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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: MadSage on Tue, 19 April 2011, 01:32:56

Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: MadSage on Tue, 19 April 2011, 01:32:56
OK, so this may sound bizarre and completely unfeasible, but I'm OK with that. I want to find an IBM Model M Keyboard manufactured the same day that I was, August 31st, 1989. Now, I've seen close online, I found one as close as August 26th, 1989, but that doesn't cut it. I know there must have been several 1391401 Model Ms manufactured on the day I was born, and I want to find one! Just one of them, is that so crazy? I'm using a November 1990 for now, and it's getting me through, but I just can't type happily knowing that it wasn't around for the first year of my life! I ask of you, oh geeks, to aid me in my quest! If anyone actually has one of these keyboards, I would gladly take it off your hands for you. I will purchase it from you, trade you my Model M, pay for shipping and handling charges, whatever is necessary. Or if any of you sees one for sale or not for sale anywhere, at a garage sale, on ebay, craigslist, at work, wherever, PLEASE let me know. Or if it may disappear soon, please get it as soon as possible, and I will pay you for whatever measures you took to obtain it.

Help me, geekhack. You're my only hope.
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: kbdfr on Tue, 19 April 2011, 02:24:14
Quote from: Osman Dandia;333253
I want to find an IBM Model M Keyboard manufactured the same day that I was, August 31st, 1989.


May I object your birthday is not quite the day you were... "manufactured"?

However, I wish you good luck for your search. Please report!
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: theferenc on Tue, 19 April 2011, 06:44:28
Quote from: kbdfr;333267
May I object your birthday is not quite the day you were... "manufactured"?

However, I wish you good luck for your search. Please report!

I guess it depends on which date matters. Is it when production was started, or completed? I always assumed the keyboards had completion dates on them, as I just can't believe that it takes less than a day to manufacture in its entirety. I mean, if nothing else, the steel plate wouldn't necessarily be ready in that time frame. But it also depends on how far back you go. If you start with raw materials, or it's just an assembly process.

I mean, a solid half of any human was "manufactured" significantly prior to them being born, after all.
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: snerual on Tue, 19 April 2011, 08:20:17
Keep looking around and you should be able to find one. Clickykeyboards sold at least one that was made on your day of birth:
(http://www.clickykeyboard.com/2006/may142006/may142006-010.jpg)
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: Ascaii on Tue, 19 April 2011, 08:30:36
Why dont we make a thread out of this, possibly a google spreadsheet of everyone looking for specific dates.
Id pay a pretty penny for a 1-1-1987 board. (I know this is near impossible due to holidays)
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: kbdfr on Tue, 19 April 2011, 08:51:48
Lucky all of you. On the day I was born, there was no such thing like a computer  :sad: :Cry:
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: snerual on Tue, 19 April 2011, 08:56:01
@Ascaii: As you pointed out already, January 1st seems unlikely. I actually have a 1390131 that was made on Jan 5th 1987.
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: HaveANiceDay on Tue, 19 April 2011, 10:09:10
Oh wow, I had the same idea today. To search for a Model M built on my birthday.
But end of 1985 models are kinda hard to come by.
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: Mr. Perfect on Tue, 19 April 2011, 10:52:26
This is a pretty cool idea!

It might be a bummer for anyone born on weekends or holidays though...
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: Grimey on Tue, 19 April 2011, 11:06:53
Quote from: Mr. Perfect;333444
This is a pretty cool idea!

It might be a bummer for anyone born on weekends or holidays though...

Or too old.  I started thinking about how cool this would be, then remembered that I need to yell at the kids on my lawn.
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: Mr. Perfect on Tue, 19 April 2011, 11:15:56
Oh... Well, you could get one for some other important date. A childs birthday or wedding aniverary.
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 19 April 2011, 11:36:11
I've been on the lookout for an 03-JUL-89 one.
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: javifast on Tue, 19 April 2011, 12:18:46
I bought a model M with my birthday date....well...the day and the month...IBM didn't make keyboards when I was born   ;)
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: bhtooefr on Tue, 19 April 2011, 12:21:50
In 1972, they were making keyboards based partially on the Selectric mechanism, IIRC, and you certainly could've gotten a Selectric I/O...
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: audioave10 on Tue, 19 April 2011, 12:25:33
In 1956, Westinghouse Electric Company installed a UNIVAC computer in its East Pittsburgh plant. The UNIVAC was used to calculate company payrolls, sales records, analysis of sales performance and other company business. The UNIVAC could perform 90,000 transactions per month.

