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geekhack Community => New Members => Topic started by: ac2ev on Tue, 12 January 2016, 19:02:41
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After much searching asking around I got my official IBM Model M unmodified.
9/10 in condition and only missing the F7 keycap (already got one on the way) Price: Free
I have Lexmark Model M (1st keyboard) also from 1994. I'll probably get chastised but it's modified. I put a small USB B hole next to the SDL connector. I know it wasn't my best idea. It was several years ago and the keyboard was free. Don't worry the IBM won't suffer the same fate.
But my weird one is a Micro BTC-5339 (2nd keyboard). I haven't used it much but the feel isn't all that great. Doing some research it's got what you guys call doubleshot key caps. Which is nice because it was used in an industrial area and took forever to clean.
So Hi to you all and thanks for all the great info on the awesome keyboards.
At some point I may perform the bolt mod but currently all my "rivets" are intact.
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Pictures of the BTC-5339
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Welcome!
The BTC keyboard is a rubber dome, which explains why it doesn't feel so great :))
You could keep most of the keycaps if you wanted, though they don't seem to high in quality. I had a later BTC board to harvest for those interesting sliders but ended up just trashing it.
Nice get with the IBM keyboard! The 1391401 was one of my first real mechanical keyboards :D
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Info about two-shot moulding is at the bottom of the design section and includes an example photo of keycaps.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Injection_moulding#Mould_design
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Welcome to Geekhack!
After using buckling springs keyboards, most other keyboards will feel a bit mushy :))
Often the easiest way to clean keycaps is to soak then in denture tabs (according to the instructions - warm water and about 2 or 3 tabs for a full set). The case can be disassembled and scrubbed in warm soapy water (what I do - worked fro me so far).
Also Phorphorglow (http://phosphorglow.net/) sells replacement Model M controllers with USB that replace the standard SDL controller and have the USB port where the SDL port was - no need to modify the case. Might be an option for your IBM Model M.