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.
[1] The IBM 3270 Information Display System debuts as a family of coaxial cabled terminals originally intended for IBM System/360 or System/370 mainframe computers. At launch, the 3270 series included the IBM 3275 and 3277 Display Stations. The first keyboards of the 3270 family were the Micro Switch SW-based 66-key (pictured) and 78-key IBM 3275 and 3277 Display Station Type A Keyboards. These "Type A" keyboards would be replaced with Model B-based "Type B" keyboards within 2 years of launch.
[2] The IBM Model B (beam spring) keyboard family is introduced with the IBM 3158 66-key Display Console Keyboard as IBM's fourth generation of keyboards.
[3] The IBM System/34 midrange computer is introduced, along with the 5250 Information Display System to serve as its terminals. IBM 5250 includes the 5251 Display Station (pictured) and 5252 Dual Display Station, and the 66-key (525X-66 type) and 83-key (525X-83 type) (pictured) Model B keyboards.
[4] The IBM Base Keyboard debuted in the form of the Model B-based 75-key and 87-key (pictured) IBM 3276 and 3278 Display Station Keyboards. The Base Keyboard was considered by IBM to be the direct predecessor to the Converged Keyboard design. The Base layout became somewhat of a standard for IBM, though perhaps competed with the IBM 5251/5252 layouts.
[5] IBM introduces the IBM 4700 Finance Communication System and its 4704 Display Station. 4700 is a successor to the earlier IBM 3600 Finance Communication System. The launch keyboard for 4704 is the 50-key Model 100 Function Keyboard (472X-100 type Model F), a matrix-style keypad with 45 relegendable and 5 hard-set function keys across three segments. IBM envisions this keyboard to be suited for basic teller station work.
[5] IBM introduces the 62-key Model 200 Alphameric Keyboard (472X-200 type Model F) (pictured) and 77-key Model 300 Expanded Alphameric Keyboard (472X-300) for the IBM 4704 Display Station. Both keyboards are intended for personal consultants or administrative personnel. The Model 200 is however a notable early example of the now-popular 60% keyboard and a keyboard with a Tsangan bottom row.
[6] IBM announces the 3104 Display Terminal, a 3278 Model 2 feature-level SDLC (serial) terminal for 8100 Information System or 4321 and 4331 Processor applications. It is available as a model B1 with a 75-key data entry keyboard (31XX-75 type Model F) or a B2 with an 87-key typewriter-style keyboard (31XX-87). These keyboards continue the IBM Base Keyboard lineage and are noted for their signature blue monocase/dualcase switch.
[7] IBM introduces the 3290 Information Panel, a 3270-family plasma screen terminal. The IBM Converged Keyboard debuts in the form of its "unsaver" Model F-based typewriter keyboard. They began to unify what were various fractured terminal keyboard lineages into a common platform, bringing their layouts a major step closer to modern ones.
[8] IBM announces the 3178 Display Station, a 3278 Model 2 feature-level terminal similar to the existing 3104 Display Terminal but intended for traditional 3270 (coaxial) attachments. It shares the 3104's Model F Base Keyboard with monocase/dualcase switch design and are likewise available as a model C1 with a 75-key data entry keyboard (31XX-75 type Model F) or a C2 with an 87-key typewriter-style keyboard (31XX-87).
[ASK] IBM introduces the 3178 Model C3 Display Station, a terminal similar to the existing 3178 Model C2 but ships with the U.S. English only C3 87-key typewriter-style keyboard (31XX-87 type Model F). The keyboard only differs by its functional layout, adopting the RPQ 8K1038 327X-87 type Model B layout for 3278 Model 2s.
[9] IBM introduces the 4980 Display Station, a terminal for IBM Series/1 minicomputers with similar functionality to the earlier 4978. Its Model F-based 127-key keyboard was the first "battleship"-style IBM Converged Keyboard to become available.
[5] IBM introduces the 4704 Display Station models 2 and 3 (pictured). With them, the 107-key Model 400 Administrative Keyboard (470X-400 type Model F) becomes available. Model 400 is the largest 4704 keyboard designed for administrative personnel, as its name suggests. It sports a core 62-key alphanumeric section, but surrounded by 43 relegendable keys and 2 fixed-function keys.
