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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Ruby9 on Wed, 15 January 2014, 00:36:59

Title: IBM Model M 401
Post by: Ruby9 on Wed, 15 January 2014, 00:36:59

I bought a used Model M on ebay, part no. 401. http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-MODEL-M-VINTAGE-CLICKY-KEYBOARD-PS-2-APRIL1987-PART-1391401-TESTED-/231130157868?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&nma=true&si=YS2ZCUtGkTgR0lvnuc5iFngq4Gw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc (http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-MODEL-M-VINTAGE-CLICKY-KEYBOARD-PS-2-APRIL1987-PART-1391401-TESTED-/231130157868?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&nma=true&si=YS2ZCUtGkTgR0lvnuc5iFngq4Gw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc) It is very metallic sounding and echoy. I was wondering if this is normal? It sounds exactly as in this video.

Title: Re: IBM Model M 401
Post by: bcg on Wed, 15 January 2014, 00:52:57

That sounds pretty normal to me.  Some boards might sound/feel tighter than that but what I hear in your video is pretty normal

You can do a floss mod if you want to reduce that echo sound:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=9761.0

Title: Re: IBM Model M 401
Post by: Ruby9 on Wed, 15 January 2014, 01:32:11

The floss mod looks promising. Thank you.

Title: Re: IBM Model M 401
Post by: 1391406 on Wed, 15 January 2014, 14:30:51

Model M's do sound pingy with a metallic ringing. The audio in that video is actually more accurate than a lot of others I've heard. It's worth mentioning that Unicomp Model M's are practically devoid of the pinging / ringing.

Title: Re: IBM Model M 401
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 15 January 2014, 15:32:24

I have 2 Model M.

One feels and sounds a bit loose and rattly.  That one I know has a few missing rivets.  It also feels inconsistent across the board, probably needs a bolt mod.

The other one feels tight and clicky across the board, and is very consistent.  I haven't opened that one yet, but nothing is rattling around so I suspect the rivets are still mostly fine.