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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: phototristan on Thu, 26 August 2010, 17:11:44

Title: Anyone ever seen worn lettering on Model M keys?
Post by: phototristan on Thu, 26 August 2010, 17:11:44

Has anyone ever seen worn Model M key lettering before? They seem really sturdy as ever so I'm wondering if  anyone has ever witnessed any with the lettering wearing off?

Title: Anyone ever seen worn lettering on Model M keys?
Post by: ironman31 on Thu, 26 August 2010, 18:28:53

I haven't yet. But it seems like it would take a lot being that they're dye sublimation.

Title: Anyone ever seen worn lettering on Model M keys?
Post by: EverythingIBM on Thu, 26 August 2010, 18:54:44

Quote from: phototristan;217034

Has anyone ever seen worn Model M key lettering before? They seem really sturdy as ever so I'm wondering if  anyone has ever witnessed any with the lettering wearing off?

Kishy knows someone who uses this model M, I've never seen one so worn down before:
(http://kishy.comuf.com/friends/alan_ibm-modelm-front.jpg)

But that's proof the keys can get worn down and shiny.

My friend's industrial model M is losing its labels, but he never sent me any pics.

Title: Anyone ever seen worn lettering on Model M keys?
Post by: phototristan on Thu, 26 August 2010, 19:06:42

I'm ordering a new set of keys from Unicomp to have for backup. There's really nothing like the feel of a new set of keys!

Title: Anyone ever seen worn lettering on Model M keys?
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 26 August 2010, 19:14:44

My SSK (IIRC) had it's keys replaced by new Unicomp ones by the previous owner. Unfortunately, the printing on the batch he got wasn't great, and they look like they are worn. Ironically, I ended up swapping some keycaps from a Model M from 1993.

If I look really closely at the printing on my Model F, it's not completely consistent. Hard to know whether this was the way it was printed, or whether it was some degree of wear.

Title: Anyone ever seen worn lettering on Model M keys?
Post by: phototristan on Thu, 26 August 2010, 19:18:08

Quote from: ch_123;217069

My SSK (IIRC) had it's keys replaced by new Unicomp ones by the previous owner. Unfortunately, the printing on the batch he got wasn't great, and they look like they are worn. Ironically, I ended up swapping some keycaps from a Model M from 1993.

If I look really closely at the printing on my Model F, it's not completely consistent. Hard to know whether this was the way it was printed, or whether it was some degree of wear.

I don't think they were particularly consistent even back then in the 80s and 90s.

Title: Anyone ever seen worn lettering on Model M keys?
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 26 August 2010, 19:24:23

Except the ones on my SSK are noticeably bad. I'll post up some high-res pictures when I get the chance.

Title: Anyone ever seen worn lettering on Model M keys?
Post by: ch_123 on Thu, 26 August 2010, 19:29:43

I heard that one too.

Again, whatever the deal was with the ones I have, they're far worse than anything I've seen elsewhere.

Another interesting thing I noticed about the keycaps is that the colour of the plastic varied over the years. The grey keycaps on older white/industrial Model Ms are darker than the ones on the newer ones, and even the white ones are slightly different.

Title: Anyone ever seen worn lettering on Model M keys?
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Fri, 27 August 2010, 06:46:20

A lot of the keys on my old work M are smooth and shiny, but I don't think the lettering is at all worn. I'll try to take a look when I get home.

Title: Anyone ever seen worn lettering on Model M keys?
Post by: itlnstln on Fri, 27 August 2010, 07:51:23

You would probably have to sweat battery acid to wear the lettering on a Model M.