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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: meltie on Wed, 18 June 2008, 08:09:52

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: meltie on Wed, 18 June 2008, 08:09:52

Hi,

I wanted to share my find with you. I just got myself a rare Model M from ebay (Germany), which seems to have not been typed on very much. It's nice that for once I don't have to start an hourlong cleaning session as I had with all my other Model Ms :-)

It is white on the topside with white keys, grey on the downside an has obviously been custom made for a company named Ambra.

The keys do not have a detachable key cap and are not that well produced. They do have little plastic rests on one side. The cable is not a spiral cable. The board is from 1993. It has German key layout.

I would like to know who built it, though. Lexmark already built the model ms for IBM in 1993, didn't they?

meltie

P.S.: Sorry for the quality of the pics, I only had the camera of my cell phone to take them.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: Waves77 on Wed, 18 June 2008, 08:32:24

Quote from: meltie;5712

I wanted to share my find with you. I just got myself a rare Model M from ebay (Germany), ...

All model M's, even when made by different companies. have the IBM logo and the same label layout in the back. I don't think this is a model M at all... does it have buckling springs though?

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: bhtooefr on Wed, 18 June 2008, 12:51:40

Not necessarily, the Dell Model Ms didn't say IBM anywhere on them - they instead said Lexmark, IIRC.

Also, IIRC, the earliest Model Ms didn't say IBM on the label, and had a drastically different label layout.

But, something that the OP didn't mention, so I'll go ahead and ask it... is the keyboard clicky, or rubber dome?

If it's rubber dome, I'd be inclined to believe that this isn't a Model M at all, but rather, a relative of the KeyTronic KT2000. (The KT2000 has Windows keys, but KeyTronic's been producing that basic design since... well, not long after the Model M came out.)

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: Mikecase00 on Wed, 18 June 2008, 13:10:25

I've never seen a Model M with the font used for the lettering on the board pictured.  Take a picture of the key switch mechanism.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: bhtooefr on Wed, 18 June 2008, 13:36:43

He said the keycaps weren't detachable... the rubber dome Model Ms don't have detachable keycaps.

Anyway, if it's not a KeyTronic, and actually is a Model M... it says it was made in the UK... which means that it was made by IBM United Kingdom.

Best way to tell a rubber dome Model M from a KeyTronic... put it on a scale. The rubber dome Model Ms still have a steel plate. Second best way... IIRC, the KeyTronics all have varying key force, whereas the Model Ms do not.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: meltie on Wed, 18 June 2008, 16:40:16

Forgot to post the obvious: Of course it has buckling springs and it is just as heavy as all my other IBM Model Ms. It's just different on the outside. Some of my newer IBM Model Ms don't have detachable keycaps either. But the font used for the lettering as well as the general appearance of the board I've never seen anywhere else.

edit: I just found out that the command keys like ctrl and alt do have detachable key caps.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: bhtooefr on Wed, 18 June 2008, 16:46:16

In that case, I'll say that it was definitely made by IBM UK. I'd ask Clickykeyboards.com about that keyboard, they might know more - they specialize in weird Model Ms.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: meltie on Wed, 18 June 2008, 16:50:08

Asking clickykeyboards is a good idea. I'll mail them on the weekend and post their answer here.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: lowpoly on Fri, 14 November 2008, 08:25:03

Two more Ambras checking in: :D

(http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/3894/ambra1rw6.jpg)

(http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5693/ambra2nw6.jpg)

(http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9908/ambra3pr7.jpg)

Haven't cleaned them yet, sorry.

See the differently colored stems for f and j in the last pic. Unlike meltie's board the keycaps are detachable.

The regular Model M is for color comparison.

Quote

Asking clickykeyboards is a good idea. I'll mail them on the weekend and post their answer here.

Did you do that?

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: lowpoly on Fri, 14 November 2008, 16:08:00

AMBRA Computer Corporation was a wholly-owned subsidiary of IBM.

Ambra on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMBRA_Computer_Corporation)

The New York Times about Ambra's closing (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9907EFD81739F93AA15754C0A962958260)

IBM's English daughter company that produced the Ambra PCs was called Individual Computer Products International Limited (ICPI). See label on meltie's board.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: bhtooefr on Fri, 14 November 2008, 16:11:19

Wait, Ambras were sold in the US?

