Craigslist model M find

[Jixr]

Hi everyone I picked these two up tonight, and I was wondering how I did.

'88 M in pretty good condition

'86 in decent shape, missing a few caps.

Both don't have cables.

I'm kinda wondering ball park about how much they may be worth? I Want to keep at least one, and sell the other for parts/repair/restoration.


'86


'88

[FrostyToast]

Well it's a good get depending on how much you paid for them.
Silver and grey labels are definitely cool and are more valued than blues.
They also seem to be in very decent condition. Cables are easily replaceable and are somewhat becoming obsolete with soarer conversions rising in popularity.

[Jixr]

Well I went ahead and ordered a replacement cable, and I actually only paid $15 for both, but the replacement cables are expensive, and with two cables would put me at about $75 for two plus replace the missing keycaps.

[FrostyToast]

$15 was definitely good to snag 2 model Ms of that condition.
Although admittedly I could have tossed you an SDL cable at the cost of shipping. In fact, I think I have 2.
I have 2 orihalcon cables and honestly don't care about ps/2.

[Jixr]

if that offer is still on the table I would buy another from you, I only bought 1 cable off unicomp, mainly because I wanted to make sure both work and I only can use one at a time anyway.

[FrostyToast]

if that offer is still on the table I would buy another from you, I only bought 1 cable off unicomp, mainly because I wanted to make sure both work and I only can use one at a time anyway.

Do you want one or two? If you want two, I'll just have to text my friend as he has the other cable stashed somewhere.

[hwood34]

Yeah, those are some great finds, especially for that silver label. The two don't even look to be that dirty. If you did a bolt mod they could end up being worth a pretty penny

[fohat.digs]

Silver and grey labels are definitely cool and are more valued than blues.

In my opinion, the metal badges are far cooler than the plastic labels. Presumably those are 1390131s.

The 1986 may have the heavier steel plate and the 1988 may not. Some of us consider the heavy plates better.

[dorkvader]

Yeah, those are some great finds, especially for that silver label. The two don't even look to be that dirty. If you did a bolt mod they could end up being worth a pretty penny

from my experience a bolt mod costs about $15 in parts, a few hours of labor and adds at most $5 to the selling price of the KB.

[hwood34]

Yeah, those are some great finds, especially for that silver label. The two don't even look to be that dirty. If you did a bolt mod they could end up being worth a pretty penny

from my experience a bolt mod costs about $15 in parts, a few hours of labor and adds at most $5 to the selling price of the KB.

Well then maybe do a mod on the one you like (if you decide to use one)

[berserkfan]

from my experience a bolt mod costs about $15 in parts, a few hours of labor and adds at most $5 to the selling price of the KB.

Sad but true. That's why I decided against ever bolt modding my Ms until they die. Too much trouble for nothing.

[fohat.digs]

Too much trouble for nothing.

It is not nothing.

A proper bolt mod really does make the keyboard feel better, and allows you to upgrade parts such as new springs and the modern latex blankets.

But the only person who seems to be able to turn a profit from Model M rehabs is ezrahilyer.

[Jixr]

assuming I clean them up and everything works, about how much are these things worth?

I may sell one of them, I have no use for two.

[fohat.digs]

assuming I clean them up and everything works, about how much are these things worth?

$50-60 without cable, $60-70 with cable, maybe up to $20 more if you get lucky.

Personally, I think that the 1390131 is much more desirable than the 1391401, but not everyone agrees.

[Jixr]

cool, looks like I did a little bit of a score.

I kinda like the older one, its neat.

If I can sell one and even come out ahead that would be awesome.

I may look into the bolt modding too, I have a drill and bits, so all I would need are some screws, which isn't that big of a deal.

[fohat.digs]

I kinda like the older one, its neat.

Weigh them. I suspect that you might find that the older one weighs a few ounces more, and that is good.

[Jixr]

So I got ahold of a 5.5mm socket to fit the thing and took it apart.


The '86 suprised me a bit, The plate for this one has been treated or whatever you do to metal to give it that rainbow color.
Is this normal for the keyboard?




But basically I cleaned it up as best as I could, and once I got all the dirt off of it, the thing came out to be in amazingly good shape!

[fohat.digs]

Nice.

The very early heavy back plates had the glossy yellow/gold finish. Someone recently posted one with a greenish/bluish overcast but the few that I have gotten that old were distinctly yellow.

This means little or nothing except to nerds who open them up and marvel at the guts of things.

[Jixr]

if they both work I plan to sell one of them, I've no need for both. But selling something where shipping will be expensive doesn't sound that fun.

[hwood34]

So I got ahold of a 5.5mm socket to fit the thing and took it apart.


The '86 suprised me a bit, The plate for this one has been treated or whatever you do to metal to give it that rainbow color.
Is this normal for the keyboard?

Show Image

But basically I cleaned it up as best as I could, and once I got all the dirt off of it, the thing came out to be in amazingly good shape!

Show Image

Wow, that came out great

[Jixr]

my cable for it should be here saturday, so until then I don't know if either of them work or not

[fohat.digs]

But selling something where shipping will be expensive doesn't sound that fun.

Post Office has flat rate "game board" boxes that go anywhere in the US for $17

They are not standard stock in Post Offices, but you can get them free, online, or Office Depots and such with print/mail centers usually have some around.

[Jixr]

ah okay, I ship stuff all the time using those boxes, but at least at the PO's I go to i've never seen a game box.

[Melvang]

Nice.

The very early heavy back plates had the glossy yellow/gold finish. Someone recently posted one with a greenish/bluish overcast but the few that I have gotten that old were distinctly yellow.

This means little or nothing except to nerds who open them up and marvel at the guts of things.

That color in the finish is due to the heat treat process to slightly harden and stress relive the steel after they do the forming process though I am not sure if it is pressed, or slip rolled.  The difference in color is from slight variations in the final temp of the steel during the process.  I believe when it is cooler the colors tend to lean toward the blues and purples and hotter leans toward the greens and yellows.  The variations aren't enough to affect the quality in these applications.  Could have just been cold in the plant for the blue/purple ones.