This was AFTER I was born!
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: bhtooefr on Tue, 19 April 2011, 12:27:50
And, myself, I actually probably could get a Model M made on my birthday, but why get a Model M when Model Fs exist? :p
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: crowstar on Tue, 19 April 2011, 14:20:37
Quote from: Ascaii;333335
Why dont we make a thread out of this, possibly a google spreadsheet of everyone looking for specific dates.
Id pay a pretty penny for a 1-1-1987 board. (I know this is near impossible due to holidays)

 Rats, i had one that no longer works and has the case sawed in half. But it IS 1-1-87 tho. Just needs a new membrane and some epoxy.
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: theferenc on Tue, 19 April 2011, 14:27:47
Anyone got an 8 March (from the 80's) model? I also am too old to get one from the year of my birth, but any from the 80's would please me well enough. In my experience, they tend to have a heavier plate, which I prefer.
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: MadSage on Wed, 20 April 2011, 15:47:00
Quote from: snerual;333329
Keep looking around and you should be able to find one. Clickykeyboards sold at least one that was made on your day of birth:
Show Image
(http://www.clickykeyboard.com/2006/may142006/may142006-010.jpg)

 
I wonder if I can find the person who bought this and harass them for it ....
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: applescript on Fri, 22 April 2011, 05:16:47
I want one from 8 Jan 1991 then!
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: kill will on Fri, 22 April 2011, 20:19:06
I owned a nov 16 1994 ibm options m15 ... thats my bday.  not the year but same difference.
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: MadSage on Sun, 24 April 2011, 19:22:00
http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Model-M-keyboard-Part-No-1391401-vintage-CLICKY-/170631109629?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item27ba681bfd

This one was so close! So close!! Sigh, 9 days too old. Everyone, please keep an eye out for August 31st, 1989. It would be a dream.
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: 002 on Sun, 24 April 2011, 22:40:07
Well if anyone here was born on the 16th of August 1994 or '02.06.1990' (you could interpret this as either 2nd of June if you read dates how they should be read, or February 6th if you're American :smile:) then I'm sitting on your birthday board.
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Sun, 24 April 2011, 22:44:37
If someone was actually looking for it, I'd say that it was 'actually' made on the way dates would be read wherever the keyboard was made.

I have been looking for April 17 1987. Any and all models, I'm pretty sure they still made the one with no LED indicators then too.
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: 002 on Sun, 24 April 2011, 22:49:24
Quote from: False_Dmitry_II;336778
If someone was actually looking for it, I'd say that it was 'actually' made on the way dates would be read wherever the keyboard was made.

Which is interesting when you consider that my 1994 model actually says "16-Aug-1994" (16.08.1990)
It makes me wonder when my 1990 model was truly made!
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Mon, 25 April 2011, 05:18:34
The same logo will tell you where it's from, or at least which of the two that I know of that it was made for. Either the facility in england or where unicomp now is in america.
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: 002 on Mon, 25 April 2011, 05:44:40
Yep - "MADE IN USA".
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: trievalot on Mon, 25 April 2011, 05:49:04
we should start a google spreadsheet with dates of who has what
and if they are willing to part!
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: trievalot on Mon, 25 April 2011, 05:50:06
lolwut
im SO CLOSE
IBM Model M IB 1391401 (25 Aug 89)
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: Neit on Mon, 25 April 2011, 09:32:42
Quote from: trievalot;336862
lolwut
im SO CLOSE
IBM Model M IB 1391401 (25 Aug 89)

Arg! You make me hope (mine is 25 august)
But the auction is 22 :(
Title: Model M manufactured on my birthday - Possible?
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Mon, 25 April 2011, 12:05:53
The only one I have that I'd be willing to trade for the date I'm looking for (april 17 1987) is in like 1996 or something. My other one actually has the built in speaker, so it ain't for sale.