Editing IBM Pingmaster

{{infobox dkeyboard
| title        = IBM "Pingmaster"
| image name   = 6112884 1.jpg
| pn           = 5954339, 6112883, 6112884, 6113442, 6341739
| manufacturer = [[Alps Electric]]
| branding     = [[IBM]]
| switch       = [[Alps SKCC Green]]
| keycaps      = [[Double-shot]] [[Spherical keycap|spherical]] [[ABS]]
| introduced   = 1983<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PebUy7hvrd8</ref>
| interface    = IBM 4704 proprietary
| rollover     = [[NKRO]]
}}

'''IBM Pingmaster''' is the nickname given to a series of keyboards manufactured for the Asian market for [[IBM]] by [[Alps Electric]] around 1983. They are intended for use with the IBM 4704 display terminal.
Five versions are known, which have either Chinese or Japanese legends.

The keyboard gained popularity when an eBay seller posted a large quantity for sale around 2013-2015. The nickname "IBM Pingmaster" was given to it in 2014 (at least) by Dorkvader for the pinging noise of the [[Alps SKCC Green]] switches when used with a replaced controller.<ref name="pingmasterorigin">Geekhack thread:Great Finds—[https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=62628 IBM 6113442 (Chinese) or 6112884 (Japanese) Alps T-mount $30 + shipping]</ref>

== 5954339 ==

A Japanese variant of the "Pingmaster"; bottom row of the numpad is "0", "00", "000"

== 6112883 ==

A Japanese <ref> WorthPoint - [https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ibm-6112883-pingmaster-keyboard-2076338819 IBM 6112883 - PINGMASTER KEYBOARD (JAPANESE VER) OPEN-BOX]</ref> variant of the "Pingmaster"; has a lot of relegendable keycaps. 

== 6112884 ==

A Japanese variant of the "Pingmaster"; bottom row of the numpad is "0", "000", "."
<gallery widths=250 heights=187>
File:6112884 1.jpg| 
File:6112884 2.jpg|By default, the numpad is positioned in the centre cluster. It is common for owners today to relocate it to the right cluster.
File:6112884 3.jpg| 
File:6112884 5.jpg|Unlike the ones in the main cluster, the relegendable caps on the right use a uniform profile. 
File:6112884 6.jpg| 
File:6112884 8.jpg| 
File:6112884 9.jpg|The connector features the only actual IBM branding on the board.
File:6112884 11.jpg|The connector is a DE-9 plug with only four pins used.
File:6112884 12.jpg|
File:6112884 13.jpg|
</gallery>

== 6113442 ==

A Chinese variant of the "Pingmaster"; bottom row of the numpad is "0", "00", "."<ref>Imgur - [https://imgur.com/gallery/ljxUiev IBM "Ping master" model no. 6113442]</ref>

== 6341739 ==

A Chinese <ref> WorthPoint - [https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ibm-4704-alps-green-pingmaster-3827131108 IBM 4704 ALPS GREEN "PINGMASTER" CHINESE LEGENDS KEYBOARD. 6341739 NOS]</ref> variant of the "Pingmaster"; has a lot of relegendable keycaps.

== References ==

[[Category:List of all keyboards]]
[[Category:IBM keyboards]]
[[Category:Keyboards with Alps SKCC switches]]
[[Category:Alps OEM keyboards]]
[[Category:Japanese IBM keyboards]]
[[Category:Office keyboards]]
[[Category:Vintage keyboards]]