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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: chyros on Fri, 21 August 2015, 09:41:18

Title: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: chyros on Fri, 21 August 2015, 09:41:18
So I found a place where they had a few old keyboards. They weren't open during weekends so I had to go during the week. They said they'd pile some stuff into a box and I could go through it and take what I wanted. So I came over today, and what was the very first thing I saw in that box?

(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab207/Chyrosran/WP_20150821_004_zpslzrreq3w.jpg)

Yup, an industrial, black-badge Model M. It has no model sticker so I'm not sure what part it is, or how old, but judging by the codes on the controller I think it may be from 1988. It is a bit dusty, and the keys could do with some cleaning, but it's in great condition otherwise.

(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab207/Chyrosran/WP_20150821_001_zpsqtepys3w.jpg)

It has a beautiful rainbow brass backplate and it's missing only two rivets. The rivets appear to be hand-melted too, much rougher than those on my oval-badge Model Ms.

(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab207/Chyrosran/WP_20150821_005_zpsyvfxjnde.jpg)

It even came with the original black detachable cable, with AT plug. The cable is absolutely immaculate and very shiny, just look at how great that looks :D .

The same guy gave me a few more keyboards that I'm not going to tell about yet, as they will feature in future reviews and I don't want to spoil them just yet. Looks like I'm going to be doing a lot of cleaning this weekend ^^ .
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 21 August 2015, 09:43:50
Back plate is steel, not brass.  Best guess on the coloration is a combination of an anti-corrosion coating and/or heat treating.
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: jbondeson on Fri, 21 August 2015, 09:44:36
Very nice find!

Really interested to see what else they gave you!  :thumb:
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: azhdar on Fri, 21 August 2015, 09:45:14
Those are some weird legends on caps lock and nav cluster. Great find.
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: jbondeson on Fri, 21 August 2015, 09:46:50
Quote from: azhdar on Fri, 21 August 2015, 09:45:14
Those are some weird legends on caps lock and nav cluster. Great find.

And I didn't even notice at first, but it's ANSI with an Alt Gr key. What is that called ANSISO?  :confused:
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: chyros on Fri, 21 August 2015, 09:56:13
Quote from: jbondeson on Fri, 21 August 2015, 09:46:50
Quote from: azhdar on Fri, 21 August 2015, 09:45:14
Those are some weird legends on caps lock and nav cluster. Great find.

And I didn't even notice at first, but it's ANSI with an Alt Gr key. What is that called ANSISO?  :confused:
In fact, it's UK layout; notice the " under the 2 and @ next to the enter. So it's definitely both ANSI and ISO at the same time.
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: katushkin on Fri, 21 August 2015, 10:05:38
Eugh. I hate you. The only thing I've ever found is a terminal M at work that I STILL haven't got round to converting yet.
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: derb2k2 on Fri, 21 August 2015, 16:46:26
pretty much hating you. That color scheme and caps look amazing.   >:D >:D >:D
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: Snowdog993 on Fri, 21 August 2015, 17:47:18
Quote from: katushkin on Fri, 21 August 2015, 10:05:38
Eugh. I hate you. The only thing I've ever found is a terminal M at work that I STILL haven't got round to converting yet.

I converted mine!  You can do it too Kat!  My goodness!  I hope you get the controller and the LED panel.  That's the easy way to go.
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: Snowdog993 on Fri, 21 August 2015, 17:48:31
Quote from: chyros on Fri, 21 August 2015, 09:41:18
So I found a place where they had a few old keyboards. They weren't open during weekends so I had to go during the week. They said they'd pile some stuff into a box and I could go through it and take what I wanted. So I came over today, and what was the very first thing I saw in that box?

Show Image
(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab207/Chyrosran/WP_20150821_004_zpslzrreq3w.jpg)


Yup, an industrial, black-badge Model M. It has no model sticker so I'm not sure what part it is, or how old, but judging by the codes on the controller I think it may be from 1988. It is a bit dusty, and the keys could do with some cleaning, but it's in great condition otherwise.

Show Image
(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab207/Chyrosran/WP_20150821_001_zpsqtepys3w.jpg)


It has a beautiful rainbow brass backplate and it's missing only two rivets. The rivets appear to be hand-melted too, much rougher than those on my oval-badge Model Ms.

Show Image
(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab207/Chyrosran/WP_20150821_005_zpsyvfxjnde.jpg)


It even came with the original black detachable cable, with AT plug. The cable is absolutely immaculate and very shiny, just look at how great that looks :D .

The same guy gave me a few more keyboards that I'm not going to tell about yet, as they will feature in future reviews and I don't want to spoil them just yet. Looks like I'm going to be doing a lot of cleaning this weekend ^^ .

I have got to say, that's one of the best finds I have seen in a long time!  Congrats!
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: CPTBadAss on Fri, 21 August 2015, 18:43:03
Great find chryos, congrats!
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 21 August 2015, 19:30:21


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfdXYAb0j2E (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfdXYAb0j2E)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_E1FeBO54w (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_E1FeBO54w)
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: chyros on Fri, 21 August 2015, 20:10:27
Cheers guys! :D I'll post some better pictures tomorrow after I've cleaned it up a bit, and if I find out more about it :) .

