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Model M Keyboard Questions (Was: How dumb a question can I ask?

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Smack2k

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OK,

This is dumb and feel free to make fun of me..

Do keyboards that arent the Model "M", have hte same design, but arent the clicky type?\

Basically, are there heavy "plastic" type keyboards that look just like the old style Model "M" but arent?

Also, are all Model "M" types heavier?

I am afraid I passed up a Clicky Model "M" type at the thrift store day for $1.99 and may need to run back and grab it!

Once again, feel free to laugh at me!
 
Last edited:
no IBM Badge on front.

There is a label underneath, not sure if the IBM logo was there, will have to go look..

I know it was the same label type as Model M's I found on a buyer's guide, but I dont know if it was IBM...

The keyboard was branded with Fujitsu I think, but was very heavy and looked like a Model M.
 
As a general rule, thread topics should be meaningful - we should not have to guess at what the thread is going to be about because the title is meaningless.

Do you have a title in mind that I can replace the current title with?
 
Lexmark did OEM keyboards to other manufacturers. One can sometimes find genuine Model Ms with the "Wang" badge, for example. The Model M general appearance is hardly unique.
 
Chuck(G) said:
Lexmark did OEM keyboards to other manufacturers. One can sometimes find genuine Model Ms with the "Wang" badge, for example. The Model M general appearance is hardly unique.
Click to expand...

They also made some OEM Model M keyboards that used non-clicky rubber dome key switches:

 
I think that is what the one I saw was, Model M that used non-clicky rubber dome.

Thanks for the explanations...
 
Almost every Model M you find will be the buckling spring clicky type. The few exception rubberdome ones are quite uncommon compared to the others.

The main branding you'll find is IBM, Lexmark and Unicomp. Reason for this is IBM sold the keyboard division to Lexmark who later stopped making keyboards where it was continued by Unicomp. Lexmark and Unicomp did OEM some boards so you may find some with Wang badges or even Dell badges, but don't plan on it.
 
Compgeke said:
The main branding you'll find is IBM, Lexmark and Unicomp. Reason for this is IBM sold the keyboard division to Lexmark who later stopped making keyboards where it was continued by Unicomp. Lexmark and Unicomp did OEM some boards so you may find some with Wang badges or even Dell badges, but don't plan on it.
Click to expand...

Some Model Ms were also made by Maxi-Switch, especially the Model M13 with built-in TrackPoint "eraserhead mouse":

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Sadly, I returned today to find the keyboard, and it wasnt a Model-M...Very heavy but not clicky type and the label was a different model number (F-XXXXX type number)
 
Chuck(G) said:
Lexmark did OEM keyboards to other manufacturers. One can sometimes find genuine Model Ms with the "Wang" badge, for example.
Click to expand...
They were not from Lexmark but from IBM OEM when we did the Wang deal in 1991. (I was the Technical Support manager for the deal in EMEA.)

Additionally when Lexmark was spun off in 1991, although in theory from then on IBM PC keyboards were supplied to IBM from Lexmark on a OEM deal, in EMEA they continued to be made at Greenock for years afterwards.
 
Beerhunter said:
Additionally when Lexmark was spun off in 1991, although in theory from then on IBM PC keyboards were supplied to IBM from Lexmark on a OEM deal, in EMEA they continued to be made at Greenock for years afterwards.
Click to expand...

I have a 1996 IBM Model M keyboard made in Scotland:

 
Smack2k said:
Sadly, I returned today to find the keyboard, and it wasnt a Model-M...Very heavy but not clicky type and the label was a different model number (F-XXXXX type number)
Click to expand...

It was most likely a "fujitsu peerless". The peerless keyboards sometimes have the fujitsu badge fall off (leaving a rectangle at the top). The key switch mechanism these use is a tiny spring underneath a rubberdome. My experience with the fujitsu peerless was that they keys were extremely heavy (and didn't like 120 WPM)-- quite unlike the model F which is so light your fingers will fly like butter.

vwestlife said:
I have a 1996 IBM Model M keyboard made in Scotland:

Click to expand...

IBM also had keyboards made in Mexico as well (non-Maxiswitch). I had one Mexican-made Model M where no one bothered to sign the inspection sticker inside! Rather funny. The IBM Greenock factory produced Model Ms for a good long while, and also PC 300 computers. Unfortunately, the Greenock-made products sometimes show a lesser quality.
 
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