geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: es1208 on Sun, 14 September 2014, 22:16:35
-
Hey all,
I am desperately trying to get my hands on an IBM model M with a specific date. Other than ebay, anyone got any ideas where I could find an 05May 86?
Cheers!
-
I'd think your best bet is to keep posting ads on sites that will let you hoping someone will eventually hit you up on that one
-
Probably a dumpster. One of the places I worked at used to recycle them by the pallet.
-
Welcome to Geekhack!
You could try: http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm
-
Thanks guys, I like the dumpster idea.
I've tried clickykeyboards and they are great. I'm sad they have actually sold one of that exact date in the past :(.
Anyways, Cheers for the input :)
-
Also: http://phosphorglow.net/
Very, very nicely refurbished keyboards!
-
or you could just buy a nice unicomp.
-
a unicomp isn't quite as good as a real model m
-
It is difficult to get an M with a specific S/N or date, but in general, I have been very pleased getting IBM Model M and some IBM Model F keyboards from clickykeyboards.com. More recently, I have found some good IBM Model M SSK and IBM Model F AT, F XT, F122, and IBM beam spring keyboards on eBay, but on eBay, quality and prices vary substantially and erratically. Phosphorglow is an excellent source for high-quality refurbished IBM keyboards.
-
You are also seeking a very early date. That will make it much harder to find. Even my earliest 1390131 is almost 2 months newer than that.
On the other hand, if you do get one eventually, there may be a good chance that it will have the luscious old Model F stye label!
-
You are also seeking a very early date. That will make it much harder to find. Even my earliest 1390131 is almost 2 months newer than that.
On the other hand, if you do get one eventually, there may be a good chance that it will have the luscious old Model F stye label!
Yes, my 1390120 is from 03 march 1986. There were likely only a few thousand made on that day, but it really depends on the plant. It will probably take a year or two of searching to find one. Check in with clickykeybaords and eBay frequently.
I believe this is pre-1391401, so you only have a few model numbers to search, and the most common may be a 122-key (maybe even a model F) or a terminal board. Look for barcode labels, as most of the plants switches over to the newer labels a few months later in 1986.
You can get a sense of scope of how many were made on that day by browsing the model M serial number archive project.
Based on the serial numbers, plant J1 was making about 450 daily 1390131's in may of '86
Plant FL2 was making about 450 daily 1390131's in April of 1986 (not enough data for that plant in May)
for 1390120 Plant J1 was making about 450 daily in March (though it might be as high as 2000 daily)
It's ahrder to tell plant FL2 numbers since the letter at the beginning changes so much, but it seems they might have been making as few as 450 a day or as many as 2000 a day.
In the entire archive, there is only a single KB from your date.
1390120 G0591 5/5/1986 FL2
There were other terminal keyboards and industrial ones that were produced through 1986, but your part number range is quite small. Any 1391401 beige label or blue label is too new. This will help narrow the search.
it will almost certainly have the barcode label the fohat.digs is talking about.
Here's the picture of mine:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3869/15077180409_56fe528197_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oYjusn)
-
Again, Thanks for all the input. I realise it is an early model. I already have a lovely old-labelled March 86 from clickykeyboards. Love it. This is for a birthday gift for a friend... guess the date ;). Have been in touch with a few ebay sellers and will just keep at it I guess. Thanks for this,
You are also seeking a very early date. That will make it much harder to find. Even my earliest 1390131 is almost 2 months newer than that.
On the other hand, if you do get one eventually, there may be a good chance that it will have the luscious old Model F stye label!
I'll keep an eye out for model F s also.
Thanks for the update dorkvader... hopefully one of those 450 will come my way eventually!
Cheers all.
-
Relevant part numbers:
1386303
1386304
^the above are both terminal and won't work on PC without an adapter. They are the first M ever made, so many are from 1985 ! Uncommon
1388032
^industrial model M: can go for $800 sometimes for early dates. uncommon.
1390120
^probably the most common, normal model M. No LEDs
1390131
Probably the second most common, same as 1390120 but with leds for capslock, etc.
All examples I know of have the "barcode" label and square badge.
---
After that, there are some model Fs that were produced around that time. Here are some common-ish ones you should look out for:
"xt layout" model F keyboard for IBM 5291
4176191
1397950
122-key model F for 3179:
6110344
6110345
6110346 (less common)
These last three were mostly phased out by 1986, as far as I know, but there may be some.
-
There are lots on ebay. I personally have gotten 2 from ebay. Unicomp makes new board based on model M.
-
I don't need a specific date, but I've been thinking about getting a Model M and I'm loving these recommendations. :thumb: