A while ago I got the model m itch, and I wanted to sate it. I wanted a PC 122 keyboard even if the layout wasn't ideal just for that great workstation look.
I quickly ran into cheap Unicomp made boards, the subcontracted ones especially cheap. The problem was that I couldn't generally identify the boards by the part number; however, after a while I was able to figure out a pattern.
Note, this is for PS2 boards, USB uses a different naming scheme. Also this only applies to a certain era of Unicomp boards there are some floating around with part numbers like "58.0003" those don't apply to this scheme, and I didn't find enough data to figure out a pattern for those. In addition, this is just a hypothesis, take it with a keycap of salt.
- The board I just bought, P/N: CL40356
- IMG_20180731_231320.jpg (5.08 MiB) Viewed 956 times
In the serial number, the part number is the first 7 characters, so CL403560409766
Of the part number the first three describes the case color. CL40356 On black keyboards the first two digits are used for the client code CL describes Computer Lab International. On White keyboards the first three describe the client, so CLI0356 would be a white board. I have not found a significance to the '4'.
The next two CL40356 seem to describe the type of control board and keycap choices in the keyboard. Newer boards with Led's n stuff have 0T here, and some old boards have other numbers. I don't have enough data to describe what this means.
The next one CL40356 seems to describe the type of keyboard. 5 being a PC 122 board, 4 a PC104 board, 1 a PC 101 board.
Finally, I'm pretty sure the last digit CL40356 describes the switch type. Before I purchased my board I found a few instances pointing to 6 denoting buckling springs and 3 or 2 indicating rubber domes.
I hope someone else finds this information useful. I have confirmed that my board works and is buckling springs.
- IMG_20180731_231306.jpg (3.72 MiB) Viewed 956 times
