P/N 1351218 - Model M Keyboard Details & Specs
Provided by the ASK Keyboard Part Number Database
| 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 M-based 6770/6780 System Movable Keyboard |
| Known Host SystemsKnown Host Systems A list of known host systems this keyboard could be bundled with or at least designed specifically to operate with. This could be terminals, desktop PCs or laptops. |
IBM 6770 Wheelwriter System/20 IBM 6770 Wheelwriter System/40 IBM 6780 Quietwriter System/20 IBM 6780 Quietwriter System/40 |
| OEMOEM Possible companies responsible for making this keyboard for the company marketing it. |
IBM |
| Key-switchesKey-switches The name of the known switching mechanism that lies under this keyboard's keys. |
IBM membrane buckling 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. |
1985 Q4 |
| Original KeycapsOriginal Keycaps The keyboard's original keycaps' material and text/symbol printing technique. |
PBT with dye-sublimated 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. |
Grey |
| 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. |
IBM black square badge |
| 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 |
| 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. |
Grey coiled-style fixed 6-pin SDL cable |
| Key CountKey Count The number of keys that this keyboard originally had. |
86 |
Layout/LanguageLayout/Language The original regional/language layout this keyboard was configured as. Both the language and the standardised key layout may be listed, and in the case of both being known or defined, it will be styled as language then standard. |
US English BAE |
| Source(s)Source(s) Documents ("Doc"), websites and/or webpages ("Web") that were used as a source of information for this keyboard part number. Examples of this keyboard part number I own ("ASK") will also be included as sources. |
Doc: IBM 6770 and 6780 Typing Systems and Associated Options Brief Description of Announcement, Charges, and Availability (#ZG85-0300) [source: IBM] Web: https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=15276 |
| Related Directory EntriesRelated Directory Entries Possible ASK Keyboard Directory entries that relate to this part number. The Directory serves as a convenient way to find and share a particular keyboard, containing links to where to find out more about the keyboard and sometimes common part numbers. |
IBM 6770/6780 System Movable Keyboard |
| Data Last Updated | 2023-02-26 |
More on this type of keyboard...
The IBM 6770 Wheelwriter System (impact printer) and 6780 Quietwriter System (non-impact printer) were a series of unusual follow-ups to the original Wheelwriters 3 and 5 and Quietwriter 7 electronic typewriters with a discrete, movable keyboard. They were first announced in September 1985 and started shipping between October and November of that same year. For both 6770 and 6780, there was a Function Pack 20 (System/20) and Function Pack 40 (System/40) model that had 11,500 or 26,000 user character storage respectively. A System/20 model could be upgraded to System/40 specification after purchase by changing a large rear-mounted cartridge and installing an IBM Textpack A cartridge.
The keyboard (known as simply the system's "Movable Keyboard") seems to be related to the later keyboard assembly in the IBM 4680 POS Alphanumeric Keyboard as the keyboard's membrane flex cables, backplate size and backplate mounting design match. However, it is unique for having a detachable 80-character LCD cartridge mounted on it and the keyboard sits in a sort of cradle that allows the inner assembly to be adjusted as an alternative to using flip-out feet. The LCD was used for allowing the operator to type lines before printing and for displaying previously typed lines to request corrections. The rightmost section of the keyboard is largely dedicated to operations to move the current typed-on page and to move through stored characters in memory. The keyboard connects to its host typewriting using a fixed cable with a 6-pin SDL plug but doesn't communicate with any typical IBM keyboard protocol. The connection is a half-duplex bidirectional serial link and its protocol has been documented.