Wonder if they made an Ambra version of the 1391401...

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: lowpoly on Fri, 14 November 2008, 16:30:00

There were at least 3 Ambras. Europe, US, Canada. Europe was closed in March 1994 (announcement), US in October 1994 (announcement), Canada in 1996. Didn't find anything on what the US daughter did.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: lowpoly on Sat, 27 December 2008, 15:51:40

Tried to clean these today and found out they're not dishwasher safe :(

I was lucky with the first one but the second one came out seriously bent. It's only the top case. I didn't put the bottom in because of the paper label. The keys were fine.

The top case on the 2nd 'board had a two inch wave in the front edge. This edge is supposed to be straight and clip into the bottom case.

I poured boiling water on it and managed to bend it back somewhat. I have to do that again, it might be possible to repair it completely. I just pour boiling water on a small area I want to bend then bend and hold it.

Didn't have a camera when it happened so no pics, sorry.

Bottom line: 55 degrees Celsius is too much for Ambra cases. I cleaned 20+ keyboards like this before and never had a problem (beside one faded label), must be the plastic they used for these.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: meltie on Tue, 15 December 2009, 15:27:05

Oh, I should have looked back into this thread earlier! I'm happy to learn that there are actually more people with this kind of Model M out there :-) Haven't used it in a while, though, could maybe switch back to buckling spring from my Das III over the holidays.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: lowpoly on Tue, 15 December 2009, 15:44:58

I'm contemplating the idea to sand the symbols off the one that is ruined anyway. An all white Model M! A sacrilege too. Only thing that keeps me back is the amount of time and work this requires.

I thought there'd be more Ambras on ebay but nothing so far.

Title: Ambra Model M Keyboard
Post by: vintagemaccollector on Sun, 10 January 2010, 22:14:05

I was going through some of the stuff I got for free off of freecycle and found an Ambra Keyboard from 1994. On the back it says made by Lexmark & model M and has those springy keys with removable key caps but I'm not sure if it's actually a true model M. Can you guys help me out? Here are some pics of it:

(http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/1218/photoon20100110at23092.jpg)

(http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/2964/photoon20100110at2308.jpg)

(http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/7979/photoon20100110at23093.jpg)

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: keyb_gr on Sun, 10 January 2010, 23:20:22

1378160 seems to be a standard Ambra M. If it weighs a good 2 kg and is clicky, it should be quite equivalent to the real deal.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 11 January 2010, 06:31:44

If it has two piece keycaps, then it's buckling springs.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: overdriver on Mon, 11 January 2010, 09:30:19

look at my sig. I have same model. It is Model M. mine has same logo, etc.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 11 January 2010, 09:56:43

The German ones had a very nice font.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: vintagemaccollector on Mon, 11 January 2010, 15:27:24

Thanks! You're right - I guess it is a model M (part # 1378160). When I did a google search for the part #, nothing came up so I asked here. Sorry about the bad pics - My webcam isn't exactly a substitute for a camera...

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: vils on Tue, 16 February 2010, 14:21:12

I got hold of a Ambra KB this evening, and my first google search led me to this familiar site.
Made in 1993(UK), detachable cord, double piece key-caps and buckling springs.

There's something rattling inside,not sure if it should be attached to the KB or if it's just dropped inside. Two outer key caps are missing and the board is dirty.
But hey it was for free along with one Apple KB II.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: Mental Hobbit on Tue, 16 February 2010, 15:55:36

Quote from: vils;158672

There's something rattling inside

Probably some broken rivets.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: vils on Tue, 16 February 2010, 16:48:17

Zero broken rivets, it was the space bar stabilizer that had came loose.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: ch_123 on Tue, 16 February 2010, 17:01:07

Quote from: vintagemaccollector;149925

Show Image

(http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/2964/photoon20100110at2308.jpg)

There's something rather odd about this picture... =P

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: ricercar on Tue, 16 February 2010, 17:34:01

*snicker*

zOMFG! a lefty Model M!.

Title: IBM Model M from ebay - different brand
Post by: InSanCen on Tue, 16 February 2010, 19:08:16

Quote from: ricercar;158727

*snicker*

zOMFG! a lefty Model M!.

that will be for all the mutants... sorry, left handed data inputters, out there.