I've found an IBM model M and I have some questions...

[medvednic]

Hello,
yesterday while sorting an archive of an old office I've stumbled upon an old model M which was collecting dust on top of a shelf, I live in Israel and the keyboard has Hebrew letters... I never imagined that I will see such thing here.
the most disappointing this though is that they have told me that they had many more but they were thrown to the garbage...
I've still haven't tested it but overall it seems that it didn't took damage and was laying there for about a decade if not more.
anyway, I've attached some pictures of it and I wonder if someone can you give me a little bit of info on this specific model?
what type of connector is this?
what is the best way to disassemble and clean the keyboard?
what things do I need to pay attention to while cleaning it in order not do damage it?







thanks!

[microsoft windows]

Looks like a funny plug on that keyboard. I would not be surprised if it could be easily adapted to a standard AT/DIN or PS/2 plug though. Same plug, just different pin spacing.

[terrpn]

good find-- congrats

looks like a standard at plug to me-- just need the ps2 converter

http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/11298/subcatid/0/id/179740`

check out this link...........

http://www.preater.com/modelm/

[fohat.digs]

looks like a standard at plug to me

Isn't that a 270 degree terminal plug?

[vivalarevolución]

Looks like a 270 terminal plug.  Gonna need a Soarer's converter to get that working on a modern computer, which is not that difficult to do.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=17458.0

[Findecanor]

That's a terminal keyboard. You can see it on the uniformly coloured function keys, two keys instead of a single keypad-+ and lack of LEDs.

You could load Soarer's converter onto a Teensy (or cheaper) and use that.
But do first clean the keyboard inside and out and see if the barrel plate is complete, would need a bolt mod or if it is cracked beyond repair. (fingers crossed)

[False_Dmitry_II]

They probably tossed them because they're terminal and can't be used readily with modern computers. Soarer's converter will fix that in short order.

[dorkvader]

I don't think I've seen a hebrew terminal before.

Nice find! Check the trash to see if there's more that they threw out that haven't been taken away yet!

[medvednic]

That's a terminal keyboard. You can see it on the uniformly coloured function keys, two keys instead of a single keypad-+ and lack of LEDs.

You could load Soarer's converter onto a Teensy (or cheaper) and use that.
But do first clean the keyboard inside and out and see if the barrel plate is complete, would need a bolt mod or if it is cracked beyond repair. (fingers crossed)

of course I'm going to open it and clean it soon... will order a Teensy 2.0 (btw recommendations on enclosure needed)

in my case do I have to use a Teensy can I make my own custom DIN 5 240 (female) to PS/2 male adapter?

I don't think I've seen a hebrew terminal before.

Nice find! Check the trash to see if there's more that they threw out that haven't been taken away yet!

they threw them away long time ago, but I've still tried to look for more in some forgotten corners... none were found.

They probably tossed them because they're terminal and can't be used readily with modern computers. Soarer's converter will fix that in short order.

one of the reasons that they tossed them is that they didn't know their historical value... such a shame.

[fohat.digs]

in my case do I have to use a Teensy can I make my own custom DIN 5 240 (female) to PS/2 male adapter?

You have to use a Teensy for electrical reasons. Teensy output is USB, so your wiring will need to connect to the 4 places on the Teensy.

There are many ways to do this. There is a lot of discussion about it in Soarer's thread around #550-600.

[dorkvader]

you can also (apparantly) use an arduino pro micro, which are available from china, whouch they are harder to get the firmware loaded.

[orihalcon]

Agreed, that is a 240 Degree 5 Pin DIN and it is a terminal type keyboard.  Soarer's converter or similar is the only thing thing that will allow you to convert.  A regular PS2 to USB adapter will not work.