Updated: Any Guesses to which model this is? Its arrived 1390136...

[hlehmann]

Just bought this, seller says branded IBM and  bought with AT in early 90's - been lofted since.

No more info than that.  Low res photo, any guesses (or am I going to have to wait till the postie rings on the door?)

 

Help put me out of my misery.

 

Model M?

[bazemk1979]

its the square metal logo with the leds functions, nice board, I got one with the leds and without

[sleepy916]

It looks like a model M with the logo on the right side instead of the left side.

[hlehmann]

that is groovy, seeing as I got that + the rest of the PC for 6 quid.

Just need to raise the courier fees now.

Very happy if thats what it is and its working and in order

amend.. seller says £14 quid for postage as its heavy (good sign) and will freecycle the bits I dont want.  thats £20 for the keyboard delivered.

Seems like a good bargain from what I've seen on feabay.. specially for a UK layout

[BucklingSpring]

Ask him for a picture of the label under...
Or to write you what is written on the label.

[hlehmann]

Kinda already arranged him to pack and ship (when he preferred collect only)... so thinking that its gonna be in my hands soon enough anyhow (will post pics when it arrives).  Dont want to put the chap out for the 6 quid its cost me.

I'm just happy thinking i got a bargain model m, and thanks for the input from folks here, there are so many variations that for a noob its a bit of a mindfield to check details.... unless its a fleabay ripp off person.

[hlehmann]

Came today, its labeled as a 1390136, not the label I've seen before - no Model M printed on the underside.

It has a speaker grill detachable 5 pin Din, pretty grubby though needs a good clean.

no damage apart from dirt and a stiff backspace key (need to look at that).

This is not the 1390131 I was expecting - seller said they had the PC from early 90's but the 5PIN din seems to indicate keyboard is older.

I'll take some photos and post, but is this a good model and without the year listed on the keyboard does anyone know how old this is (not listed in the model m wikipedia listing either...)

[fohat.digs]

You (I) might assume that this a some UK variant of the 1390131.

I have had a couple of 1390131s and they are all from 1986. This is my favorite flavor of M, it has the heavy plate and wire stabilizers on the long keys.

They came with black coiled cords and large DIN plugs, but the regular PS2 cords work fine (as do orihalcon's SDL-to-USB cords).

Great find!

[hlehmann]

Images;

Note the backspace, think its the wider springs that are causing a thick feel to the backspace...

[hlehmann]

hmmm.... just noticed the 1987 cant see the wood for the trees sometimes

[rootwyrm]

Wow. Now that's an uncommon bird. Do all the keys have the damping springs on them?

[hlehmann]

Actually no, the backspace key is the only key that has the dampening springs on it.  all the other keys (that look the same) are without.  Strange thing is the backspace key is the only key that doesnt feel right, feels heavy and thick on depress, like you have to push it hard to get the spring to buckle.  Ive taken all the caps off now to clean so will put back together without those springs to see if it helps.

It really is pretty grubby!

[bazemk1979]

Honestly all ANSI Model M's that are the size like your backspace do not have any springs around the barrels. Are these springs IBM factory added as a part of the keyboard, or maeby they had as an sidegrade for people that wanted to have more stiff feel to some keys? I have never seen Model M with springs around the barrels.

Remove the springs and see how the clicking feels then, this might be added as an extra by whoever was using that board due to his choice was to have stiffer backspace key? BTW awesome looking board, open it up and wash it therally, use dental tabs with water for the keys and stems, the casing you can wash with dishwasing detergen and scrub pad, while the plastic plate and the barrel surrounding clean it with cotton swabs and dip them swabs in warmish water with dishwashing detergent.

AT cable looks awesome!!!!!!!!!!

[sleepy916]

Nice find, it will look good once you get it all cleaned up.

[rootwyrm]

Actually no, the backspace key is the only key that has the dampening springs on it.  all the other keys (that look the same) are without.  Strange thing is the backspace key is the only key that doesnt feel right, feels heavy and thick on depress, like you have to push it hard to get the spring to buckle.  Ive taken all the caps off now to clean so will put back together without those springs to see if it helps.

