The Journey begins: post 1

[vivalarevolución]

I'm interested in learning more about those Model F's and seeing if we got some new part numbers.  Wow.  What a collection.

[vivalarevolución]

Also, that geekhacker with Model F knowledge near you.  Cough***fohat.digs***cough.

[samwisekoi]

How should I go about cleaning these boards up?  Is there anything that can be easily messed up?  What should I watch out for besides brittle plastic?

I highly suggest you watch phosphorglow's video. I think it will answer a lot of your questions.

I'd suggest not cleaning them beyond simply wiping them down.  Any IBM keyboard fancier would rather do some cleaning than have something damaged by someone trying to clean eleventy-hundred keyboards all at once.

Just get the dirt and dust off and then let whomever gets an individual keyboard do an otaku cleaning on it himself.

I'd be happy to demonstrate on one of those small, weird terminal keyboards if you'd like

And yes, best first thread ever.  Welcome to GeekHack!

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[fohat.digs]

I just saw this thread for the first time.

The title put me off. I will try to contact David and see if we can work on some of this in person.

[False_Dmitry_II]

I'd like to visit this too, I should be even closer than fohat.digs is.

But yeah, I'm not sure a full thorough cleaning should be done before selling them. Merely wiping them off would be more than alot of sellers seem to do. Then again, if you did all the bolt modding stuff and also made soarer converters for the ones that need them that might get more money, I just don't know if its worth it.

[Techno Trousers]

Wow, I just came in here and... Wow.

I'd definitely be interested in an F-122 or maybe 2 if there are extras, once you get everything sorted out.

For those who are interested in APL key caps, Unicomp has them listed on their site again. Two tone red and black, side printed and all, for $35 a set. They look really nice. If I end up with one of these F122s, I may just deck it out in APL caps for the ANSI conversion.

[intelli78]

I'm not interested in an F122, but I will be more than happy to take an F AT off your hands... keep us updated on selling plans.

[E TwentyNine]

So, how about some backstory?   How did you come about to have this massive collection?

[Pacifist]

I'm up for a AT and a F-122 since I never got those....

[rowdy]

Who's to say that he's going to sell any of them?

I'd like an SSK, but shipping would kill that idea.

[intelli78]

Who's to say that he's going to sell any of them?

I'd like an SSK, but shipping would kill that idea.

Welcome to Geekhack!

The question everyone's minds: are you likely to sell any of these?

Probably followed by: Any SSK in there?

I have no intention of holding onto most of these.

[rowdy]

Who's to say that he's going to sell any of them?

I'd like an SSK, but shipping would kill that idea.

Welcome to Geekhack!

The question everyone's minds: are you likely to sell any of these?

Probably followed by: Any SSK in there?

I have no intention of holding onto most of these.

 

[intelli78]

 

[Parak]

That's an impressive stash. I see a few unsavers (like an F122 but without numpad), too - those are much sought after.

If I didn't already have all the boards pictured (except the model C, grumble), I'd be clawing at my screen right now.


...


Oh who am I kidding - I'm clawing at the screen anyway!

[DavidB]

1387033 - this is rare right? 

[Parak]

Yeah, there's a few versions of the unsaver - that's one (in fact the only 'known' one) of the easily adaptable ones at the moment, so it's rather desirable.

[DavidB]

So, how about some backstory?   How did you come about to have this massive collection?

~30 years reselling used/recert computer parts / printer parts / whole machines, and a big warehouse. 

[JPG]

1387033 - this is rare right?

You have one? Or many? 

[Melvang]

1387033 - this is rare right?

Can we get a pic??

I know its not rare but I picked up a M today Part No. 52G9700 FRU no 92F0332 build date 21SEP93.  Bad board chow but decent shape for $5.

[dorkvader]

Yeah, there's a few versions of the unsaver - that's one (in fact the only 'known' one) of the easily adaptable ones at the moment, so it's rather desirable.

I havent seen one, but the 1387032 should exist and be compatible. I suspect 138703* is the naming convention, though I've only ever seen the *3 and *2 offered online.

Looks like you have at least three. I know a lot of GH'ers who would want one. The reason they aren't more sought after is because they are so uncommon, many people don't even know about them.

[JWK]

as far as SSK - I don't know.  I'll try to go through some stuff tomorrow and update.

Perhaps I can help you locate the SSKs -- there are probably a few on that shelf you have labelled 1391472.  :-)
 
The Deskthority site has an excellent wiki on the development of various models of the IBM keyboards.  You'll find that interesting.  But as you find new, uncatalogued  or un-pictured models, it would be nice if you would add to the knowledge base -- or lend the item to someone who has the time to document it.   Every once in a while, someone catches a coelacanth, and it's nice to take some pictures before eating it.

[fohat.digs]

Every once in a while, someone catches a coelacanth, and it's nice to take some pictures before eating it.

The coelacanth tastes awful, doesn't it?

[E TwentyNine]

1387033 - this is rare right?

That one might gather a little more interest than the rest.

Also, unless it's a trick of the light, thought I saw a few industrials in there too.

[vivalarevolución]

Is this 1389732 another version of the Unsaver, similar to the 1387033?  I am a bit confused on the part numbers we are throwing around.

[E TwentyNine]

As a rough guide, all 101-key Model Ms with the three status LEDs up in the top right are basically the same.  Older ones with the square silver badge at the upper right are the most desirable, ones with the rounded badge with black text at the upper left are next, and ones with the rounded badge with blue text are the least desirable.  That said, the condition of the keyboard often has a larger effect on price than the badge.

Important addendum here.  I see a shelf of 71G4646, which are rubber dome M's (as are all 71Gxxxx models afaik).

