Here's a very late ('97) Model M 42H1292, tested and with no obvious physical flaws, on eBay for $39.99 with free U.S. shipping. It's UK-made but has the standard ANSI layout.

It's nothing very special to a collector—but if anyone just wants a genuine IBM buckling-spring keyboard for half the price of a new Unicomp, it seems like a decent deal!

It's even made by IBM rather than Lexmark. Should be a good buy, this .

tested and with no obvious physical flaws, on eBay for $39.99 with free U.S. shipping. It's UK-made but has the standard ANSI layout.

It's nothing very special to a collector—but if anyone just wants a genuine IBM buckling-spring keyboard for half the price of a new Unicomp, it seems like a decent deal!

It would be if it were Buy It Now.  But that is just the STARTING bid on the keyboard.  I'm with Fohat on this one.  I haven't had great luck with 42H boards.

The difference is like night and day.  The original controllers actually connect to the center ribbon seen in the first picture. (This actually IS a Greenrock terminal board from 1999, and has the hook for the 42H controller LOL!)

The second picture shows where the ribbon cables connect to the SDL controller.  Easy enough to see how it connects.

The third and fourth picture is just where the 42H controller is.  Yup.  That's all there is to it.  A little self-contained controller and LED panel all in one.  Notice the plastic hook in the first picture where the 42H controller would sit.

That controller sits at an angle (Oh I would guess about ~5 degrees) that is only being held by two small holes at the bottom of the controller sitting in two plastic nibs on the barrel frame.  The plastic "hook" on the right, is just holding the newer controller at that angle to the frame applying pressure to the contacts on the differently designed membrane that goes there.

It's a cost cutting move, but also makes for some serious issues with the keyboard not functioning properly.
Let's just say, it's not my favorite controller at all.

I hope I explained the difference well enough for everyone to understand.

I remember this being a Buy-It-Now listing when it was first posted, and considered buying it strictly as a parts donor.

A seller who was watching his listing might consider changing BIN to auction if he got several "watchers" in the first few hours.

Well, there you have it then! Luckily for us, we caught you at a moment when you had time to prepare all that.

Quote from: Snowdog993

What the heck kind of answer was that?  There is smart, and then there is smart ass.

I meant it must've taken quite a while to assemble, write, format and post all that "evidence", didn't it? Considering your expertise, thoroughness and attention to detail, I'd guess you were a pretty busy, in-demand person in other areas of your life as well.

Quote from: ander

Well, there you have it then! Luckily for us, we caught you at a moment when you had time to prepare all that.

Quote from: Snowdog993

What the heck kind of answer was that?  There is smart, and then there is smart ass.

I meant it must've taken quite a while to assemble, write, format and post all that "evidence", didn't it? Considering your expertise, thoroughness and attention to detail, I'd guess you were a pretty busy, in-demand person in other areas of your life as well.

I am a very busy person.  The way I took your answer was in a different context entirely.  It could be taken 2 ways.