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Author Topic: IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.  (Read 5095 times)

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Offline lam47

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 07:09:19 »
When I say serial I mean part number!

This is the model M mini from the lot of 3 sold on ebay recently.
I went for this one as it has the UK layout and looked to be in good condition.
Well it is!
The keys have not been touched as far as I can see. They are so ruff they look like new. There is no sign of wear at all. Also the mechanism is so crisp and stiff it feels like a new keyboard.

It is displaying a few issues I will ask the seller about though.
I have had a few keys input more than once when they are only pressed the once. Not sure what could cause this but I'm sure one of you will.
Also a couple would not input at all but then would a lot.

Here are some pictures with my other Mini for comparison.
The caps are single piece and dont have the blue of the 2 piece caps on my other one.

The label on the bottom is covered in plastic and does not look quite right. Has anyone seen a label like this before.
The serial inside is 1394046. I can find no reference to this serial.
On the bottom is 1392980. Which seems to be a terminal board number.
I will let you fellas work it out :)







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Offline Mercen_505

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 08:06:40 »
Older IBM-made keyboards have a full sized label that is protected by a plastic overlay. That looks legit. From what I've experienced the serials printed on the bottom of the baseplate are some sort of number for internal use only and don't come up on any searches.
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Offline FKSSR

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 09:21:44 »
Looks great!  I would guess those numbers aren't IBM, as Mercen_505 said.

Let us know how everything turns out with the keys registering too many key strokes or none at all!
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Offline lam47

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 10:06:41 »
Cool. Thanks guys.
Anyone found the PN anywhere?

Just like to add that this one does not have any drainage channels and my other one does.
I didnt think IBM made an ISO mini? This could be a very rare board if its a true IBM ISO space saver.

The input seems fine now.
My guess is condensation or something like that as it had just come in from the truck.
At the moment the keys are all working fine :)
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Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

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Offline Chloe

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 10:22:59 »
1392980 seems to be 84 key with RJ45 connector, so maybe the internals are from another keyboard. The serial on the metal plate is one digit different from Unicomp UNI04C6, 85 key 1394047.
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Offline lam47

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 10:28:41 »
Yup that's the one I found. It seems to be the only place the serial from the bottom is found. The Unicomp there is the other board I have. Wonder what the last digit difference could mean?
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Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline lam47

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 11:50:43 »
Just noticed that both of the |\ keys are 2 piece!
What does it all mean?


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Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline Chloe

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 11:51:49 »
Does your Unicomp also have the same number on the metal plate? Here is another 1392980, with grey logo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/slashclee/2604487881/
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Offline lal

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 12:05:08 »
Niiiice, Laurie :)  Good to hear it's working right now.  My very wild guess would still be that it's just the case of a 1392980 with different internals, like Chloe said.  Who knows who assembled it and has put in the 2-piece keys for "<>|" that may have been leftover because they weren't needed as often? :|
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Offline lam47

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #9 on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 12:06:22 »
Just had a look Chloe and it does. The plate in the Unicomp has exactly the same number.
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Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

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Offline lam47

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 12:08:34 »
I think it can only be the lower case from a 1392980 as the top part seems to have the grey logo on them. This one has the blue logo on the top panel.

Its very nice to type on as the springs and keys are like new.
It did just do the same odd key thing for a bit when I plugged it back into the PC. However once I have used it for a bit it seems to type fine.

What could cause this?
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Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

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Offline nerp

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #11 on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 12:15:32 »
Are you using an adapter? Is UK somehow different in terms of this, like, ends up being a different power requirement or something?
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Offline lam47

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #12 on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 12:20:09 »
No adapter no, its going right into the ps2 port. Voltage is the same for the ps2 port worldwide.
Its started to do it again. Seems to always be the same keys so my guess would be a problem with the membranes. However to check and fix it all the rivets would need to be removed.
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Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline Chloe

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #13 on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 12:22:35 »
Maybe it is related to the current draw issue with some motherboards. My Datalux used to play up like this but washing the PCB and switches seemed to fix it.
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Offline lam47

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #14 on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 12:26:39 »
My other mini is fine though? I could try washing the PCB. How would you recommend I go about it :) (I dont have a dish washer)
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Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline Chloe

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #15 on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 12:33:28 »
I only washed the Datalux PCB because all the switches were mounted to it. This could be a membrane problem if it is persistent and the same keys, but if it only happens when you first plug it in it might be something else.
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Offline lam47

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #16 on: Wed, 18 March 2009, 17:11:44 »
Its still misbehaving.
The seller is being ever so helpful though and I have no doubt it was tested and working when he sent it.

This has to be the controller board. I cant see what else would cause the random inputs.
Also the membranes are tight in the sandwich so I cant see anything getting in and messing things up. However its hard to say for sure as you cant see them :(
Keep the ideas coming. Would be such a shame if it could not be saved.
thanks Chloe.
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Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline Chloe

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #17 on: Thu, 19 March 2009, 19:28:40 »
You could try the controller from the Unicomp mini to see if it still persists. If it turns out to be the controller PCB, check the solder joints and maybe replace the capacitors.
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Offline lam47

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #18 on: Tue, 24 March 2009, 05:15:05 »
So toady I have switched the controllers round and as yet have not seen the issue occur in either board?
Will keep typing away at them in the hope to work out the problem
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Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline lowpoly

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #19 on: Tue, 24 March 2009, 05:28:48 »
I think the part # on the key assembly is the part # of just the key assembly. A german and a UK board might have the same key assembly but different keycaps result in different boards which would reflect on the number on the bottom.
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Offline Chloe

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #20 on: Tue, 24 March 2009, 05:44:19 »
Quote from: lam47;25197
So toady I have switched the controllers round and as yet have not seen the issue occur in either board?
Will keep typing away at them in the hope to work out the problem

That's good. You could swap them back again to see if it comes back to make sure. It could just be that the connectors needed reseating.
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Offline lam47

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #21 on: Tue, 24 March 2009, 09:27:43 »
Just noticed that f and j are two piece as well! strange board this one :)
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Keyboards. Happy Hacking pro 2 x2. One white one black. IBM model M US layout. SGI silicone Graphics with rubber dampened ALPS. IBM model F. ALPS apple board, I forget what it is. And some more I forget what I have.

Typewriters. Olivetti Valentine. Imperial Good Companion Model T. Olympia SM3

Offline lal

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IBM mini. 2 serials 1 keyboard.
« Reply #22 on: Tue, 24 March 2009, 10:54:38 »
Quote from: lam47;25231
Just noticed that f and j are two piece as well! strange board this one :)


Mine is like that too.
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