My new old Model M

[Stargorn]

My Model M just arrived in the mail this morning. It actually looked a lot better in person than it did in the auction picture. I thought it was missing a key but it turns out the seller took it off to show that it was buckling spring. Everything works perfect, so I'm stoked. It had a lot of dirt on it:







but after giving the keys a bath and cleaning it up it nearly looks like a new board.







The switches are definitely stiffer than the cherry mx blues or reds but for some reason it feels easier to type on. The blues feel mushy to me now and though I still like the reds, I miss the tactile bump of the Model M. The hype is definitely well founded. However, now I am curious about the Model F, and the amount of space it takes up makes me think SSK might suit me. Plus I haven't tried a HHKB yet. Most likely once I've done all those I'll want to build my own. Then there's always artisan caps to try my hand at. I love this hobby!

[chyros]

Wait, is that an integrated barrel plate? And it's white? Didn't know it came in anything but black Oo .

Nice board though .

[fohat.digs]

Wait, is that an integrated barrel plate?

I thought that the change from black to beige barrel plate happened about 1990. I am very surprised to see a beige one that old.

And, for our UK members, I think that all of the Greenocks that I have seen had black, but they were late-1990s models.

[njbair]

Wait, is that an integrated barrel plate?

I thought that the change from black to beige barrel plate happened about 1990. I am very surprised to see a beige one that old.

And, for our UK members, I think that all of the Greenocks that I have seen had black, but they were late-1990s models.

It's possible this is a frankenstein board--an older case with guts from a newer model.

[Snowdog993]

Most of my white label 1401's do have white barrels.  The blue label 1391401's and 1370477's have black.  I really have several keyboards that have the white barrel frames, and I find them to be attractive on their own.

More

1391401:

1395665 Terminal Board:

1393464 Sabre:

I do like them a lot better than the black ones.  However, there are always underlays!

[wholphin]

Nice find! I've found  that Trademe can be a bit of a mixed bag, but this time it looks like you've struck gold! I'm just glad you didn't buy that blue label going for $300

[Stargorn]

That's a lot of interesting information! I didn't get to open the board up yesterday, as I don't have a 5.5 hex nut driver. I'm going to buy one today and have a look inside to see if I can determine whether or not it is a Frankenboard. I don't think it is; the screws don't look like they've ever been touched but you never know.

Nice find! I've found  that Trademe can be a bit of a mixed bag, but this time it looks like you've struck gold! I'm just glad you didn't buy that blue label going for $300

I've been looking at that thing and shaking my head for a while now. Though, it might sell. I saw someone buy a similar blue label for $250 a while back. There's been this http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/vintage/auction-898051126.htm pile of old macs for $900 floating around for about the same length of time. Typing on this Model M is a dream. No fatigue whatsoever. If anything, it is less fatiguing than the mx blues and reds. But maybe that's because I've only been touch typing for a few months and may have bad technique.

[wholphin]

There's been this http://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/vintage/auction-898051126.htm pile of old macs for $900 floating around for about the same length of time.

That's fairly ridiculous. And it's in Gore. So you'd have to be from there, near there, or prepared to pay $$$$ for shipping.

[chyros]

Wait, is that an integrated barrel plate?

I thought that the change from black to beige barrel plate happened about 1990. I am very surprised to see a beige one that old.

Just to be clear; the barrel plate is still separate from the case, right?

[njbair]

Wait, is that an integrated barrel plate?

I thought that the change from black to beige barrel plate happened about 1990. I am very surprised to see a beige one that old.

Just to be clear; the barrel plate is still separate from the case, right?

Correct. The plate is not integrated.

[rowdy]

Congratulations on your acquisition

These things clean up pretty well, considering how old they are!

[engicoder]

Wait, is that an integrated barrel plate?

I thought that the change from black to beige barrel plate happened about 1990. I am very surprised to see a beige one that old.

Just to be clear; the barrel plate is still separate from the case, right?

The beige barrel plate is slightly different from the black as well. Some of the edges on the black have some reinforcement that is omitted on the beige.

[E TwentyNine]

The beige barrel plate is slightly different from the black as well. Some of the edges on the black have some reinforcement that is omitted on the beige.

The plates changed more than once over the years, I don't believe it's directly tied to color.

[fohat.digs]

The beige barrel plate is slightly different from the black as well. Some of the edges on the black have some reinforcement that is omitted on the beige.

The plates changed more than once over the years, I don't believe it's directly tied to color.

Yes, I think they went back to black when the "drainage canals" thing started.

My Ms are deeply boxed up, but now I am curious what I have of each.

[atagunov]

I'm just glad you didn't buy that blue label going for $300

Hi, just a noob being curious, what's wrong with them?

[E TwentyNine]

I'm just glad you didn't buy that blue label going for $300

Hi, just a noob being curious, what's wrong with them?

Nothing.  Just that $300 is too expensive for a vanilla M.