"Black Betty" - 1985 IBM Model M 1390110

[JP!]

Meet "Black Betty" - A stunning example of a pristine/NOS very early production IBM Model M born in Nov 1985 with part number 1390110, an unusual part number which seems to be undocumented anywhere online until it's recent rediscovery. This uniquely ultra-rare unicorn sports a seemingly modern black case, black GE branded square badge, desirable "Mandolin" crystal (or is it a Mandalorian crystal?) , black coiled cable, and is exquisitely adorned with colorful modifier keys. If I had to guess, this keyboard might have once belonged to none other than Darth Vader himself.

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IBM "Big Blue" enter key

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Check, double check, triple check

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Not sure what is up with this rivet?

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Controller with OG 4 MHz crystal oscillator

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August 15 1985!!!

So it seems this case has the same birthdate as clickykeyboards example which is mysteriously missing a badge and birth certificate.

@CHRYOS, Very, very nice early model M. I agree that it definitely looks like from early 1986 or perhaps even late 1985. Industrial color of the case and the German key caps make it particularly unique.

XMIT contacted me yesterday and reminded me to post photos of the August 1985 model M keyboard that I have had in my collection.



Here are some quick shots of the earliest model M keyboard that I have in my collection.

http://www.clickeykeyboards.com/model-m ... years-old/

some raw notes
- Similar case to 1390131 model M , but weight is different and plastic composition might also be different and color is Black. Not the same plastic or color of later IBM 13H6705.
- Has cut-outs in upper right hand corner for IBM logo and on rear for IBM certificate of date of production.. but both IBM logo and IBM certificate were never installed.
- Date imprinted on inside of case that says August 15 1985. Date imprinted on controller that correlated with 1985.
- Removable key stems and key legends similar to IBM WheelWriter and IBM 1390120's and 1390131's from 1985-1986
- Rear metal plate has the "golden" shiny steel look commonly found on early 1390120's and 1390131's and some very early 1391401's
- Has 4.00Mhz oscillator and fabric sticker with 1386800 that is covering ROM chip
- Yellow solid-core copper wire from keyboard controller to lock LEDs

Vast majority of the parts are interchangeable and would fit any model M keyboard from 1985-1999.

Note: Keyboard is natively PC compatible and does not need cable replacement or controller conversion to hook up to modern home PC running Windows via ps/2 or with ps/2 to USB converter.

I really need to setup my proper photo and lighting rig and take the time to do some proper measurements and a well-researched write-up for such an early keyboard.. For months, I have wanted to take a couple days to borrow a macro lens and ring light to do it properly.. but past few months have been busy with lots of day-to-day inquiries about model M parts, restoration advice, and keyboard sales that it's easy to just let the keyboard sit behind glass in the archival case to keep the dust off.

Although, today is August 2015 so perhaps it is fitting that this is the first-draft of documenting a 30-year-old model M keyboard and thanks to XMIT for reminding me about sharing photos with the community.

If anyone has any questions or wants specific photos, let me know so that I can include it the research write-up.

[Heikkonen]

What a weird board, we were debating about it for few days with my friends. Glad to see some inside shots. Yeah i got extremely curious too cause the part number was not documented either on DT wiki or sharks database.

[fohat]

What an absolutely awesome find !

[darkcruix]

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[sharktastica]

Very nice, I'm glad to see inside this! The internal birth certificate and its shop date check out with the rest of the days. When I saw the eBay listing, I was sus based on the birth certificate style - it's got elements of the slightly later IBM U.S. label and the early Lexmark label when I was expecting the 'large barcode' style label. I guess I should have known that nothing is clear cut when it comes to IBM.

[clickykeyboards]

@JP!

Very nice to see another early example of the 1985 IBM model M that confirms well with the details with the 1985 model M keyboard that I picked up from Boca Raton, Florida.

http://clickeykeyboards.squarespace.com ... -keyboard/

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@JP!, did your keyboard also come with the original 1985 gray model M keys along with the packaging. The colored Esc, Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Enter keys may be from a later generation that I've seen on model M keyboards with WordPerfect legends.

https://www.clickykeyboards.com/product ... -12-02-91/

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[JP!]

I guess I should have known that nothing is clear cut when it comes to IBM.

I think that is a great way to put it as the IBM rabbit hole goes deeper. At the price tag of this one it certainly pays to be skeptical. For me the evidence was too overwhelming, yet at the same time and even now I also cannot quite fathom that this unique board actually exists. Years ago I did get kind of burned in buying an M122 that was deceptively painted black which I was kind of hoping it might be a new discovery, despite what others were saying It didn't sell for much and was still a good looking board as a consolation but the seller vaguely misrepresented it.