[ASK] IBM introduces the 3178 Model C4 Display Station, a terminal similar to the existing 3178 Model C2 but ships with the U.S. English only C4 87-key typewriter-style keyboard (31XX-87 type Model F). Like the earlier C3, C4's keyboard only differs by its functional layout, adopting the RPQ 8K0932 327X-87 type Model B's layout for 3278 and 3279.
[10] IBM announces the 3161 and 3163 ASCII Display Stations, serial-based terminals in the IBM 3101 lineage that were capable of emulating various third-party terminals. They sported the first terminal-specific IBM Enhanced Keyboards, which typically have an extra key over ANSI and ISO PC-style Enhanced Keyboards, and ASCII-style ones like 316X's often uniquely have line drawing symbols on their numeric keypads.
[ASK] The first 122-key Model M Converged Keyboard (also known as the IBM Model 1A) becomes available as an option for the IBM 3205 Color Display Console. This continues the Converged Keyboard line from the Model F era, eventually bringing the form-factor to many existing and new IBM Display Stations, consoles, and even host-connected PCs. Five unique types will be introduced by the 2000s.
The IBM Space Saving Keyboard (SSK) debuted in the form of the IBM 3162 ASCII Display Station Short Keyboard. No modern photos of it are available but it has been described to be like SSKs that came later.
[11] The IBM Model 1B keyboard makes its original debute as an option for the IBM 3192 Display Station models C and D. Model 1Bs take on the same physical layout and form-factor as the 104-key Model F Converged Keyboards but they are not based on existing IBM keyboard technology, instead using Micro Switch ST series rubber dome keyswitches. It's believed the "Quiet Touch Keyboard" term originated as a name for 1Bs.
[ASK] IBM introduces the 3151 ASCII Display Station, a cheaper follow-up to the IBM 316X series and likewise an IBM 3101 lineage terminal capable of emulating various third-party terminals. 3151 received an Enhanced Keyboard variant similar to the 316X keyboard but with updated branding and cable.
[12] IBM introduces the first InfoWindow Display Stations (types 3471 and 3476). InfoWindow converges the 3270 and 5250 terminal families under more unified branding and outwardly design language despite their inherent cabling, protocol and nomenclature differences. Also available for them is the IBM InfoWindow 122-key Typewriter Keyboard (Type 3 122-key Model M Converged Keyboard), slimmer and more lightweight than previous types.
- snuci - File:IBM 3277 typewriter keyboard - keyboard top.JPG [accessed 2022-12-07]. License/note: public domain.
- うぃき野郎 - File:IBM System370 model 138.jpg [accessed 2023-12-09]. License/note: CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped).
- IBM - IBM System/34 Introduction (#GC21-5153-4) [accessed 2023-01-16]. License/note: document archived by bitsavers, photos used under fair dealing.
- TheMK#1822 - donated photos. License/note: CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0.
- IBM - IBM 4700 Finance Communication System Summary (#GC31-2016-4) [accessed 2025-04-04]. License/note: provided by bitsavers, photos used under fair dealing.
- IBM - An Introduction to the IBM 8100 Information System (#GA27-2875-7) [accessed 2023-01-16]. License/note: document archived by bitsavers, photos used under fair dealing.
- Computerworld - 18 Apr 1983 [accessed 2023-08-05]. License/note: accessed via Google Books, photo used under fair dealing.
- IBM - IBM Input/Output Device Summary (#GA32-0039-3) [accessed 2025-04-29].
- Wazrach @ deskthority - IBM 4980 Model F Battleship (DONE) [accessed 2023-08-03]. License/note: permission to use photos requested and given via DMs.
- Wyatt8740 - File:Ibm3161 1.jpg [accessed 2023-01-23]. License/note: public domain.
- snuci - File:IBM 73x3832 Unsaver keyboard front.jpg [accessed 2024-10-02]. License/note: public domain.
- WorthPoint - Vintage IBM InfoWindow 3476 Display Station Monitor w/ Keyboard *See Desc* [accessed 2023-09-25]. License/note: photos saved from WorthPoint, used under fair dealing.
