Author Topic: UK Model M (Unicomp or IBM or Lexmark)  (Read 4389 times)

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Offline dougzy

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UK Model M (Unicomp or IBM or Lexmark)
« on: Fri, 02 September 2011, 15:18:28 »
I've been pulling out my hair looking for a Model M keyboard in the UK, with no success so far. Any condition really, any price considered and any layout. Just as long as it is a Model M I'm interested :)

Thanks

Offline czarek

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UK Model M (Unicomp or IBM or Lexmark)
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 03 September 2011, 01:20:50 »
Mate I've got Unicomp Endurapro all in black with blank keycaps that I no longer need. I'll be in London between 12th and 23th this month. Let me know if you're interested. I can let it go for about half price of the new one. It was used only a month so technically it's still new.
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Offline Ascaii

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UK Model M (Unicomp or IBM or Lexmark)
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 03 September 2011, 02:45:17 »
I have a few boards for sale. Shipping to the UK is 20€ from germany.

DE Layout:
1391403 white label 1990-2-12, dirty, works fine,SDL-PS2 cable
25€
1391403 blue label 1993-10-06, some stickers on case, one foot missing, SDL-ps2 cable
25€
1392601 white label 1991-02-25 good shape, uses a 1391403 controller , hardwired ps2 cable, custom caps on numblock, no LEDS
40€
IBM Modell M2
15€ each (I have 3 or 4)

US-ANSI layout:
1391401 blue label, cleaned, SDL-ps2 cable
40€
1390131 silver label, sdl-ps2 cable, has missing rivets causing left arrow to actuate constantly. NEEDS a Bolt-mod. otherwise, great shape, cleaned, etc.
50€
1390120 silver label, sdl-ps2 cable, cleaned, no LEDS
75€
"Mechanical keyboards are like pokemon:
you start with one, and then you wanna catch em all."

Offline dougzy

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UK Model M (Unicomp or IBM or Lexmark)
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 03 September 2011, 05:09:00 »
Hey czarek, how much would postage be for the Endurapro from London?

Offline czarek

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« Reply #4 on: Sat, 03 September 2011, 07:13:11 »
Shipping from London would be around 10 quid. If you don't want to wait I can ship it from here and it would cost you 20 quid. It usually takes around a week to deliver from Poland to UK. Domestic shipping in Britain takes 2-3 business days. And of course you're welcome to pick it up in person. Then you can pay for the keyboard in beer or other drinks of your choice.
« Last Edit: Sat, 03 September 2011, 07:19:20 by czarek »
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Offline dougzy

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« Reply #5 on: Sat, 03 September 2011, 07:33:05 »
How much would the total cost including shipping from London be?
« Last Edit: Sat, 03 September 2011, 07:36:53 by dougzy »

Offline czarek

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« Reply #6 on: Sat, 03 September 2011, 08:53:59 »
£75. It was more than twice as much shipped to Europe with taxes applied.
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fossala

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« Reply #7 on: Sat, 03 September 2011, 10:33:39 »
Sent you a pm about a UK layout one shipped from cornwall.

Offline dougzy

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« Reply #8 on: Sat, 03 September 2011, 11:29:49 »
Czarek - is the connector PS/2 or USB?

Offline dougzy

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« Reply #9 on: Sat, 03 September 2011, 13:17:03 »
I don't know whether to go for an IBM or Unicomp; is the price difference worth it?

Offline False_Dmitry_II

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« Reply #10 on: Sat, 03 September 2011, 14:45:03 »
Either is fine.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Ben Franklin (11 Nov. 1755)

Offline czarek

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« Reply #11 on: Sat, 03 September 2011, 14:59:49 »
It's USB, very nice as it's only one cable for keyboard and pointing stick. PS/2 Endurapro or M13 is very problematic due to 2 PS/2 ports - it doesn't work with all USB adapters.
Both Unicomp and IBM are fine. If you get a nice bolt modded IBM with good springs or possibly new springs from Unicomp (my favourite option) it's better than Unicomp both in build quality and feel but don't expect it to be cheap. Unicomp has advantage of being new so springs are very crisp and consistent across the board. They have native USB support and look a bit more modern. They have slightly inferior build quality but the feel is essentially the same as a well maintained or not much used Model M and far better than old overused mushy IBMs.
« Last Edit: Sat, 03 September 2011, 15:08:57 by czarek »
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Offline dougzy