Quote from: fohat.digs on Fri, 21 August 2015, 19:30:21


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfdXYAb0j2E (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfdXYAb0j2E)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_E1FeBO54w (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_E1FeBO54w)
:lol:
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: umeboshi on Sat, 22 August 2015, 01:26:35
Wish I could find a place that'll save a box of keyboards for me  :))  Nice find!
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: chyros on Sat, 22 August 2015, 05:32:11
Cleaned it up, here's a few more pictures:

(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab207/Chyrosran/WP_20150822_004_zpstbu0ekbn.jpg)

(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab207/Chyrosran/WP_20150822_013_zpszkrepxch.jpg)

(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab207/Chyrosran/WP_20150822_022_zpspjr6rtvb.jpg)

The badge is beautiful by the way. It's got the subtlest dark-reddish shine to it which looks really great :D .
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: chyros on Fri, 05 February 2016, 14:38:33
I promised to post more pictures but thought a video would be more informative :) . Here's a little four of it:

Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: fanpeople on Fri, 05 February 2016, 14:55:57
Quote from: azhdar on Fri, 21 August 2015, 09:45:14
Those are some weird legends on caps lock and nav cluster. Great find.

They are just old symbols for insert and delete. Those caps are a little more common on old 122 boards and terminal boards i believe. Or it might just be older boards in general
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: FrostyToast on Fri, 05 February 2016, 15:09:03
Quote from: Melvang on Fri, 21 August 2015, 09:43:50
Back plate is steel, not brass.  Best guess on the coloration is a combination of an anti-corrosion coating and/or heat treating.

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he was referring to the "brassing" of the steel.
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: Snowdog993 on Fri, 05 February 2016, 15:14:39
Quote from: FrostyToast on Fri, 05 February 2016, 15:09:03
Quote from: Melvang on Fri, 21 August 2015, 09:43:50
Back plate is steel, not brass.  Best guess on the coloration is a combination of an anti-corrosion coating and/or heat treating.

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he was referring to the "brassing" of the steel.

"Galvanizing"
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: crickclackman on Fri, 05 February 2016, 16:03:18
That is not galvanized.
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: chyros on Fri, 05 February 2016, 16:08:19
Apparently this sort of rainbow effect can come from heat treatment.
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: tigersharkdude on Fri, 05 February 2016, 16:19:07
Im not usually a fan of older keyboards, this thing looks great though. (I think its the fact that is not pee stained white .... LOL)
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: Zapheo on Fri, 05 February 2016, 16:19:46
Quote from: tigersharkdude on Fri, 05 February 2016, 16:19:07
Im not usually a fan of older keyboards, this thing looks great though. (I think its the fact that is not pee stained white .... LOL)

C'mon tiger... That color gives the board character! :p
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: tigersharkdude on Fri, 05 February 2016, 16:22:16
Quote from: Zapheo on Fri, 05 February 2016, 16:19:46
Quote from: tigersharkdude on Fri, 05 February 2016, 16:19:07
Im not usually a fan of older keyboards, this thing looks great though. (I think its the fact that is not pee stained white .... LOL)

C'mon tiger... That color gives the board character! :p

On my way to Texas to pee on your Model M
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: FrostyToast on Fri, 05 February 2016, 16:23:27
Quote from: chyros on Fri, 05 February 2016, 16:08:19
Apparently this sort of rainbow effect can come from heat treatment.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Tempering_standards_used_in_blacksmithing.JPG)
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: Snowdog993 on Fri, 05 February 2016, 16:33:03
Quote from: crickclackman on Fri, 05 February 2016, 16:03:18
That is not galvanized.

Please read:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrogalvanization
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: xtrafrood on Fri, 05 February 2016, 16:36:08
Quote from: chyros on Sat, 22 August 2015, 05:32:11
Cleaned it up, here's a few more pictures:

Show Image
(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab207/Chyrosran/WP_20150822_004_zpstbu0ekbn.jpg)


Show Image
(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab207/Chyrosran/WP_20150822_013_zpszkrepxch.jpg)


Show Image
(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab207/Chyrosran/WP_20150822_022_zpspjr6rtvb.jpg)


The badge is beautiful by the way. It's got the subtlest dark-reddish shine to it which looks really great :D .
Gorgeous looking keys, man that cleaned up nicely. I did a little copper brazing work in the past, when I first started I would overheat the metals while trying to re-flow the silver causing similar color patterns. I don't know if that is the cause but that is what it looks like to me.
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: Malarkey on Fri, 05 February 2016, 16:38:01
Quote from: chyros on Sat, 22 August 2015, 05:32:11
Cleaned it up, here's a few more pictures:

Show Image
(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab207/Chyrosran/WP_20150822_022_zpspjr6rtvb.jpg)



Does anyone know what Rollen means for the LED lights?
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: chyros on Fri, 05 February 2016, 16:52:57
Quote from: Malarkey on Fri, 05 February 2016, 16:38:01
Quote from: chyros on Sat, 22 August 2015, 05:32:11
Cleaned it up, here's a few more pictures:

Show Image
(http://i864.photobucket.com/albums/ab207/Chyrosran/WP_20150822_022_zpspjr6rtvb.jpg)



Does anyone know what Rollen means for the LED lights?
It's the German version of Scroll Lock (the arrow means lock).
Title: Re: Proof that Friday is the best day of the week, hands down.
Post by: Geroximo on Fri, 05 February 2016, 17:26:49
You lucky bastard!