Keyboard Rear Labels

For the most part, IBM and family thankfully included strong documentation on the back of their keyboards in the form of a rear label that usually displays the keyboard's part number along with a date of manufacture. A birth certificate, if you will. Thanks to these, we're able to date most IBM and family keyboards since 1981. However, the style, format and even data points for these rear labels has changed over time, thus this topic will serve as a gallery of known rear labels that can show how they've changed through time and from one OEM to another. Presently, there are 88 keyboard rear labels found/on record.

Contents

Introduction

A rear label on an IBM and family keyboard is a form of per-keyboard documentation that in its most basic form usually displays a part number with a date of manufacture or assembly. It is with these that people can quickly identify and date a keyboard. These rear labels are also known as rear stickers or even birth certificates. Rear labels on IBM keyboards only became consistent in the early 1980s with Model F keyboards; previous types of keyboards such as Model Bs could have widely varied labelling if at all and usually dating such a keyboard relied on a cable tag instead.

During the era IBM and Lexmark manufactured keyboards, there could be two types of rear labels; the outer case (or simply outer or external) label and the internal assembly (inner) label. The outer case rear label is used to display information about the keyboard as a whole. The internal assembly rear label is used to display information regarding just this inner assembly along with the keycaps fitted to it as standard. See for below various examples of rear labels along with their main datapoints highlighted.

Unicomp and TGCS have abandoned using fully-featured internal assembly rear labels and instead rely on outer case rear labels for identification. Lenovo's use of internal assembly rear labels depends on the type of keyboard - their full-travel desktop keyboards generally lack them, but their ThinkPad laptop keyboard assembly derived products may use them.

Datapoints

IBM United States

P/N 8529401 outer case rear label

Date: 1982-05-27

Keyboard type: Model F 5324 Floortop Keyboard

Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/albums/72157649745488066

P/N 4584656 internal assembly rear label

Outer case part number: P/N 1501100

Date: 1983-03 (approximate from "4546" shop date)

Keyboard type: Model F/XT PC Keyboard

Notes: https://deskthority.net/wiki/File:Cs-9000-rear-plate.JPG

P/N 5640987 outer case rear label

Date: 1983-11 (week 47 of year)

Keyboard type: Model F 3104/3178 Terminal Keyboard

Source: https://webwit.nl/input/

P/N 1501102 outer case rear label

Date: 1984-07

Keyboard type: Model F/XT PC Keyboard

Source: Archived from volatile eBay Kleinanzeigen listing

P/N 6016730 outer case rear label

Date: 1984-10 (week 43 of year)

Keyboard type: Model F 3290/5080 104-key Terminal Keyboard

Source: Joe/Ellipse @ modelfkeyboards.com

P/N 1503206 outer case rear label

Date: 1984-12 (approximate from "4989" shop date)

Keyboard type: Model F/XT PC Keyboard

Notes: The third value is believed to be the shop date as converting it to a real date gives a reasonable date for this keyboard to be made during

Source: Archived from volatile eBay listing

P/N 6052141 outer case rear label

Date: 1985-01 (week 2 of year)

Keyboard type: Model F 3104/3178 Terminal Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 8323237 outer case rear label

Date: 1985-02 (approximate from "5031" shop date)

Keyboard type: Model F 3101 Terminal Keyboard

Notes: The third value is believed to be the shop date as converting it to a real date gives a value very close to the date code on the keyboard's other rear label

Source: Archived from volatile eBay listing

P/N 6090817 internal assembly rear label

Outer case part number: P/N 6450200

Date: 1985-02 (approximate from "5032" shop date)

Keyboard type: Model F/AT PC Keyboard

Source: Joe/Ellipse @ modelfkeyboards.com

P/N 1385151 outer case rear label

Date: 1985-08-27

Keyboard type: Model F 122-key Terminal Keyboard

Source: TheMK#1822 (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

P/N 1389162 outer case rear label

Date: 1985-11-07

Keyboard type: Model M Type I 122-key Terminal Keyboard

Source: TheMK#1822 (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

P/N 4176191 outer case rear label

Date: 1986-02-26

Keyboard type: Model F 5291 Terminal Keyboard

P/N 6019303 outer case rear label

Date: 1986-03 (week 13 of year)

