IBM 3210 & 3215 Console Printer-Keyboards

The IBM 3210 and 3215 Console Printer-Keyboards were a trio of typewriter printer-keyboard consoles introduced in late 1970 for IBM System/370 mainframe data processing systems. The series is comprised of 3210 Model 1, 3210 Model 2 and 3215, all of which were at least compatible with IBM System/370 models 135, 145^[2], and 155.^[3] They acted as input/output terminals providing two-way communication between the operator and an attached IBM host processor, auxiliary to the large control panel on the host processor itself.

3210 and 3215 performed the same overall functions, but differed by their use of an IBM Card Punch based keyboard assembly and slower but well-established Selectric printer or an IBM Elastic Diaphragm based keyboard assembly and new and faster dot-matrix printer technology respectively. 3210 was further divided into two models for directly-attached table mounting and external pedestal mounting. The keyboard uses a layout based on that of IBM 1052 Printer-Keyboard like most IBM System/360 and 370 family console keyboards.

Contents

Summary

History

IBM 3210 and 3215 were both announced on 23^rd September 1970.^[5] United States design patents for 3215 and 3210 Model 2 were filed on 21^st December 1970 (223,762, "data printer keyboard console") and 10^th May 1971 (224,605, "printer") respectively. Both list Loring C. Bixler, Arnold M. Davis, Walter S. McCormick, Jr. and Edward R. Wiener as their inventors.^[6][7]

IBM 3210 and 3215 were withdrawn from availability on 16^th October 1979 and 10^th December 1982 respectively.^[5]

Design

Printer

Selectric-based printer (3210)

Both 3210 models used the same IBM Selectric I/O-II printer, which was a then-new introduction. It uses the same 88-character "golfball" typing element and standard Selectric cartridge fabric ribbons as typical IBM Selectric I and II electric typewriters. It can type at 15.5 characters per second and its carrier return speed is approximately 38.1cm (15") per second.^[8]

Dot matrix-based printer (3215)

3215 used a dot matrix printer (sometimes called a wire matrix printer by IBM) with a 7-column, 7-row matrix print head. The head consists of seven elements that can each strike to make a dot up to four times per character and can move to three alternative positions to allow for curved and diagonal dots. It can move at a rate of 21.59cm (8.5") per second regardless of printing or moving spaces. When inputting data (manual typing), the printer is capped at 15 characters per second as that is the maximum rate characters can be sent to the host. But whilst under program control, it can print at a rate of up to 85 characters per second.^[9]

Layout

3210 and 3215 contain a typewriter keyboard and an operator control panel surrounding it made up of 12 keys or lights.

Keyboard

The keyboard's physical layout is that of the 51-key design used on various IBM Selectric I and II electric typewriters. It uses the 88-character IBM 1052 functional layout^[9], with 1052 being an earlier printer-keyboard used for IBM System/360 whose layout was adopted by many subsequent IBM mainframe console keyboards.

Despite being physically present, the L-shaped key in the top-left (used as the Tab key on standard typewriters) and the 1.25-unit key in the top-right (Backspace) are not utilised by 3210 or 3215.^[10]

Operator control panel

Both 3210 and 3215 sport two 2x3 banks of keys and light indicators on either side of the keyboard for core operations and indicating the status of the device itself and the host processor's handling of said device. 3210 Model 1 and 3215 have the same set of controls, but 3210 Model 2 has two different keys (including one that can also light up).

3210 Model 1/3215 specific

3210 Model 2 specific

Notes

3210 Model 1

The 3210 Model 1 (3210-1, feature code SPK^[12]) is the table-mounted version of 3210 that sits right next to the host IBM System/370 processor and derives its AC power from it. All 3210 models mate an IBM Selectric I/O-II printer to an IBM Card Punch style keyboard assembly. Compared to Model 2, this version is capable of altering or displaying data in the host's storage and has two shelves at the back for holding paper (a lower one for holding blank forms and an upper one for holding printed forms).^[8]

3210 Model 2

The 3210 Model 2 (3210-2, feature code DPK^[12]) is the pedestal-mounted version of 3210 that connects to a host IBM System/370 processor via an external signal cable and requires its own AC power source. All 3210 models mate an IBM Selectric I/O-II printer to an IBM Card Punch style keyboard assembly. Compared to Model 1, this version is not capable of altering or displaying data in the host's storage and has only one shelf for holding printed forms as they emerge from the printer (supply is instead from a source placed on the floor). However, because its power supply is independent of the host processor, 3210-2 is given its own power controls for the printer's drive motor.^[8]

3215

The 3215 (feature code MPK^[12]) is a console printer-keyboard that mates a dot matrix printer with a 7x7 printing element to an IBM Elastic Diaphragm encoded keyboard assembly. Compared to any 3210, it can print up to approximately 85 characters a second versus just ~15.5. However, it otherwise has the same level of functionality as 3210 Model 1. Like 3210-1, it is a table-mounted device that sits right next to the host IBM System/370 processor and derives its required AC power from it. It is capable of altering or displaying data in the host's storage and has two shelves at the back for holding paper (a lower one for holding blank forms and an upper one for holding printed forms).^[9]

3215 can be referred to as 3215 Model 1 (3215-1), although this is redundant as no other 3215 model has been observed.

Component part numbers

Sources

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