Warped Model M Space Saver back up for $65 BIN W/ free shipping

[ThirdLap]

This is odd.  Apparently this messed up space saver sold earlier today for $75 + $15 s/h, but has now been relisted by the same seller for $65 with free shipping.

[elbowglue]

This might end up being a sweeet deal.  He may have re-used the warped picture, cause description of this one is not the same, it talks about sticky keys only.  I would jump on it except I don't like buckling springs so much.

[ironman31]

Maybe if we keep waiting, it'll go down to like 30 bucks

And way to go for the guy to be sneaky with the warpedness

[elbowglue]

Dude this one will sell in 60 minutes or less imho.

[ironman31]

Dude this one will sell in 60 minutes or less imho.

and so we wait...

[WhiteRice]

I spoke with the seller and he offered me $60 shipped last week. You guys talked me out of it though.

So if anyone is interested, shoot the guy an email.

[ironman31]

I think I'd rather spend the money on one at least in cosmetically good conditions

[elbowglue]

Are you kidding me, nobody has bought this?

Y'all taking crazy pills for not buying this.  This is like when the ricercar SPOS first came out and I told eveyone to buy multiples..

Dear elbowglue,

Hi its the same pic I have 2 identical keyboards this one is not warped but has sticky keys read the descrp. Thanks

- linxyo
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From:elbowglue
To:linxyo
Subject:elbowglue has sent a question about item #400147591220, ending on Sep-24-10 20:50:24 PDT - IBM Model M Space Saver Keyboard 1391472 1987
Sent Date:Aug-25-10 21:39:21 PDT


Dear linxyo,

Is this the exact same keyboard as item as ebay item
150477512961? (is
this keyboard warped too?)

-elbowglue

[ironman31]

Have him post a pick of the good one

[phototristan]

Something seems sorta shady about that seller.

For the listing that sold, the buyer probably did not read the description carefully and didn't want a warped keyboard so backed out of the sale. Now the seller relisted it without mentioning that it's warped likely because he realizes it's only worth like $20. or something but he hopes to get more.

[ThirdLap]

For the listing that sold, the buyer probably did not read the description carefully and didn't want a warped keyboard so backed out of the sale. Now the seller relisted it without mentioning that it's warped likely because he realizes it's only worth like $20. or something but he hopes to get more.

Exactly what I'm thinking.  Glad I didn't pull the trigger on this one.

[ThirdLap]

Are you kidding me, nobody has bought this?

Y'all taking crazy pills for not buying this.

I'm fairly certain this is the warped board.  Why would he sell a warped keyboard for $75 + $15, then turn around a few hours later and sell one in better condition for $65 shipped?

[Half-Saint]

Not shipping internationally btw. Isolationist ba*tard!

[jpc]

Sometimes when you gamble, you win. I bought the non-warped one. linxyo will get A++++ feedback.

One key was jammed -- the enter key. Okay. Popped it out, blew on it, popped it back in. and now it feels perfect. A perfect mini for $65 shipped !

It's missing a few rivets. It has some minor discoloration inside. It could have been in the same warehouse fire plane crash meltdown Deepwater Event Horizon as the warped one. It could be 23 years old.

Most likely, it was placed in a time machine in the future when ps/2 connectors are obsolete, and sent back to the present to be sold on ebay, and this cycle has repeated dozens or hundreds of times. It couldn't be destroyed so the apocalypse just keeps sending it back.

Buy that used model M with confidence

[phoenix]

He also has an AT&T model m with serial connector for a good price and you can make a lower offer. I imagine swapping in a model m controller would make it ps/2. You can probably buy a controller from Daniel when he finishes parting his incomplete Model Ms.

[elbowglue]

Are you kidding me, nobody has bought this?

Y'all taking crazy pills for not buying this.  This is like when the ricercar SPOS first came out and I told eveyone to buy multiples..

That.

[ironman31]

That.

[jpc]

Update. This space-saving is not in such great shape.

The 'M', 'N', and comma keys are stiffer than the others, enough to throw off touch-typing. I didn't notice until after fixing the more-obvious problems (sticky sugary board chow, om nom nom.)

This unit has lost an entire row of rivets beneath the Z X C V B N M keys. Would that explain the stiffness? Is this a bolt mod candidate? This unit has dropped at least 17 rivets. Maybe more, if some of the rivets stuck to the plate aren't attached to a stud anymore.

[EverythingIBM]

Update. This space-saving is not in such great shape.

The 'M', 'N', and comma keys are stiffer than the others, enough to throw off touch-typing. I didn't notice until after fixing the more-obvious problems (sticky sugary board chow, om nom nom.)

This unit has lost an entire row of rivets beneath the Z X C V B N M keys. Would that explain the stiffness? Is this a bolt mod candidate? This unit has dropped at least 17 rivets. Maybe more, if some of the rivets stuck to the plate aren't attached to a stud anymore.

Cleaning the sticky residue off should be easy.

If the keys are stiff due to bad springs, they're easy to replace as there's probably more Model M springs in the world than people.

If the rivet issue isn't severe enough then I wouldn't bother. If you have the spare time and equipment to do the bolt modifications, it would be good.
I'm not doing it to my model M since I enjoy the sounds I get from lost rivets.

[jpc]

Yeah, the sticky goo all came off with alcohol.

The springs look okay. They don't look tall or short or bent or otherwise damaged.

I'll follow ripster's bolt mod instructions.

Should I keep the 1987 springs and hammers or get new ones from unicomp? Do the old ones really age appreciably?

How likely am I to ruin the board with some careless mistake? What's the failure rate on a bolt-mod attempt?