P/N 7363831 - Model B 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 B 5253/5254 Electronic 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 5253 Display Station (IBM 5520 family) IBM 5254 Dual Display Station (IBM 5520 family) |
| 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. |
1979 |
| 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 |
| 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 fixed DA-15 cable |
| Key CountKey Count The number of keys that this keyboard originally had. |
84 |
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. |
96-character US English |
| Accessories & Other FeaturesAccessories & Other Features Other notable features you may want to know about such as charging cables (if keyboard is wireless), fingerprint reader, card reader, solenoid, DIP switches, etc. |
Internal speaker |
| Additional NotesAdditional Notes Extra notes about this keyboard that may be of interest or are important to know. |
MFI number 7361407 |
| 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. |
Web: https://wiki.keyboard.institute/doku.php?id=keyboard:ibm_5253_5254 |
| 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 5253/5254 Display Station Electronic Keyboard (96-character variant) |
| Data Last Updated | 2024-03-02 |
More on this type of keyboard...
The IBM 5253 and 5254 Display Stations were terminals for the IBM 5520 Administrative System. The IBM 5520 debuted in November 1979 and was a document creation, editing and storage system that could support up to 130MB disk storage, 3 to 12 printers and 1 to 18 of these display stations. The IBM 5253 was the single-operator version that could display 24 lines of characters by default, whereas 5254 allowed two operators to use a single terminal with a 12-line display via optically splitting a single 24-line display. Thus in appearance, the 5253 and 5254 resemble the 5251 and 5252 respectively but they are not compatible and in fact have an IBM 3270 Emulation mode.
The IBM 5253/5254 Display Station Electronic Keyboard 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 keyboard and its layout were designed to be similar to other IBM office system keyboards but with additional control keys for common functions such as document formatting, page/blocks of text control and cursor control in mind.
The 5253/5254 keyboard overall resembles an enlarged 525X-83 type Model B keyboard. It has a notable recess above the keys that was likely used to hold an information card with functions, instructions or information on the host system's configuration written on it. They had a white/grey 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 is currently unclear (it's possible it was used to simulate a clicker (a solenoid in other Model B keyboards) that would provide increased audible cues for typing).
