posts: 251
  • Location: Miami, FL
Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 30 October 2010, 03:56:07 »
Quote from: codek;240355
I heard the early model m's are the most sought out.


TRUE and I am out to get them ALL! Bwahahahaha!!
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IBM Model M 1386304 Nov. 1985

Offline ch_123

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Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #8 on: Sat, 30 October 2010, 04:19:31 »
As a rule of thumb, if it has "G" as the third character, it's a Lexmark keyboard with a non-detachable cable that may or may not have two-part keycaps. That 42H1296 is probably a variation of the 42H1292. Both would be mid-to-late 90s.

IBM produced so many different part numbers that keeping track of them would cause your head to explode. The thing is that most of them were identical. Thus, the IBM wiki only keeps track of particularly common and/or noteworthy part numbers.

Do you have these keyboards?
« Last Edit: Sat, 30 October 2010, 07:56:08 by ch_123 »
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Offline Cheese101

  • Posts: 26
Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #9 on: Sat, 30 October 2010, 05:57:25 »
Quote from: LawnJesus;240378
Here I thought the post-'92 Model M's were more coveted, because of the drainage channels and all that, which is why I thought I was lucky to get a '92 for pretty dang cheap.
i've tried a 91' IBM and a 95' Lexmark and there was barely any difference

i would prefer the earlier model personally because i like the detachable cable - if it gets broken it's easier to replace - and i don't think the drainage channels are that great since if you do spill something and it gets in between the overlay you're still going to have to open up the backplate and clean inbetween the overlay (like i had to) but the difference isn't as much as some people make out
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Main:
IBM Model M 1391401 ; 4th October 1991
Spare:
IBM kb-8923 ; 1996 - owned from new!

Offline erricrice

  • Posts: 326
Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #10 on: Sat, 30 October 2010, 07:48:55 »
Quote from: ch_123;240415
...Lexmark keyboard with a non-detachable keyboard that...


I much prefer my keyboards with a removable keyboard :biggrin:
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I\'m selling all my Shizz! Please buy it!

White ALPS: Northgate Omnikey 101-NCS(Real-Complicated)****Filco Zero FKBN87Z/EB(Fukka Simplifieds)****Siig MiniTouch(XM Simplifieds)
Black ALPS: Black Dell AT-101W(Real-Complicated)****ABS M1(Modded Black ALPS, Linear)
Buckling Spring: Model M 1391401(1988 & 1993)
Cherry Blues: DAS III Pro
Cherry Blacks: Cherry G80-11900
Cherry Browns: 3X Cherry G80-8113LRCUS-2
Cherry MY: G81-7000HPBUS-2****G81-3000LANUS-0****Modded to 20g
Rubber Dome: HHKB Lite 2 (White & Black)
Logitech G5[/FONT]
Erricrice\'s Song of the Day: Gorillaz - El Maņana
Yup, Blatantly stealing this from you Kishy, hope you don\'t mind, it\'s a great idea.

Offline ch_123

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Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #11 on: Sat, 30 October 2010, 07:56:21 »
Oops...
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Offline codek

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 74
Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #12 on: Tue, 02 November 2010, 18:17:18 »
Quote from: ch_123;240415
As a rule of thumb, if it has "G" as the third character, it's a Lexmark keyboard with a non-detachable cable that may or may not have two-part keycaps. That 42H1296 is probably a variation of the 42H1292. Both would be mid-to-late 90s.

IBM produced so many different part numbers that keeping track of them would cause your head to explode. The thing is that most of them were identical. Thus, the IBM wiki only keeps track of particularly common and/or noteworthy part numbers.

Do you have these keyboards?


well, I just bought them off ebay for about $30 shipped.  I was wondering if I overpaid or not.
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Offline twn2

  • Posts: 20
Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #13 on: Tue, 02 November 2010, 21:34:17 »
Quote from: codek;241808
well, I just bought them off ebay for about $30 shipped.  I was wondering if I overpaid or not.


Looks like a normal price.
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Offline codek

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  • Posts: 74
Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #14 on: Sat, 06 November 2010, 04:04:29 »
Quote from: codek;240355
How do you identify these keyboards, did a quick google search and found nothing.

I heard the early model m's are the most sought out.  

What years are these two.  thanks!

IBM 82G3278 Model M PS/2

IBM 42H1296 Model M PS/2


I just got these.  they were both from 1995's.  How do I know these aren't rubber dome?  anyone?
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Offline Ekaros

  • Posts: 942
Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #15 on: Sat, 06 November 2010, 08:36:34 »
Quote from: codek;243303
I just got these.  they were both from 1995's.  How do I know these aren't rubber dome?  anyone?


Do they click when you press button down? Difference between buckling-spring and rubber dome should be extremely obvious. Feeling is totaly different and they are much much more noisy...
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So I should add something useless here yes? Ok, ok...
Filco 105-key NKRO MX Browns Sw/Fi-layout|IBM Model M 1394545 Lexmark 102-key Finnish-layout 1994-03-22|Cherry G80-3000LQCDE-2 with MX CLEAR
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
Dell AT102W(105-key SF) (Black ALPS)|Steelseries Steelkeys 6G(MX Black) ISO-FI-layout|Cherry G84-4400 G84-4700 Cherry MLs

Offline ch_123

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Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #16 on: Sat, 06 November 2010, 09:03:23 »
Pop off keycap with a screwdriver or knife.

Any pics?
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Offline codek

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  • Posts: 74
Identifying Model M keyboards
« Reply #17 on: Sat, 06 November 2010, 09:11:39 »
Quote from: ch_123;243330
Pop off keycap with a screwdriver or knife.

Any pics?


i'm a noob here but they have a spring in them when i take both keycap covers off. so I guess a BS...?
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