Oldest Model M In The World

[headphone_jack]

I still have yet to find any M's made on my birthday. If anyone has one from late January of 85, then hit me up

[ddrfraser1]

I still have yet to find any M's made on my birthday. If anyone has one from late January of 85, then hit me up

If that existed, it would take the record for oldest Model M

[Jacobalbertus1]

Welp, my oldest M keyboards are all from 1986. My F122 is from 1985, though, so that softens the envy factor.

(not that I wouldn't jump if a 13 November 1985 keyboard should show up!)

FUNNY you say because I'm typing this on a black badge indy from nov 13 1985

GIB

why do you want this date so bad, is it your birthday ?

[Muirium]

That or a seriously historic wedding anniversary.

Shame IBM wasn't putting birth stickers onto beamsprings. I'd need one of those for me. I pre-date buckling spring.

[Weezer]

That or a seriously historic wedding anniversary.

Shame IBM wasn't putting birth stickers onto beamsprings. I'd need one of those for me. I pre-date buckling spring.

They did, either as a tag on the cable or as a silver sticker on the base.

[Muirium]

I kept the cable, I can dig it out and look. Don't remember seeing anything so useful there. As for the base, I remember nothing.

By silver sticker, do you mean the bottom of the outside of the case, or on (beamspring terminology equivalent of) the shiny barrel frame itself?

[Weezer]

silver sticker

No it's an actual sticker with the date the keyboard was built. They're usually on 6580's but sometimes on 5251s. Otherwise you have the manufacturing date codes on various places depending on the model of keyboard.

6580 - silver sticker, yellow fabric tag on cable

5251 - yellow fabric tag on cable, black ink stamp inside top case, sometimes silver sticker

5285 - yellow fabric tag on cable

327X - black ink stamp inside top case, yellow tag on cable, white ink stamp on inner cable termination

[headphone_jack]

At least on my 3101, there was a sticker on the barrel plate facing the user with the date on it.

[Muirium]

silver sticker

No it's an actual sticker with the date the keyboard was built. They're usually on 6580's but sometimes on 5251s. Otherwise you have the manufacturing date codes on various places depending on the model of keyboard.

6580 - silver sticker, yellow fabric tag on cable

5251 - yellow fabric tag on cable, black ink stamp inside top case, sometimes silver sticker

5285 - yellow fabric tag on cable

327X - black ink stamp inside top case, yellow tag on cable, white ink stamp on inner cable termination

Here's my original cable and controller:

IMG_9426.jpg (295.75 KiB) Viewed 9439 times

No tag on the cable (just a rubber band of mine to keep it from snaking out the keyboard's box).

IMG_9427.jpg (162.42 KiB) Viewed 9439 times

I should have read your post when I had it out. These are the only markings I saw while I had my camera in hand. Any date encoded there? I can open up the keyboard and take a look inside when I've more time at home.

[Weezer]

silver sticker

No it's an actual sticker with the date the keyboard was built. They're usually on 6580's but sometimes on 5251s. Otherwise you have the manufacturing date codes on various places depending on the model of keyboard.

6580 - silver sticker, yellow fabric tag on cable

5251 - yellow fabric tag on cable, black ink stamp inside top case, sometimes silver sticker

5285 - yellow fabric tag on cable

327X - black ink stamp inside top case, yellow tag on cable, white ink stamp on inner cable termination

Here's my original cable and controller:


IMG_9426.jpg

No tag on the cable (just a rubber band of mine to keep it from snaking out the keyboard's box).


IMG_9427.jpg

I should have read your post when I had it out. These are the only markings I saw while I had my camera in hand. Any date encoded there? I can open up the keyboard and take a look inside when I've more time at home.

Sorry I haven't been on the forum in a while. try unplugging the cable and flipping it around

[Muirium]

Right you are, chief. I don't see anything too useful looking there.

IMG_9581.jpg (114.64 KiB) Viewed 9212 times

Just for completeness: the PCB doesn't have anything obvious for me either:

IMG_9580.jpg (100.2 KiB) Viewed 9212 times

[Muirium]

Okay, I finally opened up my 3276 to take a proper look, since there's nothing helpful on that cable.

µBeam Case.jpg (230.47 KiB) Viewed 9151 times

My date's not so much stamped as just written on!

10-10-79.jpg (261.6 KiB) Viewed 9151 times

October 10th 1979, eh? My oldest keyboard, for sure, and my only one from the seventies. But it's younger than me by a handful of days! So close!

Here's the underside of the whole thing, assembled. Just in case there's anything noteworthy:

µBeam Underside.jpg (143.3 KiB) Viewed 9144 times

I don't know why my US model (sourced from Cindy the legend) has Canada mentioned on the bottom. Are they all like that?

[Falkenroth]

Just purchased a 5170 system that came with this keyboard. Kind of a strange part number and very low serial number. Any thoughts?

[JP!]

Just purchased a 5170 system that came with this keyboard. Kind of a strange part number and very low serial number. Any thoughts?

Wow that is nice! I don't believe this part number is documented anywhere so thanks for sharing. It certainly is fine specimen of a very early IBM industrial Model M keyboard.

[jsheradin]

Recently saved this guy from the trash. Dated 6/14/85 and still has all rivets intact. There's some stiff o-rings around the barrels that the keys bottom out on.

Spoiler:

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