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Earliest Known IBM Model M Keyboard?
Posted: 11 Jul 2017, 14:40
by JP!
So it seems that no one knows exactly when production of the Model M started, but the earliest examples seem to date back to 1985. The Model M 1386303 is the very first version of the Model M keyboard with examples seen online and here on Deskthority dating as early as June 1985. Also early industrial variants have been found dating back to 1985. Recently there was a very early Model M 1386303 that sold on eBay that dates back to May 7,1985. This particular board is ID# 00801, one of the first 1000 Model M's ever made. I bid on this, but apparently did not want it as badly as someone else.
Does anyone here have an earlier Model M or at least know of an earlier example?
auction link:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Model-M-138 ... true&rt=nc
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Posted: 11 Jul 2017, 16:43
by Chyros
Lovely. The really old ones just have so much more presence.
There are several known prototypes. I don't know if we have a date on them. The controller from my black-badge M is from week 51 or 52 of 1984, but that's of course not exactly the same.
Posted: 11 Jul 2017, 17:28
by taylorswiftttttt
removed
Posted: 11 Jul 2017, 18:24
by XMIT
clickykeyboards might know of an older one, he has a pretty good database of Model Ms.
Posted: 11 Jul 2017, 18:33
by Chyros
Yeah, in fact he has one of the prototypes as I recall.
Posted: 11 Jul 2017, 18:35
by JP!
taylorswiftttttt wrote: ↑I have a 1386303 from July 11th, 1985. It's 1 day away from my birth day which is nice.
As far as I know, the only Model Ms that have the possibility to be made in 1985 are 1386303s and 1388032s. Perhaps someone can add to this.
That May 5th 1985 board sold in a lot of boards about a month ago. My max bid on the auction was $150, I was taking an exam and it went for $152.50. The guy who bought those boards has made a pretty hefty profit now.
Cool, thanks for the info. It likely would have sold at a loss had I not bid it way up at the end
I've seen some shell out even more for early boards.
Posted: 11 Jul 2017, 19:36
by Norman_
My model F was made several months after that model M
Posted: 11 Jul 2017, 22:09
by Touch_It
Always love seeing early Model M's. My earliest is a young pup. 06 Jun 86
Posted: 11 Jul 2017, 22:11
by clickykeyboards
Here is the early model M that I have from August 1985.
- Early IBM ps/2 model M keyboard
- early model M - pc compatible.jpg (109.51 KiB) Viewed 4016 times
- early model m - pc compatible2.jpg (156.95 KiB) Viewed 4016 times
http://www.clickeykeyboards.com/model-m ... -keyboard/
This black frame model M keyboard has a female SDL connector and connects to natively to a IBM ps/2 computer via the SDL to ps/2 cable without the need for a converter. Also can work on computers with USB ports with ps/2 to USB converter or SDL to USB cable.
I also have a few other early 1386303 from 1985 with the 5-pin right-pin connector, but these model M variants were intended for non-PCs and can't be plugged in directly to an IBM ps/2 personal computer.
Posted: 12 Jul 2017, 01:53
by taylorswiftttttt
removed
Posted: 02 Aug 2017, 16:50
by JP!
I am going to have to side with taylorswiftttttt regarding the 1386303 Model M's. Even though this model can't be directly plugged into a PC, they are underrated in my opinion due to the outstanding build quality of this era.
I just wanted to share these spreadsheets from ClickyKeyboards which help to document early examples of Model M's. I am not sure if there is a similar database for other early M's like the 1390120.
1390120
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 95Me18/pub
1390131
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 0uKczE/pub
1391401
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... 6ZYHwI/pub