Did older Model M SSKs have thicker steel back plates?

[Carthik]

I know that there are some regular layout Model Ms with thicker back-plates, but are there any SSKs that have them too?

[y11971alex]

I know that there are some regular layout Model Ms with thicker back-plates, but are there any SSKs that have them too?

TBH I've never seen a PC/XT or PC/AT version of an SSK.  The earliest I've encountered is an 1987, and it seems pretty comparable with another one from 1992.

[mike52787]

I know that there are some regular layout Model Ms with thicker back-plates, but are there any SSKs that have them too?

TBH I've never seen a PC/XT or PC/AT version of an SSK.  The earliest I've encountered is an 1987, and it seems pretty comparable with another one from 1992.

my 87 m has a thick plate, so maybe the ssks from 87 have the same plate.

[chyros]

Specify "thick." You mean the cobalt rainbow plate?

I'd be surprised if any had them, there aren't even any square badge SSKs that we know of. Although I'm not the <100% expert here xD .

[mike52787]

Specify "thick." You mean the cobalt rainbow plate?

I'd be surprised if any had them, there aren't even any square badge SSKs that we know of. Although I'm not the <100% expert here xD .

if a square badge ssk shows up I call dibs

[rowdy]

I don't know how thick, but my IBM SSK is quite a bit heavier than my Lexmark SSK.

I measured them once, the post should be around here somewhere.

[fohat.digs]

It would be interesting to try to narrow down the date range for the switch-over to lighter plates. Apparently each plant ran their old stock out and went to the new ones at different times.

The only shiny yellow ones that I have had were 1985s, but I have had the heavy gray ones into 1987. But my pre-1989 sample range is under a dozen.

[chyros]

It would be interesting to try to narrow down the date range for the switch-over to lighter plates. Apparently each plant ran their old stock out and went to the new ones at different times.

The only shiny yellow ones that I have had were 1985s, but I have had the heavy gray ones into 1987. But my pre-1989 sample range is under a dozen.

My '87 '1406 has the cobalt plate, but that was made in Greenock of course, not one of the US plants. I suspect it was one of the last ones made with it.

[y11971alex]

It makes me think they just took leftover Model F plates and punched holes through them.

[chyros]

It makes me think they just took leftover Model F plates and punched holes through them.

But none of the Model Fs are the same dimension as a Model M Oo .

[y11971alex]

It makes me think they just took leftover Model F plates and punched holes through them.

But none of the Model Fs are the same dimension as a Model M Oo .

But they did use the same sticker templates.  Five signature fields for five stages of assembly and QC, and the F had all five signed and M usually three.

[E TwentyNine]

It makes me think they just took leftover Model F plates and punched holes through them.

But none of the Model Fs are the same dimension as a Model M Oo .

But they did use the same sticker templates.  Five signature fields for five stages of assembly and QC, and the F had all five signed and M usually three.

M usually had 4 signed, as the controller was not permanently attached as it was on the F's.

But that's not relevant to reuse of the backplates.  Completely different dimensions.

[fohat.digs]

It makes me think they just took leftover Model F plates and punched holes through them.

Doubt that, but whatever cleaning/tank/oven/coating equipment was used on the F plates behind the PCBs was probably used on the early Ms.