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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: Son of Gnome on Mon, 30 January 2012, 21:19:47

Title: IBM Model M "Soft Touch" keyboard
Post by: Son of Gnome on Mon, 30 January 2012, 21:19:47

Is this really worth 500 bucks? According to the seller its pretty rare...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Model-M-Soft-Touch-keyboard-Rarest-IBM-ever-made-Near-Mint-Cond-/330678997286?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item4cfe011126#ht_5019wt_1270

Title: IBM Model M "Soft Touch" keyboard
Post by: litster on Mon, 30 January 2012, 21:22:51

A few of them were sold at around $100 a week or two ago.

Title: IBM Model M "Soft Touch" keyboard
Post by: bazemk1979 on Mon, 30 January 2012, 21:47:33

I saw that one too, I wonder what they mean by soft touch? non clicky? rubber dome? or just buckling springs with some sort of O-rings silencers like we have today on the Cherry switches?

Title: IBM Model M "Soft Touch" keyboard
Post by: DaemonRaccoon on Mon, 30 January 2012, 21:50:40

According to the Deskthority wiki, it's greased. (http://deskthority.net/wiki/IBM_Enhanced_Keyboard#8184692)

Title: IBM Model M "Soft Touch" keyboard
Post by: dorkvader on Tue, 31 January 2012, 08:57:07

Yep greased. Also looks like the long cable (harder to find).

I wouldn't call it the "holy grail" of model M's though. What about the M15?

Title: IBM Model M "Soft Touch" keyboard
Post by: sordna on Tue, 31 January 2012, 09:11:05

Could you replicate it on any model M but popping off the keycaps and squirting some grease in the springs ?  Or do the springs have some kind of sheath in the Soft Touch keyboard?

Title: IBM Model M "Soft Touch" keyboard
Post by: alaricljs on Tue, 31 January 2012, 09:14:39

Forget who did it, but someone worked on silencing their M with grease and found that after a couple months of usage it shook the grease out of the spring on high-activity keys.  I've seen pictures of the spring in a Soft Touch and it really does look like it's just grease, but I have a suspicion it's a high-silicone content grease and it's 'seized' like an extra soft silicone caulk.

Title: IBM Model M "Soft Touch" keyboard
Post by: Son of Gnome on Tue, 31 January 2012, 13:15:17

Quote from: ripster;504196

Here:

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?8297-What-s-wrong-with-my-IBM-M-Mini&highlight=grease%20mod

BTW he's selling his IBM Minis.  Might want to make sure which one you're getting.

Another reason why everyone should vote for me as Number One Keyboard Expert On The Planet here.  I save you MONEEEE using my Sherlocking Observation and correlation skillz!:
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?26781-Do-you-think-Ripster-is-the-1-Keyboard-Expert-on-Planet-Earth

already voted for u :D