Oldest model m space saver?

[dem0critus]

Hey, I've come across a model m ssk labeled 25MAR87, and I've been digging around trying to find one as old or older than this specimen. Just curious if anyone has seen an older one in the wild

[dorkvader]

Hmm, nice find! A few things to note:

From what I have been able to determine, the S/N of these starts with a 2 for plant F4, so you can consider this #896. It's not uncommon to see this for model M keyboards post label change. So it's not the lowest S/N for a SSK, but the date is indeed older than many.

I think why they did this is the different part numbers ended up with different blocks of S/N's or different production dates. I don't know when they assigned S/N's to a particular board or a particular PN group, but it's likely to be one of the oldest S/N's of this P/N no matter what.

Sadly, there do not appear to be any SSK's from 1986. I would like to see one with an older "barcode" label.

[webwit]

This is the oldest one in clickykeyboards' database, yours has a slightly lower serial number!
http://i.imgur.com/GEsMdL5.jpg

[Muirium]

Make that the same serial number, Webwit. You linked an identical photo, down to the angle and shadow!

An impressive SSK in any case!

Dorkvader, the label change you mention: was that away from the cramped looking ones they used back in 1985 on my XT Model F?

[dem0critus]

This is the oldest one in clickykeyboards' database, yours has a slightly lower serial number!
http://i.imgur.com/GEsMdL5.jpg

I made that addition to the database

Hmm, nice find! A few things to note:

From what I have been able to determine, the S/N of these starts with a 2 for plant F4, so you can consider this #896. It's not uncommon to see this for model M keyboards post label change. So it's not the lowest S/N for a SSK, but the date is indeed older than many.

I think why they did this is the different part numbers ended up with different blocks of S/N's or different production dates. I don't know when they assigned S/N's to a particular board or a particular PN group, but it's likely to be one of the oldest S/N's of this P/N no matter what.

Sadly, there do not appear to be any SSK's from 1986. I would like to see one with an older "barcode" label.

Awesome, thanks a lot for the info. I've seen younger ssk model ms with lower serial numbers, so I guessed that they "reset" the serials for one reason or the next. What I find strange, however, is that I cannot seem to find any ssk with the same part no. as this one. I had to firebug that serial into the form on clickykeyboards to get it into the database like that, as it's not even in the dropdown menu on the submit form. I figured that someone would have one on hand with at least the same p/n.

The guy I bought it from apparently found it at goodwill. When I got it, I took it down, expecting to have to give it the usual deep clean process, but it was practically immaculate aside. All I had to do was wipe down the keys a little bit, but other than that it appears to be like-new. I asked the guy who sold it to me if he cleaned it, and apparently he hasn't touched it.. Lucky find I guess!

[dorkvader]

Awesome, thanks a lot for the info. I've seen younger ssk model ms with lower serial numbers, so I guessed that they "reset" the serials for one reason or the next. What I find strange, however, is that I cannot seem to find any ssk with the same part no. as this one. I had to firebug that serial into the form on clickykeyboards to get it into the database like that, as it's not even in the dropdown menu on the submit form. I figured that someone would have one on hand with at least the same p/n.

Keep in mind I was speculating based on the information I was able to find thus far.

Dorkvader, the label change you mention: was that away from the cramped looking ones they used back in 1985 on my XT Model F?

I'm referring to the old "barcode style labels seen on 1390120's and 1390131's from the first half of 1986 and older (though some plants switched over before then) as well on most (all?) of model F-122 keys (and I just found a M 122 with the label)

Here's a picture:
http://www.9999hp.net/keyboard/temp/1386303-label.jpg

[dem0critus]

Keep in mind I was speculating based on the information I was able to find thus far.

For sure. Ya there doesn't seem to be very much "hard" information about the serial number progression out there, so I figured as much. Thanks nonetheless tho.