@JP!, did your keyboard also come with the original 1985 gray model M keys along with the packaging. The colored Esc, Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Enter keys may be from a later generation that I've seen on Lexmark model M keyboards.

It surprisingly did come with the original gray keys. They were floating around loose in the packaging. Most of these keys I have seen before with the exception of the blue IBM enter key. I have another set of the same colored Ctrl, Alt, Shift keys which were included on a Lexmark era Model M I purchased years ago. I defintely believe they are Lexmark era keys. I suppose that a previous owner thought enough of this board to add some style to this board while saving the original keys and keep it preserved rather than use it. I really wish I could find out more but the seller simply picked it up at an estate sale that apparently was loaded with just tons of IBM stuff.

Also thanks for sharing those pictures as I did not have the updated link.

[Chyros]

Wow, that is an unbelievable find. Where on earth did you get this?

My very early M that you cited in your post has the same giant rivet at the back, by the way. I have no idea what it could be for.

[JP!]

Wow, that is an unbelievable find. Where on earth did you get this?

My very early M that you cited in your post has the same giant rivet at the back, by the way. I have no idea what it could be for.

From the local recycling center of course! These are common as dirt around here. Heck I'm not even sure why I bothered to even pick up another Model M. They produced millions of them.

Spoiler:

It was actually a very, very expensive find on eBay.

"I got it a few days ago from an estate sale. The guy was a reseller he had so much ibm stuff. I did not get even the best of the stuff. But I don’t know anything about it"

Also I see that this very early Wheelwriter assembly has the same weird rivet treatment, perhaps strategically placed for some reason.

viewtopic.php?f=62&t=27886

[sharktastica]

I've spent this afternoon trying to find any written accounts of IBM-General Electric interactions during this time that might explain this keyboard. Naturally, if you try Googling the subject, you'll probably just find stuff about the GE Fanuc Workmaster II (a rebadged IBM PS/2 P70). However, after looking through my personal photo and sources archive, I found that I have seen this keyboard's birth certificate style before - P/N 1390655 Allen-Bradley industrial Model M. So I thought "why not see if there's a connection between the two" and through the IBM Offering Information portal I found... something - IBM #285-296: PROGRAM OFFERINGS FOR IBM 5531, 7531, AND 7532 INDUSTRIAL COMPUTERS.

Vendor logo programs involving the IBM 5531, 7531 and 7532 Industrial Computers. From my current understanding, IBM 7531 was the first industrial PC with an Enhanced Keyboard such as P/Ns 1388032, 1388044 and 1388076 (I believe 7532 uses the same keyboards, whereas I believe 5531 uses Oak FTM XT-style keyboards). I'm not 100% sure what "IBM vendor logo programs" are (and I hope someone can add/correct me if I'm wrong), but from seeing other announcements mentioning them it seems they involve IBM reselling other companies products (software) under their own brand, producing products for other companies to rebrand, or both? If that assumption is right, maybe this is on the right track. The document mentions using these IBM industrial computers as CAMMs for General Electric Series Six and various Allen-Bradley PLCs. Maybe it's possible IBM produced the GE and AB keyboards for such computers with CAMM software installed for the respective companies? There's not a lot of evidence and I appreciate its not a lot to go by, but it's the best I got right now and I'd thought I'd share in case anyone else has insight or wants to take it further. This document is basically the only IBM-hosted announcement on IBM-General Electric that could involve an Enhanced Keyboard during this time period. (On another note, if you're not familiar with the IBM Offering Information portal, I highly recommend bookmarking it. It's not a page immediately obvious from search engines unless you know its exact name, yet it has recently helped me a lot including confirming the release dates of the IBM 3101 and 6580 Model Fs.)

Obviously, there's still one question if the above is right - why is this keyboard black and not industrial grey?

The Series Six itself is black, and can be branded under "Fanuc" and the GE Fanuc Workmasters are also distinctly black. So I guess brand consistency?

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[JP!]

I stumbled across a similiar but later document which references Allen Bradley and GE. At this point I would not be surprised if there are yet to be discovered OEM variants. Kind of neat that even today Unicomp is making black GE Healthcare boards, although that is perhaps more a coincidence since beige has been out of fashion.

http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/pc/PS2 ... _Apr87.pdf

Also a good read on IBM industrial PC usage of the era:

https://www.controldesign.com/control/i ... st-of-time

[JP!]

The Series Six itself is black, and can be branded under "Fanuc" and the GE Fanuc Workmasters are also distinctly black. So I guess brand consistency?

