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Model M 84-key spacesaver from Ebay
rnak92a:
Just rec'd a 1987 space saver from clickykeyboards and it's something of a mess. None of the keys feels like those of a model m: they stick, don't respond, and are extremely stiff, as though the springs have rusted and refuse to move when a key is depressed. It's a depressing situation, as I'd love to use a 1987 model m space saver, but alas, it's not meant to be. I tried using it to write the e-mail to Brandon about the keyboard, and I had to swap it out, mid-stream, for my 1988 1391401, which won't ever fail me--she was just refurbished by Unicomp in late December, and they did a fantastic job.
This is the fifth space saver I've bought from clickykb and the third I'll have had to return to them--the rejects had the same problem. The keepers, though, are perfect, and I've mentioned them in another thread on here. Of note is the fact that Brandon indicated the quality of space savers' keys and mechanisms varies, but as always, he's happy to issue a refund. I'm going to give the '87 board the weekend to loosen up and type right or back it goes, too. At that point, I'll just wait for Unicomp's new offering--unless a silver label model m or the M-15 ergonomic shows up on ckb.
Just thought I'd share about the excellent service Brandon Ermita provides. Yes, he charges more than Joe Sixpack on ebay, but I trust Brandon: he stands behind what he sells and, by and large, everything's first-rate (I've purchased 10 other keyboards from him and haven't had a single issue.
Cheers,
~rn.
P.S.: iMav, I don't suppose you're at all interested in selling your Unicomp-made space saver, are you?
iMav:
--- Quote from: rnak92a ---Just rec'd a 1987 space saver from clickykeyboards and it's something of a mess. None of the keys feels like those of a model m: they stick, don't respond, and are extremely stiff, as though the springs have rusted and refuse to move when a key is depressed.
--- End quote ---
I'm curious if you've bothered to take it apart and see what the deal might be. Are a majority of the plastic "rivots" in place? If you pop the stiff keys off, are the springs in good shape?
--- Quote from: rnak92a ---P.S.: iMav, I don't suppose you're at all interested in selling your Unicomp-made space saver, are you?
--- End quote ---
I really can't see parting with it. It's my most treasured keyboard. :)
BTW, I'd love to see some pics of your 'boards. (unless, of course, you've already posted them somewhere here)...Which reminds me, I suppose we should have a sticky keyboard picture thread, eh?
rnak92a:
--- Quote from: iMav;2712 ---I'm curious if you've bothered to take it apart and see what the deal might be. Are a majority of the plastic "rivots" in place? If you pop the stiff keys off, are the springs in good shape?
--- End quote ---
I haven't taken it apart yet, and I'm not sure I'm going to bother much with it. I'm not particularly interested in refurbishing it to make it usable--that's something that should have been done before it was sent to me. I'd feel differently if the keyboard sustained shipping damage, but everything arrived in pristine condition. If I've time this weekend, I may open it to take a look around, but after removing and re-seating a few keys, thinking they'd been jostled in shipping, to no effect, I just lost motivation and interest. I e-mailed Brandon about the 'board, figured I'd be returning it, and have since put the 'board back in the plastic wrap within which Brandon placed it before bubble wrapping and shipping it.
Of the two other space savers I've returned to him, they, too, looked pristine but also suffered the same stick/stiff feeling. The first was an 1989 white label, the second a 1992 blue label. This one, as I mentioned, is a 1987 white label. I've two other early 90s blue labels and they work perfectly. Who knows what's going on with the space savers--however, I'm inclined to believe Brandon when he says the quality and feel of springs within space savers varies--sometimes drastically.
--- Quote from: iMav;2712 ---BTW, I'd love to see some pics of your 'boards. (unless, of course, you've already posted them somewhere here)...Which reminds me, I suppose we should have a sticky keyboard picture thread, eh?
--- End quote ---
At the moment, the bulk of my model M collection is in bubble wrap and sealed boxes. I'm preparing to move in the next couple of months, and as things get sorted, packed, discarded and the like in preparation, I didn't want anything to happen to my keyboards. I've the 1988 1391401, which is my daily keyboard, and a 1989 1391401 wrapped in bubble wrap, sitting in a remote corner of the room, with a black 2007 Unicomp space saver in front of it.
As of tonight, here's what I have (all from clickykeyboards and Unicomp, direct):
the two blue label model m space savers
the two 1391401 model m 'boards
an m 5-1 with the trackball on the plinth near the directional arrows
a black and an industrial gray M-13 (the latter is made by Unicomp; the former by Maxi Switch).
three blue label model m keyboards--two with attached cables, one without
A 2001 rubber dome space saver II--black with red trackpoint; available at clickykeyboards: http://tinyurl.com/2oeqva
a Unicomp Linux keyboard--layout 1--and a Unicomp black space saver
Sooner or later, I'm happy to pull them all out and take detailed photos. A collection photo thread is an excellent idea. My 1988 1391401, for example, was refurbished by Unicomp--the backspace key wouldn't function. When I received it back from Unicomp, there was a small sticker adhered to my keyboard's birth certificate: repaired by Unicomp, December 29, 2007. :lol: So now, the bottom shows the keyboard's birthdate and the date and company who resuscitated it. I'll get a picture of it and post it soon.
--- Quote from: iMav;2712 ---I really can't see parting with it. It's my most treasured keyboard. :)
--- End quote ---
I respect your decision to keep the Unicomp-made space saver. If I had it, I wouldn't want to part with it either. There's no harm in asking.
I'll just hang around for the revision of the Mighty Mouse that Unicomp's supposed to make available this summer.
Cheers,
~rn.
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