Rare IBM Model M 1397661, $59 shipped [SOLD]

[ander]

This is the seldom-seen 1397661, a 1391401-based variant with one-piece key buttons.

It's the 1992 gray-logo version rather than the later blue-logo one, neither of which I've seen more than a few examples. The p/n wasn't on either Wikipedia's or Deskthority's Model M variants pages till I added it a few months ago.

IMHO, $59 shipped is a great deal. (Nowadays it's a good deal on any working Model M.) It looks like it's in very nice shape, with only a bit of visible grime, and it's from a seller with a 100% eBay rating.

[E TwentyNine]

I don't see anything particularly rare about this or $59 being a great price for an M.

[fohat.digs]

After you take out $17 shipping that is only $42 for the actual price, and some people lust for 1-piece keys.

A new set of keys from Unicomp will cost you $30 + $6 = $36 shipped!

[fanpeople]

I got to say that after a bit of experience with both one and two piece caps, I prefer the 1 piece. I don't know why but I think its from changing them out and the fact that they just feel dam solid.

[E TwentyNine]

After you take out $17 shipping that is only $42 for the actual price, and some people lust for 1-piece keys.

A new set of keys from Unicomp will cost you $30 + $6 = $36 shipped!

I'm not seeing anything indicating this keyboard is one piece (I prefer two btw), and 1397661 do come two piece: http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/9229/subcatid/0/id/132172

One piece and two piece have come on the same model number so there's no guarantee.  Has the seller indicated which?

Regarding pricing, there's 4 BIN M's on ebay right now in similar condition with lower prices including shipping, and one for $35 shipped that needs the cable replaced.

[E TwentyNine]

I checked with the seller.  This keyboard has two-piece keycaps.

[ander]

So, someone got this—anyone here? Nice deal for a seldom-seen board, in any case.

I checked with the seller.  This keyboard has two-piece keycaps.

That's good to know. The only one I'd ever seen was one-piece, but considering this one and the one Brandon describes at ClickyKeyboards are both two-piece, I've changed the WP entry's comment to read:

Uncommon 1391401 variant. Also known to have one-piece keycaps.

Regarding pricing, there's 4 BIN M's on ebay right now in similar condition with lower prices including shipping, and one for $35 shipped that needs the cable replaced.

Well, most of us agree that part of the fun is the slight differences between the nearly Model M 100 variants ("part numbers") IBM produced. Sometimes the differences are obvious—special legends, a real speaker, different controller, etc.—and sometimes only the p/n itself is different, leaving us to wonder why it had a special designation.