IBM Spacesaver (SSK) 1392464 Oct 1987 eBay BN $279

[Grr8]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261411602121

Not a great price, considering no logo!

Maybe he will take a offer when he works out the badge maters?

[berserkfan]

I'm sure somebody here will jump on it. GHers are suckers for everything ssk.

Just hiss... ssk! And somebody will jump up and money will fly out of his wallet 

[ebacho]

Honestly, minus the logo and label, it looks like its in decent condition.  Not $300 worth, but, not terrible at least.

[Grr8]

Honestly, minus the logo and label, it looks like its in decent condition.  Not $300 worth, but, not terrible at least.

Yes, looks in good condition - besides the lack of logo.

However, I got very lucky and paid less for a NIB SSK, so I just don't see it as $279.

[intelli78]

Can someone explain the hierarchy of IBM label desirability and provide some other background info? Blue vs. black etc., and why people care? Is it all aesthetic or do the labels signify different mfg dates/plants?

[fohat.digs]

Labels are irrelevant to construction, but indicate dates.

Early models 1984-89 approx have very thick heavy back plates and wire stabilizers for the large keys.

1989-1991 have lighter backplates and plastic insert stabilizers.

>1992 are even lighter, and cables started being fixed about 1993 or so.

All these are approximate and different plants made change-overs at different times.

[intelli78]

Labels are irrelevant to construction, but indicate dates.

Early models 1984-89 approx have very thick heavy back plates and wire stabilizers for the large keys.

1989-1991 have lighter backplates and plastic insert stabilizers.

>1992 are even lighter, and cables started being fixed about 1993 or so.

All these are approximate and different plants made change-overs at different times.

Thanks for the info. Which color labels correspond with each generation? Which generation do you consider most desirable, and why?

[Sniping]

...What did this guy do with the keyboard. I sold this SSK to him, and the label was still there before it fell into his hands.

[dustinhxc]

So I've never had an M. Is the label removable? Is this a real M case but the label was lost? Or do they make replacement cases.

[terrpn]

good grief'us these things are going out of sight!

[ebacho]

So I've never had an M. Is the label removable? Is this a real M case but the label was lost? Or do they make replacement cases.

Are you talking about the IBM badge on the front or the label on the back?  Either way, both aren't really supposed to be removable.  Most labels are attached to the back and has a plastic cover, and the badge is affixed by adhesive in an indented slot.

[dustinhxc]

So I've never had an M. Is the label removable? Is this a real M case but the label was lost? Or do they make replacement cases.

Are you talking about the IBM badge on the front or the label on the back?  Either way, both aren't really supposed to be removable.  Most labels are attached to the back and has a plastic cover, and the badge is affixed by adhesive in an indented slot.

Oh sorry! Was referring to the IBM badge in the upper corner of the front case.
Oh ok so it isn't a fake? The label just was probably lost?

[fohat.digs]

Thanks for the info. Which color labels correspond with each generation? Which generation do you consider most desirable, and why?

Earliest models (1390120 and 1390131) have square metal badges on the right. 1391401s have oval beige plastic labels with black printing (aka black label aka white label aka gray label) until about 1992 when the blue printing came around. Industrial models usually have some variation of true black badges and labels.

These badges and labels can be removed with naptha (old-fashioned cigarette lighter fluid) but be careful it is bad on plastic.

The labels on the rear generally have a plastic film over paper and can stand up to a light wetting, but they were not always applied properly, even at the factory. If you want to wash the case back with soapy water, cut a piece of plastic and tape it over the label with masking tape (keep the masking tape off the label unless it it very secure) while you are wetting it. Work fast and dry it quickly.

[dorkvader]

Labels are irrelevant to construction, but indicate dates.

Early models 1984-89 approx have very thick heavy back plates and wire stabilizers for the large keys.

The backplate changed at least one more time between 1986 and 1988.

1391401s have oval beige plastic labels with black printing (aka black label aka white label aka gray label)

I call them beige label

[fohat.digs]

The backplate changed at least one more time between 1986 and 1988.

I call them beige label

The earliest ones had shiny yellowish plates that changed to dull gray galvanized fairly early on. I never weighed them to see if there was difference beyond the finish. The yellow ones look a lot better!

Most people here say "black label" but I think that clickykeyboards.com calls the same thing "white label"

[dorkvader]

The backplate changed at least one more time between 1986 and 1988.

I call them beige label

The earliest ones had shiny yellowish plates that changed to dull gray galvanized fairly early on. I never weighed them to see if there was difference beyond the finish. The yellow ones look a lot better!

Most people here say "black label" but I think that clickykeyboards.com calls the same thing "white label"

I've got some Ms under the knife for boltmodding and will weigh the plates when I have them out next.
(1986, 1988, 1990 should cover the first few generations. Maybe I'll BM my unicomp too while I'm at it.)

[fohat.digs]

1986, 1988, 1990 should cover the first few generations.

Apparently the various plants made the 1988/89 changes inconsistently and over a wide time frame.

A 1988 is pretty sure to be old-style, and apparently by mid-late-1989 the switchover was complete.

Please correct this if anybody knows better.

[JimByr]

I measured the plates on SSKs from 1987 to 1992 and all were exactly the same thickness (0.097") (although that makes no sense). However, the weights of the keyboards dropped after 1988. The difference between a 1987-88 board and a 1992 board is about 5-5.5 oz. Haven't run across boards from 1989-1991 to measure.

[berserkfan]

I measured the plates on SSKs from 1987 to 1992 and all were exactly the same thickness (0.097") (although that makes no sense). However, the weights of the keyboards dropped after 1988. The difference between a 1987-88 board and a 1992 board is about 5-5.5 oz. Haven't run across boards from 1989-1991 to measure.

May I know what you used to do the measuring of the thickness of a steel plate? It's not something a conventional vernier caliper can do, right?

[JimByr]

I user a micrometer to do the measurements since that avoids the edge effects you might get with a vernier caliper.