geekhack
geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: fohat.digs on Fri, 04 October 2013, 11:48:38
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Good News!
Today I received a Model M-122, old-style, with big side-button legs, hoping that the top case shell would fit an F-122. It did!
Furthermore, as soon as I touched it, I realized that it was made from the same plastic as the Model M cases (softer, tougher, more flexible) instead of the harder, more brittle Model F plastic. This was very good news, and what I had been hoping for.
The label was gone, but someone had hand-written "1386887" in pen where the label used to be. Presumably, this was the part number, but no way to know for sure.
The Model M bottom shell piece was full-size and plastic, rather than the metal pan and narrow attachment strip of the F. The case screws were a smaller diameter and went into all-plastic sockets rather than the embedded metal sleeves of the Model F sockets. However, the placement is the same, and the Model F metal pan and narrow attachment strip fit properly with only a bit of modification, using snips or a Dremel to shave down some plastic tabs, provided you use the M screws.
So, there is now another remedy to the chronic Model F case breakage, although those first generation Model M cases are not common, either.
Good luck with your journey!
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Cool! Thanks for sharing fohats! Do you find yourself with damaged fragile Model Fs cases? The AT F I borrowed seemed very sturdy.
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The AT F I borrowed seemed very sturdy.
Did you take it apart?
I am terrified of of opening and closing F ATs. The plastic clips that hold the front of the case together are ridiculously tight, so you have to pry them open and hope that you don't leave a mark. Their brittleness makes you worry that every time you go through the exercise they will snap off, and when you finally give them that good whack that is required to put them back together, you are so relieved that you swear that you will never do it again.
No computer case makes me more filled with trepidation than the Model F AT.
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I got it from Akimbo's Model AT F tour so no I didnt open it
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1386887 is a part number for a model m 122 of that era. I think 1387001 and 1387002 might work as well.
I believe the 1386887 is for the same 3179 terminal as the 6110668, actually.
I think the F AT and XT have a different plastic (than the model C and 122). The plastic on my XT is very sturdy.
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The plastic on my XT is very sturdy.
The XT plastic is like armor plating. Between its sheer thickness, and the fact that the bottom is a metal pan, that case is great.
But still, hard and strong often mean brittle, while a bit of flexibility can make something really tough.
I would think that the AT plastic and the F-122 plastic are similar. I have not handled my AT in a couple of years, though.
If you guys find model numbers that are good, or not, please post them to this thread.
Remember, a square metal badge on the right is not enough, it has to have the large side buttons and dual-stage legs, at least.
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Very good news! Thanks for trying this out. I had speculated that the cases could be swapped but thank you for confirming it. I have a few F 122's that are sitting on a project shelf waiting for a case repair :)
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It fit without modifications? From what I know, some snips to a few plastic tabs and such need to be made to the top case in order to get it to fit nicely.
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It fit without modifications? From what I know, some snips to a few plastic tabs and such need to be made to the top case in order to get it to fit nicely.
Only very minor modifications if you get the first generation M-122. I believe that it was wcass who had a guide to modding any of them, and with the later ones there was quite a bit of cutting and grinding. IIRC, with his method you could even use the late-model ones with label on the left.
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45089.msg940419#msg940419 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45089.msg940419#msg940419)
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Somebody please build a F that fits into a SSK Case :)
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Please forgive me I made a mistake.
Some minor modification is require to make this work, I did my first check with an already-modified component.
I will add a few pictures to show what is required, and I modified my original post.
I am very sorry if this has inconvenienced anyone.
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Thank you baby Jesus for this.
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Anybody know a good source of the first gen M-122s? My F-122 case came cracked at the bottom, and the only M-122 case I have doesn't have the holes for the legs
1386887 is a part number for a model m 122 of that era. I think 1387001 and 1387002 might work as well.
I believe the 1386887 is for the same 3179 terminal as the 6110668, actually.
I think the F AT and XT have a different plastic (than the model C and 122). The plastic on my XT is very sturdy.
I couldn't find any 002, but there was a 001 at $140 and a 887 at $60 shipped:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-IBM-1386887-Model-M-Keyboard-122-key-5-Pin-Din-Connector-6-Feb-1995-/261446859332?pt=Keyboard_Mice_Bundles&hash=item3cdf727a44
but its made by lexmark, so I don't know if that P/N is accurate
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Anybody know a good source of the first gen M-122s?
They are almost as hard to find as a Model F-122!
If the photo shows a side view you can look for the large side button, otherwise ask the seller whether it has the large 2-stage legs or the small regular legs.
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Anybody know a good source of the first gen M-122s?
They are almost as hard to find as a Model F-122!
If the photo shows a side view you can look for the large side button, otherwise ask the seller whether it has the large 2-stage legs or the small regular legs.
>:D
I think its even harder, because I only found 2 on ebay and both were really expensive.
I think I'm going to try to butcher a regular M-122 case and forgo the legs
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Hmmm...
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It's much easier on the wrists to keep your keyboard flat. Just think of it as helping to prevent RSI!
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I think I'm going to try to butcher a regular M-122 case and forgo the legs
I believe that wcass has a guide for that.
It does not look like a whole lot more work. The nice thing about the old ones is that you can still use the metal bottom pan.
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Somebody please build a F that fits into a SSK Case :)
Pretty close : http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48916.0
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Necro time.
I just got an old M122 case (without screws :/) and from what I can tell I have to do two modifications to be able to put a model F122 in:
1) shorten the plastic tabs at the bottom of the case
2) do something about the screw holes at the middle of each side of the case,
Second mod is needed because that's were the metal round pegs from F122 assembly fit (F122 case has a much bigger holes there). Should I cut it, or can I just widen it with a drill?
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Necro time.
I just got an old M122 case (without screws :/) and from what I can tell I have to do two modifications to be able to put a model F122 in:
1) shorten the plastic tabs at the bottom of the case
2) do something about the screw holes at the middle of each side of the case,
Second mod is needed because that's were the metal round pegs from F122 assembly fit (F122 case has a much bigger holes there). Should I cut it, or can I just widen it with a drill?
It has been a long time and I can't remember very well, but I would start by removing as little material as possible.
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Thanks. I'll proceed with caution, and try and document the changes.