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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: BradTheGeek on Wed, 30 December 2015, 09:18:05

Title: Help identifying model m
Post by: BradTheGeek on Wed, 30 December 2015, 09:18:05
Hoping for some help identifying a Model M I found.  Bottom sticker is gone.  Hoping for exact model, age range and what the alternate key caps are.
Works beautifully.  I plan to refurbish and clean it well and put multi-color led strips under the keys on the plate to back-light it.
Title: Re: Help identifying model m
Post by: E TwentyNine on Wed, 30 December 2015, 09:23:01
Airline reservations board.  Likely 1393464 but could be a 1391401 with switched caps.

http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/9523/subcatid/0/id/102599
Title: Re: Help identifying model m
Post by: BradTheGeek on Wed, 30 December 2015, 09:23:56
Frickin awesome!  ;D
Title: Re: Help identifying model m
Post by: BradTheGeek on Wed, 30 December 2015, 12:46:21
Thanks again.  With the sticker missing, is there any good way to date this keyboard?
Title: Re: Help identifying model m
Post by: E TwentyNine on Wed, 30 December 2015, 14:50:20
It's probably 1987-92. 

You can open it up and check for a sticker on the back of the keyboard assembly, a stamp on the inside of the case, or get a bottom range by the date on the chips.
Title: Re: Help identifying model m
Post by: SamirD on Thu, 31 December 2015, 10:47:36
That's a nice board as it.  I wouldn't mod it at all beside maybe swapping the keycaps if it has two-piece units.
Title: Re: Help identifying model m
Post by: E TwentyNine on Thu, 31 December 2015, 11:21:16
Why would you want to swap keycaps on an airline M?  People pay extra for these just because of the keycaps.
Title: Re: Help identifying model m
Post by: Snowdog993 on Thu, 31 December 2015, 13:22:50
That's a nice board as it.  I wouldn't mod it at all beside maybe swapping the keycaps if it has two-piece units.

You'd swap the keycaps on a IBM Sabre keyboard?  Sacrilege!
Title: Re: Help identifying model m
Post by: BradTheGeek on Tue, 05 January 2016, 12:37:55
It has 2-piece key caps, but I see no reason to switch.  I like them!
I am working on the mod today and hope to have it done today or tomorrow.
Fortunately, it only requires nipping the hole around the cable connector a small bet larger, no other irreversible mods are needed.  Pics to come.
Title: Re: Help identifying model m
Post by: E TwentyNine on Tue, 05 January 2016, 13:47:32
It has 2-piece key caps, but I see no reason to switch.  I like them!
I am working on the mod today and hope to have it done today or tomorrow.
Fortunately, it only requires nipping the hole around the cable connector a small bet larger, no other irreversible mods are needed.  Pics to come.

2-piece is better.  Anyone who thinks otherwise is a loon.

Well, it may be preference, but I'm sticking with the loon angle.

Why do you need to modify the cable connector hole?
Title: Re: Help identifying model m
Post by: chyros on Tue, 05 January 2016, 13:56:10
It has 2-piece key caps, but I see no reason to switch.  I like them!
I am working on the mod today and hope to have it done today or tomorrow.
Fortunately, it only requires nipping the hole around the cable connector a small bet larger, no other irreversible mods are needed.  Pics to come.

2-piece is better.  Anyone who thinks otherwise is a loon.

Well, it may be preference, but I'm sticking with the loon angle.

Why do you need to modify the cable connector hole?
The two-piece thing is another one of many myths in the keyboard world as far as I'm concerned. I've had both; **** if I could feel or even hear the difference blindfolded.
Title: Re: Help identifying model m
Post by: BradTheGeek on Tue, 05 January 2016, 15:07:04
I do not care if they are 2-piece or not, I like the flight booking system print.

The mod is LED backlighting with multi-color led strip lighting.  It has an IR receiver (to switch colors, I do not have the time to make it bus usb bus powered and controlled) and a power cable.  The output of the controller is feeding in through the enlarged hole.  I have the mod almost done except soldering the strip lights together and replacing the keycaps.
Title: Re: Help identifying model m
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 05 January 2016, 22:43:04
It has 2-piece key caps, but I see no reason to switch.  I like them!
I am working on the mod today and hope to have it done today or tomorrow.
Fortunately, it only requires nipping the hole around the cable connector a small bet larger, no other irreversible mods are needed.  Pics to come.

2-piece is better.  Anyone who thinks otherwise is a loon.

Well, it may be preference, but I'm sticking with the loon angle.

Why do you need to modify the cable connector hole?

Better how?

Easier to swap keycaps around?

But also easier to lose if they are knocked off whilst the keyboard is in storage.  Probably why so many Model M have missing upper keycap halves.
Title: Re: Help identifying model m
Post by: E TwentyNine on Wed, 06 January 2016, 10:14:29
Yes, easier to swap keycaps is the most apparent benefit.

But I also feel I get less of the spring vibration transmitted through the key with a two piece cap.  I haven't tried a blind test of this, so people can say I'm nuts.  It's at least equal to the one piece in that regard, but given the extra construction there's reason it can be less.
Title: Re: Help identifying model m
Post by: MeltingTeeth on Wed, 06 January 2016, 13:12:01
I do not care if they are 2-piece or not, I like the flight booking system print.

The mod is LED backlighting with multi-color led strip lighting.  It has an IR receiver (to switch colors, I do not have the time to make it bus usb bus powered and controlled) and a power cable.  The output of the controller is feeding in through the enlarged hole.  I have the mod almost done except soldering the strip lights together and replacing the keycaps.

Post when done!
Title: Re: Help identifying model m
Post by: BradTheGeek on Wed, 06 January 2016, 13:19:46
Posted here: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=78428.0;topicseen
Title: Re: Help identifying model m
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 07 January 2016, 01:55:12
Yes, easier to swap keycaps is the most apparent benefit.

But I also feel I get less of the spring vibration transmitted through the key with a two piece cap.  I haven't tried a blind test of this, so people can say I'm nuts.  It's at least equal to the one piece in that regard, but given the extra construction there's reason it can be less.

If there was any spring vibration transmission difference, it would be very small!