Sound Difference Between IBM Model M Black and Blue Label

[TastaturenAuslese]

Does anyone else notice a difference between the sound of these two version of the IBM Model M?

I have both and my Black Label from 1989 has a higher pitch clack than the Blue Label from 1993. The blue has more of a "clock" than a "clack". Is it just the between the two that I have or are other people experiencing this too?

[fohat.digs]

Every ancient IBM keyboard is different and has a personality of its own.

Can you feel a difference in weight? The inner plates got lighter over the years, and that has some effect.

Also, as rivets pop off, the entire assembly gets looser.

[TastaturenAuslese]

Every ancient IBM keyboard is different and has a personality of its own.

Can you feel a difference in weight? The inner plates got lighter over the years, and that has some effect.

Also, as rivets pop off, the entire assembly gets looser.

Yes, the older one is quite a bit heavier than the newer one. Do you know if a bolt mod while deepen/tighten the sound of the older one? I feel like I can feel a few rivets moving around in there when I shake the older one.

[chyros]

Interesting question! I just made a comparison of two of mine. Both in excellent condition, same part number, spaced 2 years apart.

[TastaturenAuslese]

Interesting question! I just made a comparison of two of mine. Both in excellent condition, same part number, spaced 2 years apart.

Exactly what I'm experiencing! Is the top one the grey label? Which sound do you like better?

I'm having a dilemma because I want to get rid of the blue label since it's just sitting in the closet, but I like the sound better. And I don't want to get rid of my grey label, because it's a special Merrill Lynch version of the IBM Model M.

[fohat.digs]

Yes, the older one is quite a bit heavier than the newer one. Do you know if a bolt mod while deepen/tighten the sound of the older one?

The bolt mod is a chore, and the first time you undertake it, the process can be daunting.

Having done it, you can "tune" the keyboard with a screwdriver. My recommendation is to be careful to keep the tension (actually, the compression, if you want to get technical) the same on all the screws, and I like them as light as possible. Remember, you are replacing melted over plastic rods/posts with steel screws! You can make it far tighter than it was originally.

[TastaturenAuslese]

Yes, the older one is quite a bit heavier than the newer one. Do you know if a bolt mod while deepen/tighten the sound of the older one?

The bolt mod is a chore, and the first time you undertake it, the process can be daunting.

Having done it, you can "tune" the keyboard with a screwdriver. My recommendation is to be careful to keep the tension (actually, the compression, if you want to get technical) the same on all the screws, and I like them as light as possible. Remember, you are replacing melted over plastic rods/posts with steel screws! You can make it far tighter than it was originally.

When you say tune, are you saying that I can adjust the feel and the sound of the keys based on the tightness of each screw? I'm also guessing overcompression is bad?

[chyros]

Interesting question! I just made a comparison of two of mine. Both in excellent condition, same part number, spaced 2 years apart.

Exactly what I'm experiencing! Is the top one the grey label? Which sound do you like better?

I'm having a dilemma because I want to get rid of the blue label since it's just sitting in the closet, but I like the sound better. And I don't want to get rid of my grey label, because it's a special Merrill Lynch version of the IBM Model M.

Yes, the top one is the grey label one. I just realised that in the GH-sized preview, you can't see it (you can on Youtube).

Yes, the sound is slightly different; the grey label one has ever so slightly lower pitch and has a slightly quieter bottoming out noise. The difference is very small however, and easily within the margin of error of the condition and manufacturing specs of the keyboard - I'm sure the condition of the board is a much more profound factor in the sound of the board than the colour of the label is. When typing quickly, I can't really distinguish between them. Note that these were manufactured only two years apart, both made by IBM, and appear to have fairly identical construction - I think the difference would be much more pronounced between a square-label IBM one and a Lexmark-made last-gen one.

[fohat.digs]

When you say tune, are you saying that I can adjust the feel and the sound of the keys based on the tightness of each screw? I'm also guessing overcompression is bad?

It can be subtle.

Just picture it in your mind's eye: 50 plastic rods about 2mm-3mm in diameter are melted flat into "mushroom heads" to hold the plates together.

Now you have 50 steel screws (M2 size, with or without nuts and washers depending on whose guide you prefer) that can each be tightened pretty snug.

