@CHRYOS, Very, very nice early model M. I agree that it definitely looks like from early 1986 or perhaps even late 1985. Industrial color of the case and the German key caps make it particularly unique.
XMIT contacted me yesterday and reminded me to post photos of the August 1985 model M keyboard that I have had in my collection.
Here are some quick shots of the earliest model M keyboard that I have in my collection.
http://www.clickeykeyboards.com/model-m ... years-old/
some raw notes
- Similar case to 1390131 model M , but weight is different and plastic composition might also be different and color is Black. Not the same plastic or color of later IBM 13H6705.
- Has cut-outs in upper right hand corner for IBM logo and on rear for IBM certificate of date of production.. but both IBM logo and IBM certificate were never installed.
- Date imprinted on inside of case that says August 15 1985. Date imprinted on controller that correlated with 1985.
- Removable key stems and key legends similar to IBM WheelWriter and IBM 1390120's and 1390131's from 1985-1986
- Rear metal plate has the "golden" shiny steel look commonly found on early 1390120's and 1390131's and some very early 1391401's
- Has 4.00Mhz oscillator and fabric sticker with 1386800 that is covering ROM chip
- Yellow solid-core copper wire from keyboard controller to lock LEDs
Vast majority of the parts are interchangeable and would fit any model M keyboard from 1985-1999.
Note: Keyboard is natively PC compatible and does not need cable replacement or controller conversion to hook up to modern home PC running Windows via ps/2 or with ps/2 to USB converter.
I really need to setup my proper photo and lighting rig and take the time to do some proper measurements and a well-researched write-up for such an early keyboard.. For months, I have wanted to take a couple days to borrow a macro lens and ring light to do it properly.. but past few months have been busy with lots of day-to-day inquiries about model M parts, restoration advice, and keyboard sales that it's easy to just let the keyboard sit behind glass in the archival case to keep the dust off.
Although, today is August 2015 so perhaps it is fitting that this is the first-draft of documenting a 30-year-old model M keyboard and thanks to XMIT for reminding me about sharing photos with the community.
If anyone has any questions or wants specific photos, let me know so that I can include it the research write-up.
Chyros wrote: ↑bitslasher wrote: ↑[great amounts of awesomeness]
Really cool man, thanks for sharing your knowledge on the subject!!
I'll make a picture of the controller PCB as soon as I get back home (which will be a few weeks xD) . So my board has the first gen controller AND plate, then? My grey-badge M from April '87 also has the thick rainbow plate, it's the one I bolt-modded (at the moment I'm temp-using those bolt-modded internals with the caps and case of the industrial board - still hugely prefer ISO to ANSI, and num +, F11 and F12 don't work properly).
It also has metal stabilisers, but to be fair, none of my Ms have stabilisers made from anything but metal Oo . Finally, why do you suppose the yellow wires don't corrode? Different amalgam maybe? What's a mandolin oscillator btw? xD