Keyboard type: Model F 4704 Model 300 Expanded Alphameric Keyboard

Source: Joe/Ellipse @ modelfkeyboards.com

P/N 1392595 outer case rear label

Date: 1987-11-10

Keyboard type: Model M Enhanced Terminal Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1390360 internal assembly rear label

Outer case part number: P/N 1391472

Date: 1987-12 (approximate from "5737" shop date)

Keyboard type: Model M Space Saving Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1392611 internal assembly rear label

Outer case part number: P/N 1392595

Date: 1988-02 (approximate from "5780" shop date)

Keyboard type: Model M Enhanced Terminal Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1393387 outer case rear label

Date: 1988-03-21

Keyboard type: Model M Screen Reader/2 Keypad

Source: https://deskthority.net/wiki/File:IBM_Screen_Reader_Pad_back.jpg

P/N 1391401 outer case rear label

Date: 1988-05-02

Keyboard type: Model M Enhanced PC Keyboard

Source: Joe/Ellipse @ modelfkeyboards.com

P/N 2658328 internal assembly rear label

Outer case part number: P/N 6019273

Date: 1989-02 (approximate from "6033" shop date)

Keyboard type: Model F 4704 Model 100 Functional Keypad

Source: Joe/Ellipse @ modelfkeyboards.com

P/N 1392934 outer case rear label

Date: 1990-09-13

Keyboard type: Model M Space Saving Keyboard

Source: Joe/Ellipse @ modelfkeyboards.com

P/N 1396199 outer case rear label

Date: 1991-06

Keyboard type: Model M3 Numeric Keypad

Source: Dario @ Dario'sCope (donated photo)

P/N 1396130 internal assembly rear label

Date: 1991-07

Keyboard type: Model M3-based Laptop Keyboard Assembly

Source: Uberman765#1669 (donated photo)

P/N 1391401 outer case rear label

Date: 1992-03-25

Keyboard type: Model M Enhanced PC Keyboard

Source: Joe/Ellipse @ modelfkeyboards.com

P/N 1395300 outer case rear label

Date: 1992-12-13

Keyboard type: Model M2 Selectric Touch Keyboard

Source: TheMK#1822 (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

P/N 1392980 outer case rear label

Date: 1993-06-15

Keyboard type: Model M Space Saving Keyboard

Source: Joe/Ellipse @ modelfkeyboards.com

P/N 1403247 internal assembly rear label

Outer case part number: P/N 66G8362

Date: 1994-02-21

Keyboard type: Model M 5576-C01 TrackPoint II Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

IBM United Kingdom

P/N 1501102 outer case rear label

Date: 1984-02-03

Keyboard type: Model F/XT PC Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 4585241 internal assembly rear label

Outer case part number: P/N 2684674

Date: 1985-02-14

Keyboard type: Model F 6580 Displaywriter Type B Keyboard

Source: https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?t=13658

P/N 6111079 outer case rear label

Date: 1986-01-12

Keyboard type: Model F 122-key Terminal Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1389152 outer case rear label

Date: 1986-06-09

Keyboard type: Model M Type I 122-key Terminal Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1394324 outer case rear label

Date: 1989-09-15

Keyboard type: Model M Type III 122-key Terminal Keyboard

Notes: Notable for having the inner keyboard assembly part number printed underneath the main part number (albeit in a smaller font)

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1391403 outer case rear label

Date: 1990-03-12

Keyboard type: Model M Enhanced PC Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N AMK1001 outer case rear label

Date: 1993-02-23

Keyboard type: Model M2 Selectric Touch Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1395706 outer case rear label

Date: 1993-06-25

Keyboard type: Model M2 Selectric Touch Keyboard

Notes: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1397003 outer case rear label

Date: 1997-06-17

Keyboard type: Model M Type IV 122-key Terminal Emulator Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1396924 internal assembly rear label

Outer case part number: P/N 1397003

Date: 1997-06-17

Keyboard type: Model M Type IV 122-key Terminal Emulator Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

IBM Netherlands

P/N 0985955 outer case rear label

Date: 1987-07-14

Keyboard type: Model M Type II 122-key Terminal Keyboard

Notes: Has no visible date, thus date must be read from the internal rear label.

