P/N 6248412 - Model F Keyboard Details & Specs
| 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 F Type I 104-key Converged Keyboard |
| NicknameNickname A [keyboard enthusiast] community given name for this keyboard. It can be a shortening of its name and properties, a more abstract term, a real-life reference, or metonymy. |
Unsaver |
| 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 5085 Graphics Processor (IBM 3270 family) |
| OEMOEM Possible companies responsible for making this keyboard for the company marketing it. |
IBM U.S. |
| Key-switchesKey-switches The name of the known switching mechanism that lies under this keyboard's keys. |
IBM capacitive 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. |
1983 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. |
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. |
IBM silver 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. |
Dual-setting riser feet |
| 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 straightened-style detachable DB-25 to DB-25 cable |
| Key CountKey Count The number of keys that this keyboard originally had. |
104 |
| Form FactorForm Factor The standardised or universally acknowledged name for this keyboard's layout form factor. |
Unsaver |
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 |
| Additional NotesAdditional Notes Extra notes about this keyboard that may be of interest or are important to know. |
Has "PFxx" program-function key block, four-position DIP switch bank and DA-15 secondary port for 3290/5080 peripheral connection |
| 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 5080 Graphics System for High Performance CAD/CAM, Data, and Engineering/Scientific Graphics Brief Description of Announcement, Charges, and Availability (#183-145) [source: IBM] Doc: IBM 5085 Graphics Processor Maintenance Information (#SY66-0101-3) [source: bitsavers] Web: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dork_vader/albums/72157651784571099 |
| Data Last Updated | 2023-08-01 |
More on this type of keyboard...
The 104-key Model F terminal keyboard was the first in a long line of IBM Converged Keyboards with a distinct 24-key program function key bank placed above the keyboard's alphanumeric keys. Despite a common misconception stating the contrary, the 104-key keyboard came before the more common 122-key Model F ("F122"), beating it to market by several months. The original host terminal for the 104-key keyboard was the IBM 3290 Information Panel, a unique plasma-screen terminal in the IBM 3270/coaxial display station family announced in March 1983 (the first "F122" host was the IBM 3270 PC, which was announced in October 1983). This retroactively named "model 1" was replaced by the 3290 Model 2 series in October 1985, which included the models 220 (with 104-key keyboard) and 230 (with 122-key keyboard). Another host system, the IBM 5080 Graphics System, was announced in November 1983 as a compatible replacement to the IBM 3250 Graphics Display System that was suited for CAD/CAM work and capable of attaching to IBM System/370, 30xx and 43xx processors using 3270 protocol.
In addition to the 24-key program function key bank with "PFxx" nomenclature legends, the "F104" has a left-hand side 10-key function key bank similar to previous IBM 3270 keyboard designs such as the 327X-75 type and 327X-87 type Model B keyboards but with 2 extra keys. As a first for 3270-family keyboards, the "F104" sported a layout similar to what would become the "ISO" layout popularised by the IBM Model M Enhanced Keyboard. To adjust the typing angle, the keyboard had two-setting riser feet that were accessible by pushing large buttons on the keyboard's sides. Early press releases and IBM documentation photos of the IBM 3290 Model 1 typically showed a version of the "F104" with a raised border surrounding the rim of the 24-key bank section's raised platform and its silver-square IBM badge placed in the top-left corner down from it. It's unclear if this early version made it into production as no modern examples have been documented. For confirmed production examples, however, the "F104" can be divided into two types based on how they connect to their hosts. As shipped with the IBM 3290-1 and 5080, the Type I "F104" had a modular cable system consisting of a female DA-15 and male DB-25 port - the DA-15 port was for connecting either a 24/25-key Numeric or Program Function Keypad or a lighted program function keypad (LPFK), whilst the DB-25 port was for connecting the keyboard to the host terminal or graphics system. When the IBM 3290 Model 2 was introduced, the Type II "F104" was released with the same 240-degree 5-pin DIN plug "F122s" were introduced with and the DA/DB port area was blocked off with a blanking panel (users who wanted to use the 24/25-key keypad with their 3290 Model 2 was directed to purchasing the 3290-230 with "F122" instead). It's unclear if the 5080 keyboard was updated the same way. Other minor differences between Type I and II is that Type I "F104s" had an adjustable clicker assembly that can be triggered when pressing keys and 4-pin DIP switch bank, whilst Type IIs lack the clicker and have an 8-position DIP switch bank in a different location to Type I's 4-pin one. The "F104" is colloquially referred to as the "unsaver" by keyboard enthusiasts either for (stemming from the misconception that "F122s" came first) to describe the oxymoronic nature of this keyboard supposedly being a 'space-efficient version' of an even larger ["F122"] keyboard despite the fact "F104" was as large as some modern full-size keyboards, or for simply being a keyboard larger than its layout needed.
