A timeline of IBM keyboard history
This page is considered work-in-progress and should be treated as such. The design and layout of this page are subject to tweaks, and a lot of content (events) are still to be added and fleshed out. If you have any feedback or suggestions for the design and/or particular events, feel free to contact me and let me know your thoughts.
The IBM and family keyboard timeline is an illustrated overview of some of the most important events affecting IBM, Lexmark, Unicomp, Lenovo and Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions keyboards. This includes notable keyboard releases and withdrawals, corporate history like company founding, divestures and change in OEMs, and patents. Due to their relationship and impact on the keyboards around them, host devices such as personal computers, terminals, consoles and typewriters also appear throughout the timeline. 143 events have been recorded for the "show all" versions of the timeline.
IBM Canada opens the 844 Don Mills Road, Toronto, Ontario plant (plant 91). This plant will go on to play a minor role in Model M production via the IBM 4680 POS Alphanumeric Keyboard, likely producing their cover set and electronics whilst the rest was made by IBM Netherlands.
IBM United Kingdom opens the Greenock, Scotland plant (plant 55). Greenock became a major hub for manufacturing keyboards, personal computers, printers, terminals and typewriters destined to be sold in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). It would go on to produce Model B, Model F and Model M keyboards and IBM ThinkPad notebook computers.
IBM United States opens the Lexington, Kentucky plant (plant 11). This plant became associated with the IBM Information Products Division and was a known major producer of IBM typewriters and keyboards for the North American market.
IBM Netherlands opens its second Amsterdam, North Holland, the Netherlands plant (plant 58). This plant served a major manufacturer of IBM Electric Typewriter Division and its successors products such as electric typewriters, producing two million of such by 1980. In the '80s, the plant diversified to produce electronic typewriters and keyboards including in the Model F and Model M families.
IBM United States opens the Charlotte, North Carolina plant and laboratory (plant 41). This plant became associated with the IBM Information Products Division and was known to manufacturer printers. From 1993, it likely had a peripheral involvement with the Model M keyboard family as many Model M-based IBM POS keyboards such as RPOS and MPOS will have Charlotte's plant code in their serial/ID numbers, implying at least a "location of control" relationship.
[1] IBM Mexico opens the Guadalajara, Jalisco plant (plant 78 or "IEP"). This plant was specifically made for producing personal computers and related peripherals for the Latin American market. IBM Personal System/2 Enhanced Keyboards were produced there between 1987 and 1995, with such keyboards affectionately known as a "Modelo M", referencing their Spanish-language rear labels.
IBM relinquishes its in-house keyboard production capability after IBM United Kingdom's Greenock, Scotland plant (plant 55) stops producing Model M keyboards.
Demolition of IBM United Kingdom's former Greenock, Scotland plant (plant 55) is completed.