Cherry M4, M5 and M6 variants
The following page provides known details of Cherry M4, M5 and M6 part numbers. See also the Serie M4/M5/M6 schema.
See M4/M5/M6 examples for keyboard examples found to date.
M4, M5 and M6 are the US-made series. For the German-made switches, see M7 variants.
Contents
Sources
Some data on this page lists comes from official Cherry catalogues and advertisements. These sources include:
- Cherry electronic data entry keyboards: Key Module and Keyboard Specifications (December 1971)
- Cherry Switches & Keyboards Catalog C-73
- Cherry Switches & Keyboards Catalog C-74
- Cherry Keyboards (Catalog No. KB79-2)
- Cherry Keyboards (Catalog No. KB79-2R, May 1982, USA)
- Cherry Keyboards and Keyboard Switches Price List No. 79 (1979-03-01; USA)
- Cherry Keyboards and Keyboard Switches Price List No. KB.802 (1980-04-30; USA)
- Cherry keyboards, keyswitches and displays advertisement, Electronic Engineers Master Catalogue 1985–86 Volume B
- Cherry Tastenmodule (Key Modules) M41
- Cherry Tastenmodule (Key Modules) M51
- Cherry Tastenmodule (Key Modules) M61
- Cherry Tastenmodule (Key Modules) M62
See Cherry catalogues on the Deskthority wiki for copies of some of this literature.
Still required
- Cherry USA keyboard and switch catalogues from 1975–1978 and from 1983 onwards
- Any switch brochures that go into more detail than the catalogues
- Additional number schemata
- Detailed literature, as the literature discovered to date makes little effort to explain the huge variety of features and configurations (many of which have never been seen), and even the small posts on the top of older switches remain unexplained (as well as the vestigial posts in later variants)
Catalogue types
The following is the list of known types from the 1973, 1974, 1979 and 1982 catalogues and the 1985 EEM advertisement.
“✗” denotes parts that are listed as discontinued in the publication in question.
Two M7 types are listed, simply because these were advertised in the US alongside the US-made types.
Part | Type | 1973 | 1974 | 1979 | 1982 | 1985 | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M41-0064 | Momentary illuminated | • | |||||
M41-0100 | Momentary illuminated 6 oz | • | |||||
M41-0103 | Momentary illuminated | ✗ | ✗ | • | Resurrected? | ||
M41-0104 | Momentary illuminated 10° | • | • | cf. M41-0123 | |||
M41-0123 | Momentary illuminated | • | cf. M41-0104; 0° in the 1979 and 1980 price lists | ||||
M41-0125 | Momentary illuminated | • | • | ||||
M41-0126 | Momentary illuminated | • | • | ||||
M41-0127 | Momentary illuminated 10° | • | • | ||||
M41-0128 | Momentary illuminated 10° | • | • | ||||
M41-0802 | Alternate action illuminated | ✗ | ✗ | ||||
M41-0803 | Alternate action illuminated 10° | • | • | ||||
M41-0822 | Alternate action illuminated | • | • | ||||
M51-0106 | Space bar | ✗ | ✗ | ||||
M51-0107 | Space bar 10° | ✗ | ✗ | ||||
M51-0143 | Momentary 6 oz T | • | • | • | |||
M51-0182 | Momentary 10° T | • | • | • | |||
M51-0226 | Momentary 10° 6 oz T | • | • | ||||
M51-0227 | Space bar T | • | • | ||||
M51-0228 | Space bar 10° T | • | • | ||||
M51-0229 | Momentary tactile 3 oz T | • | • | • | 4 oz. nom. in the 1979 and 1980 price lists and 1986 advertisement. | ||
M52-0104 | Momentary 2A | • | Possible error? Still refers to M62-0110 for 10° | ||||
M61-0025 | Shift | • | • | ||||
M61-0026 | Shift 10° | • | • | ||||
M61-0027 | Shift lock | • | • | ||||
