geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: elmwood on Mon, 09 March 2009, 23:57:51

Title: Will Unicomp keyboard guts fit into an old Model M case?
Post by: elmwood on Mon, 09 March 2009, 23:57:51

... and, more importantly, will Unicomp sell the guts of a keyboard without the case?

Why am I asking?  Well, a sad thing happened to one of my Ms.  Specifically, my oldest M, with a manufacture date of April 10, 1987.  Apparently there were some crossed traces in the membrane -- something that's nearly impossible to fix -- resulting in a couple of keys registering their neighbor as well when pressed.  I kept the keystems, keycaps, logic board and case, and trashed the rest. :(

I'm tempted to get an old M (for instance, the AT&T on eBay with the missing keys that's been around lately) and create an '87 M replica.  However, I'd be sacrificing a perfectly good M to do so.  I'm wondering if Unicomp will sell just the guts to one of their M-style keyboards, and if so, would it fit properly in an old-school IBM M case?

Title: Will Unicomp keyboard guts fit into an old Model M case?
Post by: bhtooefr on Tue, 10 March 2009, 01:42:43

They will sell the guts for repair, and I believe they have different versions for different versions of Model M.

Title: Will Unicomp keyboard guts fit into an old Model M case?
Post by: MANISH7 on Tue, 10 March 2009, 09:34:18

They don't sell the guts that will fit the casing of a 139401. I had asked about this back in October. They offered to take my 139401, give it new guts, and new outer casing that would actually fit the guts (cable coming from right side), and put back the 139401 key caps. Nevertheless, give them a call.

Title: Will Unicomp keyboard guts fit into an old Model M case?
Post by: Mercen_505 on Tue, 10 March 2009, 09:35:21

I don't think they do anymore. I seem to recall iMav discussing this a while ago. Either way, you could Ebay a cheap M and use its guts. That's what I did when my precious M13 was having similar problems.

Title: Will Unicomp keyboard guts fit into an old Model M case?
Post by: elmwood on Tue, 10 March 2009, 19:43:01

Thanks all!  This is some great information.  I think I'll just hunt down another M, and make a 139401 replica.

Title: Will Unicomp keyboard guts fit into an old Model M case?
Post by: alpslover on Wed, 11 March 2009, 10:03:56

why not just buy a 1391401 and save yourself the trouble?

Title: Will Unicomp keyboard guts fit into an old Model M case?
Post by: MANISH7 on Wed, 11 March 2009, 11:13:38

Quote from: alpslover;24097

why not just buy a 1391401 and save yourself the trouble?

i guess he wanted to make use of the parts he already had rather than keep them idle.

Title: Will Unicomp keyboard guts fit into an old Model M case?
Post by: alpslover on Wed, 11 March 2009, 12:03:27

Quote from: MANISH7;24105

i guess he wanted to make use of the parts he already had rather than keep them idle.

but if he buys another m only to take it apart and use the membrane, he will still have the same spare parts left over, only he has spent a considerable amount of time swapping the membrane.  why not simply buy another 1391401 and use it?  the parts from his old 1391401 would be spares.