geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: jellowiggler on Wed, 25 January 2012, 16:08:22
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I had noticed that a client of mine had a old IBM keyboard attached to his old P3 tower that was used as a server many moons ago.
Today we actually were cleaning stuff up and got the old beast ready for recycling. Removed hard drives for destruction, etc.
I made him an offer that I would take his old keyboard away and trade him for a USB HP model. He said all the geeks that look at the old IBM always comment on it, as I did when I started consulting there years ago.
So I left the appointment with a gungie, dirty M with a piece rattling around inside. (broken plastic rivet?)
After over an hour of clean up following the guides around here I found that:
1. Two part key caps rule for cleaning!
2. Paper clip inside chassis was the rattle, all rivets are great!
3. These things are built like tanks!
4. Any keyboard that has a drainage system is pretty cool.
5. This unit must have been pretty well taken care. Besides the surface finger gunge there was minimal food and a bit of hair inside. No spills or anything.
So I am the proud owner of a like new IBM Model M 1391401.
This adds whole new meaning to "They don't build them like they used to."
Actually I guess they do still build them, they just don't design them like this anymore. Probably too expensive relative to the usual crap PC's price point now.
I'm very impressed, even more than before, after I have taken it apart and seen what makes it tick.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]38545[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]38546[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]38547[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]38548[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]38549[/ATTACH]
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Nice Find, I am still waiting on my great garage sell find or office cleaning out sale!
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Well, I think unicomps are quite affordably priced. Otherwise I agree.
I was pretty sure M4's are all buckling sleeve, that looks like a regular model m - unless it's a quiet touch rubber dome.
But yeah, it certainly is worth more than what a retail computer would come with - not that I would even have such a thing.
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It is a regular M, I can't change the topic title.
Still a fantastic find for me. I'll probably keep it forever. It will probably still be working when I pass.....
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It is a regular M, I can't change the topic title.
Still a fantastic find for me. I'll probably keep it forever. It will probably still be working when I pass.....
Find the thread in the forum. Double click next to the title (not in the thread in the forum).