M61-0028 | Shift lock 10° | • | • | ||||
M61-0100 | Momentary | • | • | ✗ | The 1985 advertisement gives M61-0120 as replacing this. | ||
M61-0110 | Momentary 10° | • | • | ||||
M61-0120 | Momentary T | • | • | • | The 1985 advertisement notes that this replaces M61-0100. | ||
M61-0300 | Shift | • | • | ||||
M61-0310 | Shift 10° | • | • | ||||
M61-0500 | Shift lock | • | • | ||||
M61-0510 | Shift lock 10° | • | • | ||||
M61-0800 | Alternate action | • | • | • | • | • | 2½ oz. in 1973 |
M61-0805 | Alternate action 6 oz | • | • | ||||
M61-0806 | Alternate action 10° 6 oz | • | • | ||||
M61-0810 | Alternate action 10° | • | • | • | • | ||
M62-0100 | Momentary 2A | • | • | • | • | • | 2½ oz. in 1973 |
M62-0110 | Momentary 2A 10° | • | • | ||||
M62-0900 | Momentary 1A+1B | • | • | • | 2½ oz. in 1973 | ||
M71-0037 | Momentary illuminated | • | German-made | ||||
M71-0100 | Momentary illuminated | • | German-made; Cherry drawing dated May 1974, last revised November 1981 |
Known variants
The weight ranges indicate tolerance. For example, M71-0100 was listed in Germany as 85±25 cN, and in the US as 2–4 oz. The US figure of 2–4 oz is just an alternative way of writing 3±1 oz, for which it is roughly equivalent (85±25 cN is 60–110 cN, and 2–4 ozf is 55.6 to 111.2 cN). The reverse was also seen: M51-0131 was documented in the US as 70±14 grams actuation force and 90±15 grams total travel force, and in Germany as 57–85 and 75–105 cN respectively.
Notes given in quotation marks are the descriptions or comments given in the catalogues.
Where the source of information is the NSN (NATO Stock Number) part details, the specifications given are not proven, as many NSN switch records online are incorrect.
M4
M4 switches are corner illuminated, and may take one or two lamps. All the models listed in the 1979 and 1982 catalogues have the contact terminals on the left, and the lamp terminals on the right. However, there was also at least one model with the lamp terminals on the left alongside the contact terminals. Cherry provided separate models for single or dual lamp positions, with the single-lamp switches offering either a front or back lamp (on either the left or right side, depending on the orientation of the switch). The dual-lamp switches have the two lamp positions on the same side. The dual-lamp shell can also be found with only a single lamp fitted (with one set of lamp terminals absent).
The following diagram illustrates the plate cutouts given in Cherry’s 1979 and 1982 catalogues. Production keyboards may not necessarily use these hole shapes. The terminal positions are also shown.
M4 switches could use normal Cherry 12 mm straight stems, in 0° and 10° angles. A specific “round” mount was also available, being a narrow horizonally-truncated cylindrical shaft. Both momentary and alternate action were offered, as well as indicator switches that are locked in place, serving only to provide a light-up legend.
M4 switches are designed to accept industry standard T-1 bi-pin incandescent bulbs. Some types listed in the German parts sheets included a 5 V lamp or LED. The 1979 and 1982 US catalogues list some models as having no lamp fitted (but no details of what lamp is fitted to the others), while the 1970 and 1980 price lists give most or all models as having no lamp. M41-0803 is the only type in the 1979 price list that does include a lamp, but in 1980 the lamp was no longer included with that model.
