Hello. This may seem like a dumb question but how can I know whether a keyboard has blank keys by default or they have been changed by the seller? I can't seem to tell. On the original 122 some keys do not have a top label and instead have a side print.
There are a lot of keyboards on eBay with missing keys that are replaced by blank keys. On Model M's these are easy to spot, but on F's they are much harder.
How can I tell if an IBM Model F 122 keyboard has missing keys?
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Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
A perfectly good question.
I’d start with Sharktastica’s IBM data trove.
https://sharktastica.co.uk/
I’d start with Sharktastica’s IBM data trove.
https://sharktastica.co.uk/
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sharktastica
- Location: Wales
- Main keyboard: '86 IBM F Bigfoot + '96 IBM M50
- Main mouse: Logitech MX Revolution
- Favorite switch: Cap B/S, BOX Navy
- Contact:
My hope is that my Keyboard Directory will help with such questions in the future but it's still a WIP. There are only 4 unique F122s currently in it (can search "F122" to see them) but I'll work on them this evening so more may appear shortly. But in lieu of that, you're welcome to post a photo of your keyboard and tell us its part number, and I (or anyone else) will try ID'ing it manually and show you what it should look like. But in general, blank keycaps and ones with only sideprint are pretty normal for 122s.