Why IBM Model M's Number Row Is Not Helvetica But Alphas Are

[kps]

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Wait! You've posted the wrong picture — those are all Selectric I or II keys. You need a picture of the Selectric III with its cylindrical ISO9995-style keycaps, like this one shamelessly stolen from the internets, to show the match with the F.

selectriciii.jpg (44.57 KiB) Viewed 805 times

[ripster]

My dad's Selectric II.

Selectric I.



I don't know for certain but I assume the PC Engineer working on the IBM XT keyboard simply borrowed off the shelf fonts. Somewhere along the line IBM decided on Helvetica for their product fonts but the Number row was a vestige of the typewriter days, well before the PC. Doing true Helvetica in doubleshot for that Asterisk and Dollar sign would be difficult. Although even Signature Plastics can do it today.

<blatant Melissa dig>