Part | Action | Stem | Angle | Lamp | Lamp position | Force | Contacts | Notes | Source | NSN |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M41-0064 | Momentary | Straight | 0° | None | Front and back right | 2½ oz. nom. | 1A | “lens lighted” | Catalogues | |
M41-0100 | Momentary | Straight | 0° | 6 oz. | 1A | Catalogues | ||||
M41-0103 | Momentary | Round | 0° | None | Front and back right | 2½ oz. nom. | 1A | “full top lighted” | Catalogues | |
M41-0104 | Momentary | Straight | 10° | None | Front and back right | 2½ oz. nom. | 1A | “lens lighted” | Catalogues | 5930-01-086-9139 |
M41-0105 | Momentary | Round | 0° | 5 V | 140–200 cN | 1A | Cherry M41 parts sheet | |||
M41-0107 | Momentary | 1A | Tektronix 4027 | |||||||
M41-0108 | Alternate | 1A | NSN | 5930-01-086-9139 | ||||||
M41-0111 | Momentary | Round | 0° | 5 V | 80–150 cN | 1A | Custom part for NCR | Cherry M41 parts sheet | ||
M41-0112 | Momentary | Round | 0° | None | 80–150 cN | 1A | Custom part for NCR | Cherry M41 parts sheet | ||
M41-0113 | Momentary | Round | 0° | 5 V | 140–200 cN | 1A | Cherry M41 parts sheet | |||
M41-0114 | Locked (dummy) | Round | 0° | None | None | Custom part for NCR | Cherry M41 parts sheet | |||
M41-0115 | Momentary | Straight | 0° | LED | 57–85 cN | 1A | Custom part for S.E.C.R.E. | Cherry M41 parts sheet | ||
M41-0116 | Momentary | Straight | 0° | None | 57–85 cN | 1A | Custom part for S.E.C.R.E. | Cherry M41 parts sheet | ||
M41-0123 | Momentary | Straight | 10° | None | 2½ oz. nom. | 1A | “lens lighted” | Catalogues | ||
M41-0125 | Momentary | Straight | 0° | None | Front right | 2½ oz. nom. | 1A | “lens or top lighted” | Catalogues | |
M41-0126 | Momentary | Straight | 0° | None | Back right | 2½ oz. nom. | 1A | “lens or top lighted” | Catalogues | |
M41-0127 | Momentary | Straight | 10° | None | Front right | 2½ oz. nom. | 1A | “lens or top lighted” | Catalogues | |
M41-0128 | Momentary | Straight | 10° | None | Back right | 2½ oz. nom. | 1A | “lens or top lighted” | Catalogues | |
M41-0800 | Alternate | Round | 0° | None | 105–170 cN | 1A | Cherry M41 parts sheet | |||
M41-0802 | Alternate | Round | 0° | None | Front and back right | 2-4½ oz. | 1A | “full top lighted” | Catalogues | |
M41-0803 | Alternate | Straight | 10° | None | Front and back right | 2-4½ oz. | 1A | “lens lighted” | Catalogues | |
M41-0805 | Alternate | Round | 0° | 5 V | 105–170 cN | 1A | Cherry M41 parts sheet | |||
M41-0806 | NSN | 5930-01-116-6701 | ||||||||
M41-0822 | Alternate | Straight | 0° | None | Front and back right | 2-4½ oz. | 1A | “lens lighted” | Catalogues | |
M42-0101 | NSN | 5930-01-102-5338 |
M5 and M6
There is no clear distinction between M5 and M6, and thus both subseries are grouped together here. While M6 part numbers are mostly schematic, M5 part numbers seem to be simply assigned sequentially, with many gaps in the numbering range. Most T-stem switches appear to fall within M5 (with M61-0120 being the exception), as do the space bar types. The Burroughs customer-specific types also come under M5.
Part | Action | Characteristics | Stem | Angle | Force | Contacts | Notes | Source | NSN |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
261-0100 | Momentary | Straight | 0° | 2½±½ oz. | 1A | Changed to M61-0100 | 1971 brochure | ||
262-0100 | Momentary | Straight | 0° | 2½±½ oz. | 2A | Changed to M62-0100 | 1971 brochure | ||
M51-0101 | Momentary | High force | 1A | Tektronix 4051, 4054 | 5930-00-362-0213 | ||||
