Your Observed (Felt!) tactile differnces in different generation Model M keyboards?

[Thinkpad Fan]

Here's one for those of you who are Model M fans, past or present.  Let's hear your observations from actual use.  

I have a range of Model M's from 1987-2001, and it seems to me that the feel is heaviest/most force required on the earliest, IBM built boards with it lightening up noticably by about 1994 production by Lexmark, and continuing in the lighter vein through at least my newest - a 2001 Unicomp.  All of them still click, and the great, strong construction is there, but there is a difference in feel.  

I started out believing that the only "true" Model M is one made in the 1980's by IBM themselves, but my view has changed with time and experience.  Initially, I did not like the feel of the newer Model M's, until I made myself type on them for a couple of weeks and then I found I could not only adapt, but enjoy them!  And a recent Unicomp addition to the fleet is absolutely delightful!  Not the same as the earlier boards, but very enjoyable, none the less.  I do realize that most of us acquired our boards used, and that some of them may vary somewhat due to wear - but that can't be helped without instruments and NIB samples to measure - which we just don't have.  Back to the five senses.

So those of you with cross-generational Model M experience, Chime In!  What have you found to your liking?  White label?  Blue Label?  Lexmark?   Maxi-Switch?   All the world want's to know!  Thinkpad Fan

[Atenacius]

Seems like a really hard thing to measure. Like you said, unless we have NIB samples of each, we don't really have a control to experiment with. From what I've experienced, they all feel pretty much the same with varying amounts of force and ping. Their construction is pretty much the same with the only difference being how old and worn the springs are.

[fohat.digs]

My experience with a dozen or so confirms that the older, heavier ones feel more solid and have a more resonant sound. As far as how heavy the actual force is, that may be hard to judge because we are accustomed to taking cues from the sound.

I like a very light touch, and I am not sure that age or model makes as much difference as manufacturing and wear.

As the previous owner of Thinkpad Fan's Unicomp, I will say that I loved the very light feel of it, but sold it because the higher pitched sound seemed "wrong" somehow. Maybe that was a false perception. Sold it way too cheap, too.

On the other end of the scale, I have a couple of 131s, and they are brutes. But I really like them a lot, maybe it is psychological. But they are not what I use day-to-day.

Having done a few bolt-mods and one flossing, I believe that these are some worthwhile modifications. Flossing significantly decreases the sound, especially the "ping" part which is sacrilege in many circles. I must say that I miss it, but the family doesn't.

Personally, I am partial to the 1990-93 "middle period" Ms Made in USA by IBM. They are just a bit lighter than the earlier behemoths, but still quite solid. The ones I have are well balanced between solidity and functionality.

Now that I have a collection to work with, my final goal will be to have about 3 boards in my collection representing the major "styles" of Model M. In each case I will try to keep the touch as light as possible. I think I have found that that means tightening the bolts with the socket in my fingers, no ratchet handle at all, and giving them each a good firm "hand tight" twist but no more.

1. The Beast - I intend to bolt-mod the autumn-1986 131 with its heavy plate and wire stabilizers for the original bulldozer style.

2. The Business model - I have a really nice black label 1401 from about 1990-91 without the stabilizer bars (and I am not so sure that it doesn't feel better that way) to bolt-mod and I will stuff the case with some felt or foam or something, as well as flossing the springs, to keep it as quiet as possible.

3. The Featherweight - I have a nice almost-new 1999 42H from Greenock that I will bolt-mod to the lightest specifications, and strive to keep as light as possible in every way.

I think that this should cover the spectrum, and I can vary my Model M experience depending on my mood and environment.

Afterwards, I will have a small handful of great boards to sell on ebay or wherever, but I am surprised that my (really nice) bolt-modded M that is up there now has not sold at the very fair price of $70.

Oh well, a computer keyboard hobby is just a place to waste time and money, in my wife's opinion at least.

[Thinkpad Fan]

Dante, I believe if you will do a search for "floss" and "silicone grease" you will find the two most common Model M "Quietning" modifications that have been talked about here.  IBM actually made a quieter Model M using silicone grease injected into the springs, and many people report good results from using that or the heavy/thick dental floss.  I have not yet done a "Bolt Mod" but that might help, too.  

In light of the psychoacoustical effect of hearing the buckling spring "break over" and your brain automatically going on to the next key immediately before bottoming out that key, you wouldn't WANT a truly quiet Model M - you would be defeating one of it's more important features.  (It's NOT a Defect, It's a Feature!!)   It is widely reported that most users are 15-20% faster on a Model M than a modern Rubber Dome, and the sound cuing your fingers may have something important to do with that.   Methinks the IBM (Selectric Typewriter, remember?) Folks may know more than anyone since.  Thinkpad Fan

[czarek]

Well I had only one NIB Model M from 91 and NIB Unicomp to compare and they felt very similar, with Model M being a bit more pingy in some areas due to broken rivets - that's correct, even NIB Model Ms have broken rivets, so it's hard to say how do they compare but I think this Model M felt just like Unicomp when it was brand new.
More difference in feel is due to bolt modding and tightening / loosening nuts. With only 14 nuts (as per Ripster minimal bolt mod suggestion) put on very loosely (no thread visible) this is the best keyboard ever. I tried that with 91 SSK and 86 131 and both feel awesome (and the same).
I have noticed slight difference in springs tension between silver logo -> black logo -> Unicomp though. It seems that the newer spring is the lighter it is. It may be something to do with the age of it though. Even if 25 years old keyboard wasn't used much, there will be some corrosion (not even visible) on the springs to make them feel heavier...

[TacticalCoder]

Not to derail the OT; I'd also like to know if there are any mods to make the keyboards a little more quiet without affected key travel.

"Dental floss mod" all the way.  It's not necessarily that "quieter" but I'd describe it as getting rid of the "resonating" noise: I mean, after the ping, a regular Model M goes "piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing" while when it's dental-floss modded it just does "ping".

I've done it on two Ms and it's really great.  On my daily driver I've been a bit lazy and didn't do it for the function keys: the difference between hitting a "dental-floss modded" key (sick mod name btw ; ) and a regular one is huge.  Actually the difference is so big you could give me a Model M with randomly dental-floss modded keys and I could probably easily tell you which keys are modded and which are not.  The difference is huge.

Also, my Ms have a few broken rivets and hence do apparently "ping" more than if they had no broken rivets or than if they were bolt modded.

[Thinkpad Fan]

Thanks, ripster!  That is a wonderful description of what I've been sensing since I first rediscovered the Model M.  (First one was about $3 at Value Village - no cord.)  I used IBM Selectric typewriters back in the 1980's.

The "feedback" is what's totally missing from most modern boards.  Those old IBM guys were pretty sharp!  Even with their hornrim glasses and pocket protectors - and little black notebooks that said "Think" in gold leaf!  Thinkpad Fan