Herb's Keyboards

This page last updated Sept 5 2022. Because I've supported vintage computers for a few decades, I have a number of vintage computer keyboards and their parts available. We'll price these keyboards when you contact me, but some keyboards are common enough that I price some of them on their Web pages. To email me or to order, see see my ordering Web page for my email addresses and contact information.

Other keyboards or information about keyboards may be found on my Web site. Do a Web search by brand and model of keyboard, other information like system model name, and add the text "site:retrotechnology.com". That tells the search engine to look around my Web domain and not the entire Internet.

various keyboards by brand

We'll price these keyboards when you contact me. Prices will be based on market conditions. As those will change, I can't maintain prices on this Web page.

AT&T 6300

I have two AT&T 6300 series or Olivetti model keyboards. Keytronic brand CIG8AVE03417. These have a DE-9 (sometimes called DB-9) connector and it is NOT PC COMPATIBLE. The keyboard requires 12V (twelve volts) not 5 volts. I haven't checked them for operation as that requires a AT&T 6312 or 6386 series computer. Both white in color, one is faded yellowish. I have an AT&T box for one. Size 19 X 9 X 2 inches and weigh about 4-1/2 pounds.

Pinouts for these AT&T keyboards are:
1  data
2  clock
3  ground
4  ground
5  12 volts
6 to 9 not connected.

IBM PC model M

I have a few IBM PC model M keyboards. Some of them have a detachable keyboard cable with a "SDL connector" at the keyboard end. While these are "PS/2 compatible", they require more power (DC current) than some modern PC compatible computers provide at the PS/2 keyboard port. The size is about 19 X 9 X 2 inches and weigh about 4 pounds.

SDL to PS/2 cables are sold by other people, as of late 2021, for more than $25 each. I have one I use for testing.

I have one IBM branded (blue label) model M Lexmark produced keyboard, with nonremovable cable to PS/2 connector. 82G2383, produced 24 june 1994. White, includes numeric keypad, "101" type layout "buckling spring". Tested and working OK, all keycaps and keys OK.

One IBM branded (grey lable) Model M "buckling spring" "101" type layout 1391401 produced Mar 28 1990. SDL connector, no cable. Tested and working OK, all keys OK. The following keys have blank keycaps: left CTRL, left and right cursor, delete, end, esc, keypad minus, print screen.

One IBM branded (grey lable) Model L2-0W M "buckling spring" "101" type layout 1391401 produced Oct 10 1991. SDL connector, no cable. Tested and working OK, all keys OK.

unknowns

Keytronic like keycaps?

I acquired a few hundred keycaps in 2022. They are of two heights (the lowest height is photographed) and have various marks. They are likely from the 1980's. I think they are best identified by their keystems, so I have these photos of them from the back. They are 3/4 inch square at their base. They are either two shot in grey and white, or one-shot grey, as photographed.

My impression, from looking around the Web and at the deskthority Web site, is that these are Keytronic brand-like, and the fork-like stems seperate pairs of leaf-contacts. But I don't know what keyswitch they fit into.

can anyone identify these keycaps? Let me know.

Herb Johnson
New Jersey, USA
follow this link to email @ me