Source: https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=500098#p500098

P/N 0985957 internal assembly rear label

Outer case part number: P/N 0985955

Date: 1987-07-14

Keyboard type: Model M Type II 122-key Terminal Keyboard

Source: https://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?p=500098#p500098

IBM Mexico

P/N 1391401 outer case rear label

Date: 1995-01-17

Keyboard type: Model M Enhanced PC Keyboard

Source: Archived from volatile eBay listing

Lexmark

P/N 1398051 outer case rear label

Date: 1992-01 (week 2 of year)

Keyboard type: Model M4 Space Saver Numeric Keypad

Source: Archived from volatile eBay listing

P/N 44G3620 internal assembly rear label

Date: 1992-12-15

Keyboard type: Model M6 Laptop Keyboard Assembly

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1399300 internal assembly rear label

Date: 1993-02-10

Keyboard type: Model M6 Laptop Keyboard Assembly

Notes: Lexmark used this minimalist rear label for AR-10 and GS-20 type laptop keyboards

Source: TheMK#1822 (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

P/N 60G3572 outer case rear label

Date: 1993-07-22

Keyboard type: Model M5-2 Trackball Keyboard

Source: Archived from volatile eBay listing

P/N 1398150 outer case rear label

Date: 1993-12-14

Keyboard type: Model M5-2 Trackball Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 232010-004 internal assembly rear label

Date: 1994-07-15

Keyboard type: Model M6-1 Laptop Keyboard Assembly

Notes: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1397950 outer case rear label

Date: 1994-07-18

Keyboard type: Model F 5291 Terminal Keyboard

Source: https://webwit.nl/input/

P/N 1403740 internal assembly rear label

Date: 1994-08-11

Keyboard type: Model M6-1 Laptop Keyboard Assembly

Notes: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1379916 internal assembly rear label

Outer case part number: P/N 92G7461

Date: 1995-01-09

Keyboard type: Model M13 TrackPoint II Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 92G7461 outer case rear label

Date: 1995-01-23

Keyboard type: Model M13 TrackPoint II Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 84G6475 internal assembly rear label

Date: 1995-02-06

Keyboard type: Model M6-1 Laptop Keyboard Assembly

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1398148 internal assembly rear label

Outer case part number: P/N 92G7455

Date: 1995-05-05

Keyboard type: Model M5-2 Trackball Keyboard

Notes: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 92F6320 outer case rear label

Date: 1995-05-26

Keyboard type: Model M7 50-Key RPOS MSR Keyboard

Source: Archived from volatile eBay listing

P/N 92F6310 outer case rear label

Date: 1995-06-19

Keyboard type: Model M7-1 50-Key RPOS Keyboard

Source: TheMK#1822 (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

P/N 1395682 outer case rear label

Date: 1995-07-24

Keyboard type: Model M Industrial Space Saving Keyboard

Source: Joe/Ellipse @ modelfkeyboards.com

P/N 84G2526 outer case rear label

Date: 1995-08-03

Keyboard type: Model M4-1 Space Saver Numeric Keypad

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1399240 outer case rear label

Date: 1995-10-17

Keyboard type: Model M Enhanced Keyboard with Speaker

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1394204 outer case rear label

Date: 1995-11-06

Keyboard type: Model M Enhanced Terminal Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1403599 outer case rear label

Date: 1995-11-13

Keyboard type: Model M15 Numeric Keypad

Source: https://webwit.nl/input/

P/N 1397451 outer case rear label

Date: 1996-03-15

Keyboard type: Model M4 Space Saver Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

Unicomp

P/N 06H4173 outer case rear label

Date: 1998-10-05

Keyboard type: Model M13 TrackPoint II/FSR Industrial Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 84G2524 outer case rear label

Date: 1999-04-14

Keyboard type: Model M4-1 Space Saver TrackPoint II Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 18P7970 outer case rear label

Date: 2004-04-26

Keyboard type: Model M13 FSR Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N AC40956 outer case rear label