It really is pretty grubby!

Hmm, that's very odd. And the back of it doesn't have any "RPQ" line on the sticker either. But it's also not a typical M sticker, at least by my experience. It could be that "BCS9828" is an RPQ or customer ID number, and the RPQ was the damping springs on backspace. Can you get us some close ups of the springs and how they're installed? I'm betting they're just slip fit.. at least that's my hope.

[RougeR]

i had one very very similar, bit older. sold it to fossala when i bought my m15...might get it back if he ever sells it.
same model number
pics

[hlehmann]

Actually no, the backspace key is the only key that has the dampening springs on it.  all the other keys (that look the same) are without.  Strange thing is the backspace key is the only key that doesnt feel right, feels heavy and thick on depress, like you have to push it hard to get the spring to buckle.  Ive taken all the caps off now to clean so will put back together without those springs to see if it helps.

It really is pretty grubby!

Hmm, that's very odd. And the back of it doesn't have any "RPQ" line on the sticker either. But it's also not a typical M sticker, at least by my experience. It could be that "BCS9828" is an RPQ or customer ID number, and the RPQ was the damping springs on backspace. Can you get us some close ups of the springs and how they're installed? I'm betting they're just slip fit.. at least that's my hope.

Hi, they are not really installed as such - they just sit loosely around the plastic tube seating for the buckling spring.

The other long keys (return, +, Enter & Spacebar) have a metal bar attached that clips into 2 small plastic tabs.

I swapped the backspace with the 0 (ins) key as they are the same size, and its not the key that is dodgy.  Its better now I;ve removed one of the damping springs on backspace, if i remove both the key doesnt spring back up at all.  Thinking its the buckling spring that is at fault here, may chopstick it at some point.

feels good to be typing on it now (and prob pissing off the work folks at the same time)

[grasshopper]

Damn I'm very jealous. That was indeed a bargain. I've been after a 1390136 for years and you go and pick one up for only £6! Would you be OK with me using your picture? I'm going to put a wanted request on Freecycle and a picture would help people to know what I'm talking about.

[hlehmann]

Sure, use any of the pictures you like

[grasshopper]

Sure, use any of the pictures you like

Thanks. I don't suppose you've got a picture of it after it was cleaned up?

[hlehmann]

Nope, its at work now, i'll no doubt take one next week, ill post here after, it came up a treat, all just cover dirt. mint underneath (except that backspace key that is)

[fohat.digs]

It is simply astonishing how magnificently these old warhorses clean up.

Out of at least a couple of dozen old IBMs that have passed through my hands, with their thousands of keys, I could count on one hand the number that I could not clean up like new.

If only the plastic of the Model F cases was not so brittle .....

[poxeclipse]

What is so special about 1390136, or 1390131, compared to other IBM keyboards  ? Just curious.

[fohat.digs]

The earliest models had really really heavy metal back plates (but still wimpy compared to the F front plate, of course) and the oversized keys had wire stabilizers.

That was mostly true for 1391401s until something like early-mid 1989, although the plates were dull gray instead of shiny and yellowish.

But, personally, I think the square metal badge is just vastly cooler than the plastic oval on the left. For function, I'm sure that they are identical to early 1391401s. I don't like the 139120s because they lack the LEDs.

[wsthing]

Hi im interested in the topic as i am currently trying to help my parents clear some of their loft items ..one is a 5170 Ibm with a keyboard ..same makings as the one on topic,,..
  1390136 ..really not sure what to expect for the pc and keyboard.. any ideas ?

[RougeR]

40GBP-50GBP is about right for a decent condition UK silver label.

[Tarzan]

One thing to check on that backspace key is whether or not the barrel slider insert (the non-buckling spring barrel) is in the right way.  All too easy to have those come out with the keycaps, and get re-inserted incorrectly, which will cause the key to bind.  Wouldn't surprise me at all if someone added springs to the key to compensate for a sticking slider...