Model M that got away!

[Krogenar]

I'm new to the whole keyboard porn thing; just purchased my first Model M (1391401, DOB: DEC 1989) from clickykeyboards and I'm loving it. I'm an old guy so I did actually type on one of these guys in the wayback (dinosaurs ruled the Earth) and it's awesome. I'm not the sort of person who buys stuff merely for the sake of owning it. But that's why I love the Model M -- it's an antique that still works! Everyone I try to tell about this thinks I'm retarded for wanting an old keyboard, but I don't care.

Anyway, what was I talking about? Oh right -- so I'm cruising eBay for Model M's and come across the following listing for $83, ending in maybe two days.

IBM Model M 1390653 DOB: FEB, 1987 // Gray or olive drab, with black metal IBM logo on right.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&item=251128214579&nma=true&rt=nc&si=ZetjwWQmvU59Gwk6if7j%252BtDiL%252BU%253D&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

I could find no record of it on the wikipedia entry for the Model M, but found it elsewhere on Deskthourity, etc. The thing sold for $237.50! I was shocked! I was hemming and hawing about maybe spending upwards of $100 on it, but I never expected to see it grabbed for that much. So I'm wondering:

1. What's the most expensive keyboard you've ever witnessed/bought/sold?
2. Is the keyboard I saw that rare?
3. Any holy grails of the keyboard world I should know about?
4. What makes a Model M keyboard more or less valuable? (aside from the original box coming with it, or being unused)

[fohat.digs]

Those industrials always command huge prices (as do the SSKs).

They really are extremely handsome and fairly rare. I use the numpad all the time, so the small boards have never interested me.

A good clean 1391401 can be had on ebay for $40 or so plus shipping, less if you are lucky or will take a dirty one.

M15s often sell for over a grand.

[Krogenar]

They really are extremely handsome and fairly rare. I use the numpad all the time, so the small boards have never interested me.
A good clean 1391401 can be had on ebay for $40 or so plus shipping, less if you are lucky or will take a dirty one.

They are handsome. I got my Model M (for home) and now want one for work.

Yeah, I looked up the M15 you mentioned, the split keyboard -- went for 1.8k -- maybe if I'm opening up a keyboard museum and selling tickets, sure... I've been looking at the Model M's they have available, trying to feel more comfortable about buying one. I figure if I buy one for $40 and it has problems then it is always good for spare parts, derping around with it to fix it, etc. But some of these eBay sellers seem a little bit shady... 'look at the pictures very carefully!' -- sometimes I see problems in the photos that are not so obvious with the keyboard but not explicitly mentioned in the description! Saw one with a missing pin on an AT connector today.

*sigh* I anticipate a lot of dumpster diving in my future. Looking for reasons to visit the local dump, LOL!

[dorkvader]

M15s often sell for over a grand.

Wasn't there a NIB one that went for $1800 or so last summer?

The gray (Olive?) case industrial IBM's can sell for a lot. NIB M13's (with black/white keycaps) also can go for a couple hundred. Industrial Model M SSK's are also pretty rare.

The cherry MX5000's also sometimes go for a huge amount.
I've never seen one for sale, but I imagine a really rare keyborad like a knight keyboard would sell for even more.

Other than "unique features" such as that, lower serial numbers, older dates, etc. make IBM keyboards more expensive. The one in question is in good shape, is old (february of 87!) and is industrial, all factors that add to the price. Ofcourse, sometimes they aren't posted or listed. I have a 122-key model F that appears to have been manufactured during the first month of production, though this wasn't listed on the auction, so I was able to get it pretty cheap. I don't know what it's worth, though.

As far as the "holy grail" of keyboards:it depends on your prefrence. Some like hall-effect vintage space cadet keyboard or the knight keyboard, which are ingrained in computer culture. Some are after the korean custom keyboards (356 series, etc.) Some like the rare aluminium case filco, or that HHKB with hand-laquered wood keycaps.
Some like the exotic IBM's:
http://www.clickykeyboard.com/2010/jul17/010.jpg

[Krogenar]

Ok, now another one came on the market in eBay, and sold. This one had permanent ink on it

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Vintage-IBM-Model-M-clicky-keyboard-1388032-w-free-cord-9-3-1985-Works-/251152766493?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&nma=true&si=Bi8SX4%2F5koxFSZhlsVhXy4O7iN0%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

-- and sold for over $800! Holy crapsticks!

