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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Fri, 03 July 2020, 06:20:19

Title: Quick IBM Model F vs. M Question
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Fri, 03 July 2020, 06:20:19

So I have an IBM Model F 122, which I currently do not have keycaps for. I also have an M 122, which does have all the keys.

Question: are the keycaps from the Model M fully identical and/or usable on the Model F? Based on a quick look, it seems the layouts are identical, yet they seem to use different stabilizers.

Any help/answers would be greatly appreciated.  :D

Title: Re: Quick IBM Model F vs. M Question
Post by: E TwentyNine on Fri, 03 July 2020, 08:03:40

Yes.  You'll have to transfer the stabilizer barrel inserts to the board that was using the wiring stabilizers, but it should all fit.

Title: Re: Quick IBM Model F vs. M Question
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 03 July 2020, 10:15:18

If you are not taking the M apart to push out the barrel stabilizers from behind, you need to be careful not to scratch the insides of the tubes.

The best thing that I have found is to straighten out a paper clip and bend a *tiny* "J" on the end so that you can just catch the bottom edge of the barrel insert and start pulling it out without damaging the interior walls.

Title: Re: Quick IBM Model F vs. M Question
Post by: yui on Mon, 06 July 2020, 02:05:29

i think older M used the wire stabilizers like the F but then IBM switched to barrel stabilizers, other than that i think they are identical and should work, you could check with the stabilized keys 1st as everything else should work just fine, and if you do not want to bother with removing the tubes from the M unicomp sells them for pretty cheap i think.

Title: Re: Quick IBM Model F vs. M Question
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 06 July 2020, 07:47:25

Wire stabilizers are not compatible. Model M wires are both thicker in diameter and longer.

Title: Re: Quick IBM Model F vs. M Question
Post by: ddrfraser1 on Mon, 06 July 2020, 09:35:49

do this

list=LLNNAD_1r38KCmL_muhYVpYw&index=91&t=4s

Title: Re: Quick IBM Model F vs. M Question
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Mon, 13 July 2020, 03:25:07

I was able to successfully transplant the M caps onto the F board, however I have not yet gotten the M metal stabilizers yet. Despite that the spacebar and return key are useable, but I will still definitely want to get the metal stabs cuz they're a little unstable.

Title: Re: Quick IBM Model F vs. M Question
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 13 July 2020, 08:33:55

Besides the fact that Model M wires are much larger in diameter, if you look closely at the picture in the preceding post, you see that the M wire also extends 2mm-3mm farther out from the bottom of the space bar, meaning that the stabilizer tabs are also in a different position as well.