Worth less than standard buckling spring M's, but they're decent RD keyboards I suppose.

[vivalarevolución]

As a rough guide, all 101-key Model Ms with the three status LEDs up in the top right are basically the same.  Older ones with the square silver badge at the upper right are the most desirable, ones with the rounded badge with black text at the upper left are next, and ones with the rounded badge with blue text are the least desirable.  That said, the condition of the keyboard often has a larger effect on price than the badge.

Important addendum here.  I see a shelf of 71G4646, which are rubber dome M's (as are all 71Gxxxx models afaik).

Worth less than standard buckling spring M's, but they're decent RD keyboards I suppose.

I recently discovered that you can convert that to a buckling spring keyboard, just need to find a full set of buckling spring keycaps and get yoself some springs.  Everything else is the same.

[Melvang]

As a rough guide, all 101-key Model Ms with the three status LEDs up in the top right are basically the same.  Older ones with the square silver badge at the upper right are the most desirable, ones with the rounded badge with black text at the upper left are next, and ones with the rounded badge with blue text are the least desirable.  That said, the condition of the keyboard often has a larger effect on price than the badge.

Important addendum here.  I see a shelf of 71G4646, which are rubber dome M's (as are all 71Gxxxx models afaik).

Worth less than standard buckling spring M's, but they're decent RD keyboards I suppose.

I recently discovered that you can convert that to a buckling spring keyboard, just need to find a full set of buckling spring keycaps and get yoself some springs.  Everything else is the same.

I would love to see a write up on this mod.

[vivalarevolución]

As a rough guide, all 101-key Model Ms with the three status LEDs up in the top right are basically the same.  Older ones with the square silver badge at the upper right are the most desirable, ones with the rounded badge with black text at the upper left are next, and ones with the rounded badge with blue text are the least desirable.  That said, the condition of the keyboard often has a larger effect on price than the badge.

Important addendum here.  I see a shelf of 71G4646, which are rubber dome M's (as are all 71Gxxxx models afaik).

Worth less than standard buckling spring M's, but they're decent RD keyboards I suppose.

I recently discovered that you can convert that to a buckling spring keyboard, just need to find a full set of buckling spring keycaps and get yoself some springs.  Everything else is the same.

I would love to see a write up on this mod.

We're diverting the thread a bit, it's just like any other bolt mod for a Model M.  I have not completed it yet, but I'm assuming it will work.

Actually, now that I'm writing about it, I might just bolt mod the rubber dome Model M and see how that feels.  Could be the most solid rubber dome on the face of the planet.

[fohat.digs]

We're diverting the thread a bit, it's just like any other bolt mod for a Model M.  I have not completed it yet, but I'm assuming it will work.

As I recall, the keys are different because there is plastic in the way where springs are supposed to be. The first one of those I bought, I figured that it was worth the $10 for the keys alone, but I don't think anything really matches except the case and maybe the barrel plate.

Please take photos, I never did, and now I have trouble remembering what all the parts looked like inside.

[vivalarevolución]

We're diverting the thread a bit, it's just like any other bolt mod for a Model M.  I have not completed it yet, but I'm assuming it will work.

As I recall, the keys are different because there is plastic in the way where springs are supposed to be. The first one of those I bought, I figured that it was worth the $10 for the keys alone, but I don't think anything really matches except the case and maybe the barrel plate.

Please take photos, I never did, and now I have trouble remembering what all the parts looked like inside.

This is my last post on this rubber dome Model M in this thread (don't want to divert the thread anymore), but my initial assessment leads to believe that the everything is the same on the rubber dome Model M and buckling spring Model M except the following:

1.  keycaps.  Rubber dome keycaps do not have have open space in the key stem to house the buckling springs.
2.  A rubber dome sheet rather than rubber between the barrel frame and metal backplate.
3.  Lack of springs and pivot plates.

The rubber dome sheet has holes in the location of the plastic rivets, so it should be compatible for a bolt mod.

[dorkvader]

As a rough guide, all 101-key Model Ms with the three status LEDs up in the top right are basically the same.  Older ones with the square silver badge at the upper right are the most desirable, ones with the rounded badge with black text at the upper left are next, and ones with the rounded badge with blue text are the least desirable.  That said, the condition of the keyboard often has a larger effect on price than the badge.

Important addendum here.  I see a shelf of 71G4646, which are rubber dome M's (as are all 71Gxxxx models afaik).

Worth less than standard buckling spring M's, but they're decent RD keyboards I suppose.

I recently discovered that you can convert that to a buckling spring keyboard, just need to find a full set of buckling spring keycaps and get yoself some springs.  Everything else is the same.

I have one and plan to keep it domes and bolt mod it. If you want to convert it to buckling spring you will also need a mat (or "blanket" in unicomp parlance).

Is this 1389732 another version of the Unsaver, similar to the 1387033?  I am a bit confused on the part numbers we are throwing around.

Yes, it's the APL-keycap version.

[ZeDestructor]

Nice collection...

I'm looking for an unsaver (the famous 1387033 or 1389732.. I don't particularly care about the caps) and an industrial gray SSK (any generation).

PM me so we can arrange something.

[Techno Trousers]

I think we're all waiting to hear what's going to happen. I was actually going to post here and ask for an update, since I went ahead and ordered APL key caps from Unicomp to go on a future F-122 or unsaver.

[qnaal]

DavidB needs an avatar for easier thread skimming.

More

something like this perhaps

[histevenhere]

Any updates?

[mougrim]

Any updates?

Nah, topicstarter haven't been online for three days. Either he's busy, or he'd been mugged for his stash

[rowdy]

Any updates?

You mean apart from Chapter 2?

[xwhatsit]

So what's the go with the beamsprings here? Did they eventually get sold off?