I had no idea people with that hardcore over keyboards. And this one wasn't even in pristine condition!

[boost]

Ok, now another one came on the market in eBay, and sold. This one had permanent ink on it

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Vintage-IBM-Model-M-clicky-keyboard-1388032-w-free-cord-9-3-1985-Works-/251152766493?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&nma=true&si=Bi8SX4%2F5koxFSZhlsVhXy4O7iN0%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

-- and sold for over $800! Holy crapsticks!

I had no idea people with that hardcore over keyboards. And this one wasn't even in pristine condition!

Holy****...didn't know the M's went for that much...

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

Holy****...didn't know the M's went for that much...

x2.  Those're crazy high prices!

[fohat.digs]

Unbelievable!

I would have guessed that a third of that would have been considered a good strong price.

The date is VERY early, maybe that was part of it?

[486]

Unbelievable!

I would have guessed that a third of that would have been considered a good strong price.

The date is VERY early, maybe that was part of it?

I've spotted an early industrial for 6x less than that.
I think the person that bid on it was misinformed. Industrials are rare but they aren't THAT rare. That is an outlier when it comes to industrial M's. Expect to pay $200 max on most Industrial M's.
Looks like all vintage IBM boards are on the rise except SSK's (i think they peaked a while back). Last year you could get a boxed XT for about $20. Now look.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-1983-ORGINAL-IBM-model-F-83-key-XT-keyboard-silver-logo-w-black-text-5-pin-/180978443723?pt=US_Vintage_Computing_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a2327e5cb&nma=true&si=zhDMvbq2NcsQRiIONcEs6EyA%2BcA%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

[dorkvader]

Unbelievable!

I would have guessed that a third of that would have been considered a good strong price.

The date is VERY early, maybe that was part of it?

I don't know... ID#00163 is the lowest I've ever seen. Keyboard is in good shape, though some keycaps on the left appear to have been replaced.

I didn't know they used the "old style" tags on the model M's at all.

Maybe I should have kept the box for my XT, I only paid $30 for it. I still have the foam, but it's not the same

[Krogenar]

Unbelievable!
The date is VERY early, maybe that was part of it?

That's what I figured too -- I think it was a 1985... pretty rare from what I've seen. Had me wondering how (or if) the pen marks could have been removed. I would have tried it out on the back side of the case (assuming the backside of the keyboard is the same color grey) to see if a solvent would have worked or not.

EDIT: Strangely, the industrial Model M auction that instigated this thread was in far better condition -- not as early a DOB, however. I save these things just to get an idea of what the market will bear (or not bear) for these keyboards.

[wcass]

.... Had me wondering how (or if) the pen marks could have been removed.

plain old rubbing alcohol removes "permanent" ink from non-porous surfaces nicely.

[1391406]

Personally, the gray color scheme does nothing for me.

[fohat.digs]

I love the gray color scheme, but don't like the black badge.

Permanent marker may be hard to remove, an organic solvent (citrus oil, etc) might be a better bet. I think that the plastic would behave as "porous" relative to the solvent base of markers, and after a period of years, it may well have penetrated below the surface.

[wcass]

from my IBM AT mod log here:
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=25919.0

the pictures are missing, so here is a re-post of the before and after. alcohol.

[Krogenar]

from my IBM AT mod log here:
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=25919.0

the pictures are missing, so here is a re-post of the before and after. alcohol.

Thank you for that tip -- I've got a case I plan on trying to revive that looks a lot like the 'before' image. Will try alcohol -- you using just rubbing alcohol or isopropyl?

[wcass]

70% isopropyl alcohol. i've always used the two terms interchangeably.