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« Reply #12 on: Sat, 03 September 2011, 18:35:32 »
I forgot to ask as well, how old is your Endurapro? And presumably you had it from new? I'm trying to justify the cost as an investment, though being a student money is pretty tight :/

Offline czarek

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« Reply #13 on: Sun, 04 September 2011, 03:00:35 »
I bought it new in mid July, but it was used about a month as now I use fully pimped (bolt mod, new springs and pivot plates and a lot of adjustments in springs and the metal plate to make it feel consistent) Model M as my daily driver. But beware moulding marks on blank black keys. They're completely normal on brand new black Unicomp keys, not because it was heavily used.
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Offline dougzy

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« Reply #14 on: Sun, 04 September 2011, 06:45:28 »
Czarek - How much does a lettered keyset cost for the Endurapro? Are the blank keys easy enough to adjust to? Do you have any pictures of the KB since you modified it?

Offline czarek

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« Reply #15 on: Sun, 04 September 2011, 16:15:42 »
Lettered keys are $20 from Unicomp. For me it was my second blank keyboard after Filco Otaku so was easy to move on but moving from lettered keyboard to blank one depends on your typing technique. I was touch typist when I got my filco so for me it was great. Not to mention it's a nice hardware to show off.
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Offline False_Dmitry_II

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« Reply #16 on: Mon, 05 September 2011, 00:21:19 »
If I'm reading what you're mistakenly saying, no the board he's selling isn't modded. Unless you just wanted to see random pictures of a random modded board.

Blank (or so close they might as well be) keys don't bother me. Mainly when I'm trying to do passwords, is the only time I find it kind of annoying, since I still look when I'm doing those.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Ben Franklin (11 Nov. 1755)

Offline czarek

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« Reply #17 on: Mon, 05 September 2011, 02:21:46 »
Well actually I have modded it slightly. I repainted the LED cover to be all black without in my opinion ugly Unicomp logo (from underneath, you can't say it was ever pealed off and painted) and replaced original green LEDs with red ones. If you prefer original, I can solder the green ones back but in my opinion red ones match red pointing stick better. Here's photo:
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Offline dougzy

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« Reply #18 on: Mon, 05 September 2011, 12:03:27 »
You're right, it looks better with the red LEDs. I don't really like the ordinary Unicomp logo anyway. Is the warranty void though with the mod?

Offline czarek

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« Reply #19 on: Mon, 05 September 2011, 12:47:39 »
That would have to be double checked with Unicomp but I'd say it is. I never cared about warranty anyways. I currently use 25 years old Model M and it works just fine, one year limited warranty Unicomp gives is a joke anyways ;)
My little ErgoDox / GH60 factory: http://falbatech.pl

Offline dougzy

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« Reply #20 on: Wed, 07 September 2011, 11:53:16 »
I think I might have to pass for the time being, my funds just can't stretch that far. For the moment I'm going to get hold of a cheap Model M and see how I find typing on it, and I may be back for the Endurapro if I can save some money! Thanks

Offline Dirty Bint

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« Reply #21 on: Thu, 08 September 2011, 06:41:53 »
dougzy,

I have 2 IBM Model M's that I would be interested in selling, they are both in superb condition, one with the black/sliver grey logo and the other with the blue logo.

I kept one of each logo type from a batch of 20 that I refurbished and sold on last year and these two were the best of the lot. They have both been dismantled, fully cleaned inside and the keys and keycaps removed and cleaned. and the casings are in outstanding condition.

I am based in South London near Croydon, if you are interested please get back to me. To give you an idea of price I was getting £75 for the others after being refurbished every time I put them on eBay and these are better than any I listed on eBay.


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I\'m so filthy, I\'m disgusting.

Offline dougzy

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« Reply #22 on: Thu, 08 September 2011, 12:57:06 »
Thanks dirty bint,

They are a good bit outside of my price range - I was looking closer to the £30-40 mark. If it needs work then I would be able to clean it up and do it myself, I'm not after a perfect example.