GE_Fanuc_series_Six.jpg

Brand consistancy is key and offering fully polished systems and solutions to customers with their own logo (at a nice markup) is a win and huge value add, especially when competing with the other players in the industry like Allen Bradley. I swear though, GE is like the Model T of the industrial world. They were like: “Any color the customer wants, as long as it's black.” Going to black over beige or gray isn't a big deal, just a change in the dye for a production run. Like gray, black looks good even when used and abused in a factory environment. The AB branded industrial Model M I have was purchased by the previous owner directly from Allen Bradley and would have cost even more than a standard Model M of the day. A running joke with Allen Bradley an account rep in the controls industry once told me was that you might find better but you will never pay more.

Speaking of the Series 6 and the color black I found this portable GE Workmaster, basically an XT clone (which predates the Workmaster II) that was used to program the GE Series Six PLC.

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More on these: https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threa ... -pc.14309/

The Workmaster II

[JP!]

And yet deeper into the rabbit back to 1982 was the 100 pound portable known as the Program Development Terminal

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Series 6 Programming Manual

[JP!]

Some more insights on PC usage. So far for GE PLC programing support systems include the PDT, Workmaster, CIMSTAR I Industrial Computer, IBM PC, and the Workmaster II.

Series 6 Intro

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The CIMSTAR I

Series 5 Manual

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A picture I found on eBay of the CIMSTAR I CPU Assembly:

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Not much to go on since I haven't found a specific hardware reference.

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[Jugostran]

Meet "Black Betty" - A stunning example of a pristine/NOS very early production IBM Model M born in Nov 1985 with part number 1390110, an unusual part number which seems to be undocumented anywhere online until it's recent rediscovery. This uniquely ultra-rare unicorn sports a seemingly modern black case, black GE branded square badge, desirable "Mandolin" crystal (or is it a Mandalorian crystal?) , black coiled cable, and is exquisitely adorned with colorful modifier keys. If I had to guess, this keyboard might have once belonged to none other than Darth Vader himself.


m6.jpg

m7.jpg

0.jpeg

m.jpg

1.jpg

IMG_8216.jpg

3.jpeg


IBM "Big Blue" enter key
IMG_8174 - Copy.jpeg

m3.jpg

m5.jpg

m1 - Copy.jpg

IMG_8220 - Copy.jpeg

IMG_8172.jpeg

IMG_8181.jpeg

August 15 1985!!!

So it seems this case has the same birthdate as clickykeyboards example which is mysteriously missing a badge and birth certificate.

@CHRYOS, Very, very nice early model M. I agree that it definitely looks like from early 1986 or perhaps even late 1985. Industrial color of the case and the German key caps make it particularly unique.

XMIT contacted me yesterday and reminded me to post photos of the August 1985 model M keyboard that I have had in my collection.



Here are some quick shots of the earliest model M keyboard that I have in my collection.

http://www.clickeykeyboards.com/model-m ... years-old/

some raw notes
- Similar case to 1390131 model M , but weight is different and plastic composition might also be different and color is Black. Not the same plastic or color of later IBM 13H6705.
- Has cut-outs in upper right hand corner for IBM logo and on rear for IBM certificate of date of production.. but both IBM logo and IBM certificate were never installed.
- Date imprinted on inside of case that says August 15 1985. Date imprinted on controller that correlated with 1985.
- Removable key stems and key legends similar to IBM WheelWriter and IBM 1390120's and 1390131's from 1985-1986
- Rear metal plate has the "golden" shiny steel look commonly found on early 1390120's and 1390131's and some very early 1391401's
- Has 4.00Mhz oscillator and fabric sticker with 1386800 that is covering ROM chip
- Yellow solid-core copper wire from keyboard controller to lock LEDs

Vast majority of the parts are interchangeable and would fit any model M keyboard from 1985-1999.

Note: Keyboard is natively PC compatible and does not need cable replacement or controller conversion to hook up to modern home PC running Windows via ps/2 or with ps/2 to USB converter.

I really need to setup my proper photo and lighting rig and take the time to do some proper measurements and a well-researched write-up for such an early keyboard.. For months, I have wanted to take a couple days to borrow a macro lens and ring light to do it properly.. but past few months have been busy with lots of day-to-day inquiries about model M parts, restoration advice, and keyboard sales that it's easy to just let the keyboard sit behind glass in the archival case to keep the dust off.

Although, today is August 2015 so perhaps it is fitting that this is the first-draft of documenting a 30-year-old model M keyboard and thanks to XMIT for reminding me about sharing photos with the community.

If anyone has any questions or wants specific photos, let me know so that I can include it the research write-up.

IMG_8184.jpeg

IMG_8188 - Copy.jpg

Check, double check, triple check
IMG_8194 - Copy.jpg

Not sure what is up with this rivet?
IMG_8195 - Copy.jpg

Controller with OG 4 MHz crystal oscillator
controller_med.jpg

tvreview-darkcrystal-skeksies.jpg

Unbelievable. What a keyboard that is.