P/N 2682678 - Model B Keyboard Details & Specs

Provided by the ASK Keyboard Part Number Database

IBM 6580 Displaywriter Type A Keyboard

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 (630X type Model B)
OEMOEM
Possible companies responsible for making this keyboard for the company marketing it.
IBM Canada
KeyswitchesKeyswitches
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 (w/ possible pad-printed front-printed legends)
Cover ColourCover Colour
The original colour of this keyboard's cover set (outer casing). For keyboards whose cover set 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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Variant of a Model B 6580 Displaywriter Type A Keyboard

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 IBM Displaywriter Display Station Keyboard Module (type "630X" as per their rear labels) 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.

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