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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: cnnx on Mon, 04 January 2016, 23:51:26

Title: IBM Model M (where to buy refurbished, not used)
Post by: cnnx on Mon, 04 January 2016, 23:51:26
So its been exactly a year since I've received by new in box ibm model M by lexmark 1995 from ebay and I couldn't be happier.  What would make me happier? To buy another one of these as a spare, and to make it better I'd the original IBM model not the lexmark model (I heard the quality is better and they are heavier too).  My question to you guys, where is a place I can order this keyboard from that will ship to Canada? there's a few on amazon.com but they wont ship here.  Refurbished is fine, new in box might be too $$$ or hard to find.  PM me or reply here, thx.
Title: Re: IBM Model M (where to buy refurbished, not used)
Post by: Snowdog993 on Mon, 04 January 2016, 23:56:33
So its been exactly a year since I've received by new in box ibm model M by lexmark 1995 from ebay and I couldn't be happier.  What would make me happier? To buy another one of these as a spare, and to make it better I'd the original IBM model not the lexmark model (I heard the quality is better and they are heavier too).  My question to you guys, where is a place I can order this keyboard from that will ship to Canada? there's a few on amazon.com but they wont ship here.  Refurbished is fine, new in box might be too $$$ or hard to find.  PM me or reply here, thx.

Get a bolt-modded IBM 1391401 from Phosphorglow!  Don't compromise! 
http://phosphorglow.net/
Title: Re: IBM Model M (where to buy refurbished, not used)
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 05 January 2016, 00:02:29
So its been exactly a year since I've received by new in box ibm model M by lexmark 1995 from ebay and I couldn't be happier.  What would make me happier? To buy another one of these as a spare, and to make it better I'd the original IBM model not the lexmark model (I heard the quality is better and they are heavier too).  My question to you guys, where is a place I can order this keyboard from that will ship to Canada? there's a few on amazon.com but they wont ship here.  Refurbished is fine, new in box might be too $$$ or hard to find.  PM me or reply here, thx.

Get a bolt-modded IBM 1391401 from Phosphorglow!  Don't compromise! 
http://phosphorglow.net/

+1

No personal experience, but I have not heard the slightest negative whisper about him, and the photos on his web site illustrate miracles performed with ancient keyboards.
Title: Re: IBM Model M (where to buy refurbished, not used)
Post by: fanpeople on Tue, 05 January 2016, 00:06:29
There is also Clicky keyboards but they seem to be getting a little pricey now.

http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/search.results/keywords/e/orderBy/lowestPrice%20asc/prodDesc/0/endrw/24
Title: Re: IBM Model M (where to buy refurbished, not used)
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 05 January 2016, 07:42:35
The heaviest plates ended around 1988 but it seems to vary considerably by plant.

Title: Re: IBM Model M (where to buy refurbished, not used)
Post by: chyros on Tue, 05 January 2016, 08:24:35
The original, old IBM models are heavier as they used thicker plates, and of course IBM just plain sounds better than Lexmark, but in terms of typing experience I haven't found any real difference between even extremely old IBM models and late Lexmark ones, to be honest. There are many myths like that circulating around the keyboard community though :p .
Title: Re: IBM Model M (where to buy refurbished, not used)
Post by: Snowdog993 on Tue, 05 January 2016, 10:50:39
The original, old IBM models are heavier as they used thicker plates, and of course IBM just plain sounds better than Lexmark, but in terms of typing experience I haven't found any real difference between even extremely old IBM models and late Lexmark ones, to be honest. There are many myths like that circulating around the keyboard community though :p .

(http://i.imgur.com/iFwXdu0.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/AMgN1H9.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/zVcD2TJ.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/nBhcXA6.jpg)

The builds came out of the same factory too!  I don't get it.
Look at the build dates too.  I want this myth to END.
Title: Re: IBM Model M (where to buy refurbished, not used)
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 05 January 2016, 11:13:09
There are a lot of blank slots and question marks, but the general consensus is that Lexmark started making blue label IBM Model Ms around mid-1992 as a sideline to their printer business and sold the Lexington plant to Unicomp in 1996.

I have never seen the specifics on the time-frame and rationale behind Lexmark-branded Model Ms, but they seem to be uncommon and probably happened near the end of the run.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexmark (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexmark)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_keyboard (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_keyboard)

Title: Re: IBM Model M (where to buy refurbished, not used)
Post by: Snowdog993 on Tue, 05 January 2016, 11:32:36
There are a lot of blank slots and question marks, but the general consensus is that Lexmark started making blue label IBM Model Ms around mid-1992 as a sideline to their printer business and sold the Lexington plant to Unicomp in 1996.

I have never seen the specifics on the time-frame and rationale behind Lexmark-branded Model Ms, but they seem to be uncommon and probably happened near the end of the run.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexmark (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexmark)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_keyboard (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_M_keyboard)

That would be true (if you only knew that the 1398601 IS a Lexmark Model M.)

http://imgur.com/a/p6kmH

1992.

Edit: This kind of throws everything on it's own head.
Title: Re: IBM Model M (where to buy refurbished, not used)
Post by: livingspeedbump on Tue, 05 January 2016, 11:55:51
So its been exactly a year since I've received by new in box ibm model M by lexmark 1995 from ebay and I couldn't be happier.  What would make me happier? To buy another one of these as a spare, and to make it better I'd the original IBM model not the lexmark model (I heard the quality is better and they are heavier too).  My question to you guys, where is a place I can order this keyboard from that will ship to Canada? there's a few on amazon.com but they wont ship here.  Refurbished is fine, new in box might be too $$$ or hard to find.  PM me or reply here, thx.

Get a bolt-modded IBM 1391401 from Phosphorglow!  Don't compromise! 
http://phosphorglow.net/
+1 he is legit.
Title: Re: IBM Model M (where to buy refurbished, not used)
Post by: SamirD on Wed, 06 January 2016, 08:04:36
Every so often you can find a company selling 'refurbished' Ms at a decent price.  But they're usually just basically cleaned (not opened) and work.  If you want a superior backup at a great price, phosphorglow is the way to go.  At one point he had an M listed that had a lot of love and care in it for a very reasonable price.  If all his work is priced out that way, you can be sure that it's a superior value.