Industrial Model M SSK Production Dates

[E TwentyNine]

Searching through IBM announcements, the earliest mention of a space saving industrial keyboard I can find is here:

IBM Industrial Computer Feature Enhancements and Additions, Letter No. ZG92-0306 dated September 15, 1992.

I know the standard SSK's were produced as early as 1987, but I'm wondering if this marks the release of the industrial SSK's.

Also, is there a list somewhere of current industrial SSK's still known to exist?  The clickykeyboards archives only has standard SSKs.

[jwaz]

There were about 10 on ebay a few years back IIRC. They went to a few GHers, Ripster and Webwit for sure have one.

Webwit auctioned one recently on DT.

[rootwyrm]

This is NOT the SSK announcement. You have to understand how to read IBM announcements.

This specifically is stating that as of September 15, 1992, customers can now order the SSK as a feature with new 7537, 7546 or GEARBOX Model 800 systems - or as a supported additional part. The reason for the announcement is because it coincided with the availability of the rack mount drawer for said keyboard and an internal tape drive. This announcement only applies to 41G3565 etc. as an FRU/OPN.

[E TwentyNine]

As I said, it was the earliest I could find.  What struck me in the announcement was this section:

The new space-saving industrial keyboard is 406 mm (16.0 inches) long by 190 mm (7.5 inches) wide.

Both keyboards are 58 mm (2.3 inches) high, and provide the same functions, some of which are combined on common keys on the space saving keyboard. Keyboards are separately priced and orderable, and may be ordered in any quantity. The new space-saving industrial keyboards are listed below:

                                         Feature   Part Number
                                         -------   -----------
Space-saving Industrial Keyboard (84-key)
 
    English (U.K.)                         6889     41G3566
    Swedish                                2768     41G3567
    French                                 6891     41G3568
    German                                 6892     41G3569
    Italian                                2769     41G3570
    Spanish                                6894     41G3571
    Belgian                                6896     41G3572
    Turkish                                6897     41G3573
    Dutch                                  6898     41G3574
    Swiss/German/French                    2772     41G3575
    English (U.S.) (EMEA)                  2767     41G3565


Which mentions the "new" space saving industrial keyboards, which have part numbers lower than what I thought was the number for the earliest industrial SSKs (41G3600).   Not sure how that works.

Do you know of any mention of industrial SSK's in any IBM literature before this announcement?

Edit: Well, I did find one as early as 1990...

[snoopy]

Just found this thread.... very interesting! I wonder if a "41G3569" still exists... or even if it ever existed... maybe only on the paper....

Good research. Keep up your good work.

[rootwyrm]

Just found this thread.... very interesting! I wonder if a "41G3569" still exists... or even if it ever existed... maybe only on the paper....

Good research. Keep up your good work.

41G3569 definitely exists - IBM had a policy of not doing paper launches. The catch is that when it comes to M's, "exists" and "was made in quantity" are entirely different issues.
They had the parts to make it - that means the keycaps and the correct firmware load for DE layout. Which with the Industrial M's is simply a matter of switching the PCB and chassis. However, there may not have been many made. 41G3569 would have most likely been made in UK where there was a lot of hand assembly (better suited to the small quantity units) so there may have only been a few dozen or few hundred made.