Date: 2005-03-28

Keyboard type: Model M Type IV 122-key Terminal Emulator Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 1393278 outer case rear label

Date: 2007-08-28

Keyboard type: Model M Space Saving Keyboard

Source: https://webwit.nl/input/

P/N UB40T56 outer case rear label

Date: 2017-04-05

Keyboard type: Model M Type IV 122-key Terminal Emulator Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N UB43PHA outer case rear label

Date: 2019-01-24

Keyboard type: Model M SpaceSaver Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N UB43PJA outer case rear label

Date: 2019-05-22

Keyboard type: Model M EnduraPro Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N UT40U4A outer case rear label

Date: 2020-11-10

Keyboard type: New Model M Space Saving Full-Sized Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N UB40E7A outer case rear label

Date: 2021-01-26

Keyboard type: Model M Space Saving Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

Maxi Switch

P/N 92F6275 outer case rear label

Date: 1996-07-04

Keyboard type: Model M9 RANPOS Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 13H6705 outer case rear label

Date: 1997-07-23

Keyboard type: Model M13 TrackPoint II Keyboard

Notes: Maxi Switch removed the "M9" designation for this USB version of the original RS485 M9, but for all intents and purposes, it's still an M9

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 86H1066 outer case rear label

Date: 2000-02-18

Keyboard type: Model M9 RANPOS Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 92F6271 outer case rear label

Date: 2000-11-03

Keyboard type: Model M9 RANPOS Keyboard

Source: Archived from volatile eBay listing

Key Tronic

P/N 42H3979 internal assembly rear label

Date: 1996-06-03

Keyboard type: Model M6-1 Laptop Keyboard Assembly

Notes: One of two examples of a "KTC2" M6-1 rear label, made in Mexico. The format and styling seems identical to Lexmark M6-1 rear labels.

Source: Volvo B5234T#0733 (donated photo)

P/N 42H3970 internal assembly rear label

Date: 1996-09-02

Keyboard type: Model M6-1 Laptop Keyboard Assembly

Notes: One of two examples of a "KTC2" M6-1 rear label, made in Mexico.

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 42H3978 internal assembly rear label

Date: 1998-01-30

Keyboard type: Model M6-1 Laptop Keyboard Assembly

Notes: One of two examples of a "KTC3" M6-1 rear label, made in Mexico.

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 39H4047 internal assembly rear label

Date: 1998-05-11

Keyboard type: Model M6-1 Laptop Keyboard Assembly

Notes: One of two examples of a "KTC3" M6-1 rear label, made in Mexico.

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

XAC

P/N 92F6320 outer case rear label

Date: 2004-07-13

Keyboard type: Model M7 50-Key RPOS MSR Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

XSZ

P/N 41J8019 outer case rear label

Date: 2006-07-14

Keyboard type: Model M11 RPOS Modifiable Layout Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 41J7250 outer case rear label

Date: 2006-11-29

Keyboard type: Model M8 50-Key RPOS LCD Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 41J7247 outer case rear label

Date: 2008-03-26

Keyboard type: Model M7-1 50-Key RPOS Keyboard

Source: Archived from volatile Mercado Livre listing

IBM Retail Stores Solutions

P/N 13G2130 outer case rear label

Date: 2006-05-18

Keyboard type: "Model M-e" PS/2 ANPOS Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 44D1860 outer case rear label

Date: 2008-07-10

Keyboard type: "Model M-e" CANPOS Keyboard

Notes: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 65Y4047 outer case rear label

Date: 2011-09-22

Keyboard type: "Model M-e" 67-Key MPOS Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 93Y1233 outer case rear label

Date: 2012-06-06

Keyboard type: "Model M-e" MCANPOS Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 44D4035 internal assembly rear label

Date: 2012-06-21

Keyboard type: "Model M-e" 4613 96-Key POS Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

P/N 7431184 outer case rear label

Date: 2013-06-20

Keyboard type: "Model M-e" 67-Key MPOS LCD Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards

Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions

P/N 7431818 outer case rear label

Date: 2014-02-24

Keyboard type: Model M7 50-Key RPOS MSR Keyboard

Source: Admiral Shark's Keyboards