P/N 2682678 - Model B Keyboard Details & Specs
Provided by the ASK Keyboard Part Number Database
| Market Model Name/Feature CodeMarket Model Name/Feature Code The consumer-friendly model number describing this keyboard as a part of a range of products, usually irrespective of target region, language or SKU. |
001 |
| TypeType A designation from my own type naming scheme used to categorise this keyboard with or from others by their common features and market intent but may/may not be derived from official names. |
Model B 6580 Displaywriter Type A Keyboard |
| OEMOEM Possible companies responsible for making this keyboard for the company marketing it. |
IBM Canada |
| Key-switchesKey-switches The name of the known switching mechanism that lies under this keyboard's keys. |
IBM beam springs |
| Earliest AppearanceEarliest Appearance The year (and possibly the quarter) that this keyboard part number was introduced, first observed, first recorded or the first example found. |
1980 Q2 |
| Original KeycapsOriginal Keycaps The keyboard's original keycaps' material and text/symbol printing technique. |
SAN with double-shot legends |
| Casing ColourCasing Colour The original colour of this keyboard's outer casing. For keyboards whose casing materials are known to yellow, this will refer to the original colour before such transformation occurs. |
Pearl White |
| BrandingBranding The possible branding and logo styles found on this keyboard part number. This could be multiple styles at once or possible styles found over time. |
None |
| FeetFeet The style of this keyboard's flip-out or extendable feet. If applicable, this may also state how many levels of height adjustment are available and whether the feet could be rubberised. |
None |
| ProtocolProtocol The protocol(s) this keyboard can use to speak to the host computer (eg, scancode sets). |
IBM 6580-specific |
| ConnectionConnection The keyboard-to-host connection. This is could be a description of a cable (its colour, whether its coiled, whether its detachable, and what connector is at its end) or the name of a wireless technology. |
Black straightened-style fixed DA-15 cable |
| Data Last Updated | 2021-08-28 |
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The IBM Displaywriter System was a family of modular diskette-based word processing systems released in June 1980. It was designed for organisations that required a system capable of creating and editing text and sending and receiving it over communication lines between compatible equipment. It was also designed to run purchasable licensed programs such as spelling aid programs and IBM 3270 data stream emulation to allow the Displaywriter to communicate with IBM host processors. The Displaywriter System consisted of the 6580 Display Station, 6360 Dual Diskette Unit, 6361 Mag Card Unit, 5215 Printer (Selectric-based) or 5218/5228 Printer (printwheel-based). The 6580 Display Station itself consisted of a display module (either 25-line 2,000-character or 66-line 6,600-character), an electronics module and a keyboard module. The 6580 was spiritually replaced by PCs running IBM DisplayWrite software such as the IBM Personal System/2 based Personal Typing System.
The [Type A] IBM Displaywriter Display Station Keyboard Module was a reuse of the year earlier IBM 5253/5254 Display Station Keyboard and likewise was available as a 92-character or 96-character keyboard. The 92-character keyboard had 82 keys which notably had an ANSI-like 2.25-unit left shift key and a "BAE" (large backwards-L) style return key. The 96-character keyboard had 84 keys and had a 1.25-unit left shift key and an "ISO" style return key instead.
The 6580 keyboard overall resembles an enlarged 525X-83 type Model B keyboard design. It has a notable recess above the keys that was used to hold a white or green "Information Card" used for writing down some information about the host Displaywriter Display Station. They had a black cable terminating in a DA-15 plug. Inside, the keyboard had P/N 1165661 speaker that was rated 32Ω, 0.2W and was 2" (~5.1cm) diagonal and 0.75" (~1.9cm) deep. This speaker was likely used to simulate a clicker (a solenoid in other Model B keyboards) that would provide increased audible cues for typing. This keyboard is retroactively known as "Type A" by IBM as they released a slimmer Model F "Type B" version of the keyboard by 1982.