M51-0106 | Momentary | Space bar | Straight | 0° | 2½-4½ oz. | 1A | “(paddle type)” | Catalogues | 5930-00-362-0237 |
M51-0107 | Momentary | Space bar | Straight | 10° | 2½-4½ oz. | 1A | “(paddle type)” | Catalogues | 5930-01-337-1612 |
M51-0108 | Momentary | 1A | NSN | 5930-01-049-4181 | |||||
M51-0120 | Momentary | High force? | 1A | Tektronix 4027 (B80-91AB), Erase key | |||||
M51-0129 | Momentary | Custom | 0° | 1A | Custom part for Burroughs; changed to M51-0131 | Cherry drawing (1973–79) | |||
M51-0131 | Momentary | Custom | 0° | 57–85 cN | 1A | Custom part for Burroughs | Cherry drawing (1973–79); M51 parts sheet | ||
M51-0137 | Momentary | Straight | 0° | 80–135 cN | 1B | Custom part for Rufenach | Cherry M51 parts sheet | ||
M51-0143 | Momentary | High force | T | 0° | 6 oz. nom. | 1A | Catalogues | ||
M51-0150 | Momentary | 1A | Tektronix 4027 (B80-91AB), function keys | 5930-01-116-5273 | |||||
M51-0152 | Momentary | 1A | NSN | 5930-01-086-9140 | |||||
M51-0178 | Momentary | 1A | White stem, but seems to be 0°; also black 10° T | Tektronix 4027 (B80-91AB), most keys | |||||
M51-0182 | Momentary | T | 10° | 2½ oz. nom. | 1A | Catalogues | 5930-01-086-7225 | ||
M51-0194 | 1A | NSN | 5930-01-086-9141 | ||||||
M51-0195 | NSN | 5930-01-124-5569 | |||||||
M51-0196 | NSN | 5930-01-116-6703 | |||||||
M51-0198 | 1A | NSN | 5930-01-086-9140 | ||||||
M51-0199 | 1A | NSN | 5930-01-116-6702 | ||||||
M51-0226 | Momentary | High force | T | 10° | 6 oz. nom. | 1A | Catalogues | ||
M51-0227 | Momentary | Space bar | T | 0° | 2½-4½ oz. | 1A | “(wire form type)” | Catalogues | |
M51-0228 | Momentary | Space bar | T | 10° | 2½-4½ oz. | 1A | “(wire form type)” | Catalogues | |
M51-0229 | Momentary | Tactile | T | 0° | 3 oz. nom. | 1A | Catalogues | ||
M52-0104 | Momentary | Straight | 0° | 2½ oz. | 2A | 1973 catalogue; anomalous | |||
M61-0025 | Momentary | Shift | Straight | 0° | 2½ oz. nom. | 1A | Catalogues | ||
M61-0026 | Momentary | Shift | Straight | 10° | 2½ oz. nom. | 1A | Catalogues | ||
M61-0027 | Momentary | Shift lock | Straight | 0° | 2½ oz. nom. | 1A | Catalogues | ||
M61-0028 | Momentary | Shift lock | Straight | 10° | 2½ oz. nom. | 1A | Catalogues | ||
M61-0100 | Momentary | Straight | 0° | 2½ oz. | 1A | Catalogues | 5930-00-365-9194 | ||
M61-0110 | Momentary | Straight | 10° | 2½ oz. | 1A | Catalogues | |||
M61-0120 | Momentary | T | 0° | 2½ oz. nom. | 1A | Catalogues | 5930-01-102-5199 | ||
M61-0300 | Momentary | Shift | Straight | 0° | 2½ oz. | 1A | Catalogues | ||
M61-0310 | Momentary | Shift | Straight | 10° | 2½ oz. | 1A | Catalogues | ||
M61-0500 | Momentary | Shift lock | Straight | 0° | 2½ oz. | 1A | Catalogues | ||
M61-0510 | Momentary | Shift lock | Straight | 10° | 2½ oz. | 1A | Catalogues | ||
M61-0800 | Alternate action | Straight | 0° | 2-4½ oz. | 1A | Catalogues | 5930-01-114-5267 | ||
M61-0805 | Alternate action | Straight | 0° | 6 oz. nom. | 1A | Catalogues | |||
M61-0806 | Alternate action | Straight | 10° | 6 oz. nom. | 1A | Catalogues | |||
M61-0810 | Alternate action | Straight | 10° | 2-4½ oz. | 1A | Catalogues | 5930-01-086-9141 | ||
M62-0100 | Momentary | Straight | 0° | 2-4½ oz. | 2A | Catalogues | 5930-01-031-6963 | ||
M62-0110 | Momentary | Straight | 10° | 2½ oz. | 2A | Catalogues | |||
M62-0300 | Momentary | Shift lock | Straight | 0° | 60–130 cN | 2A | Cherry M62 parts sheet | ||
M62-0310 | Momentary | Shift lock | Straight | 10° | 60–130 cN | 2A | Cherry M62 parts sheet | ||
M62-0900 | Momentary | Straight | 0° | 2-4½ oz. | 1A+1B | Catalogues |