If you tension them differently, you will create "waves" or "ripples" in the plastic plate (the metal one will govern) that can make keys in different areas behave differently.

[chyros]

When you say tune, are you saying that I can adjust the feel and the sound of the keys based on the tightness of each screw? I'm also guessing overcompression is bad?

It can be subtle.

Just picture it in your mind's eye: 50 plastic rods about 2mm-3mm in diameter are melted flat into "mushroom heads" to hold the plates together.

Now you have 50 steel screws (M2 size, with or without nuts and washers depending on whose guide you prefer) that can each be tightened pretty snug.

If you tension them differently, you will create "waves" or "ripples" in the plastic plate (the metal one will govern) that can make keys in different areas behave differently.

Yeah, very true - I just compared my bolt-modded grey-label M as well, and it's much quieter. The spacebar is much more rattly though Oo .

[TastaturenAuslese]

When you say tune, are you saying that I can adjust the feel and the sound of the keys based on the tightness of each screw? I'm also guessing overcompression is bad?

It can be subtle.

Just picture it in your mind's eye: 50 plastic rods about 2mm-3mm in diameter are melted flat into "mushroom heads" to hold the plates together.

Now you have 50 steel screws (M2 size, with or without nuts and washers depending on whose guide you prefer) that can each be tightened pretty snug.

If you tension them differently, you will create "waves" or "ripples" in the plastic plate (the metal one will govern) that can make keys in different areas behave differently.

That so eloquent. That picture you put in my head was really clear, ahaha! Considering you've done the mod before, which guide did you follow? Nuts and washers, or screws?

[TastaturenAuslese]

Interesting question! I just made a comparison of two of mine. Both in excellent condition, same part number, spaced 2 years apart.

Exactly what I'm experiencing! Is the top one the grey label? Which sound do you like better?

I'm having a dilemma because I want to get rid of the blue label since it's just sitting in the closet, but I like the sound better. And I don't want to get rid of my grey label, because it's a special Merrill Lynch version of the IBM Model M.

Yes, the top one is the grey label one. I just realised that in the GH-sized preview, you can't see it (you can on Youtube).

Yes, the sound is slightly different; the grey label one has ever so slightly lower pitch and has a slightly quieter bottoming out noise. The difference is very small however, and easily within the margin of error of the condition and manufacturing specs of the keyboard - I'm sure the condition of the board is a much more profound factor in the sound of the board than the colour of the label is. When typing quickly, I can't really distinguish between them. Note that these were manufactured only two years apart, both made by IBM, and appear to have fairly identical construction - I think the difference would be much more pronounced between a square-label IBM one and a Lexmark-made last-gen one.

You're right. On mine, it's quite a subtle change too. I didn't notice it until I actually took the time down to sit them next to each other and compare the sound. There definitely is a slight change though.

[chyros]

Yeah, there is a difference, but really, you wouldn't expect any two boards to sound the same anyway. Personally I'd say the differences are small enough that they are negligible.

[TastaturenAuslese]

Alright! So it seems like the difference between the two types of IBM Model M's is just simply variance between different keyboards, and not necessarily having anything to do with their labels.

[fohat.digs]

which guide did you follow? Nuts and washers, or screws?

Sandy55

But I don't think it exists any more. After the first one, I developed the process on my own through experience and trial-and-error.

I prefer washers and nuts, but there is not always enough clearance for the washer, even though they are thin.

[chyros]

Alright! So it seems like the difference between the two types of IBM Model M's is just simply variance between different keyboards, and not necessarily having anything to do with their labels.

Yes. Although I'm sure there are factors at work that might change the sound subtly due to their construction, such as the thickness of the plate, other factors contribute at least as much if not more to the sound, and the differences in plate thickness and others aren't as easy to track as just looking at the label anyway. Roughly speaking all Model Ms that haven't been excessively tinkered with will have a close enough sound, I would say. Of the six or so Model Ms I own or have owned, none struck me as sounding considerably different from the others, despite them spanning from 1987 to 1995 and from IBM to Lexmark.

[Snowdog993]

Yes. Although I'm sure there are factors at work that might change the sound subtly due to their construction, such as the thickness of the plate, other factors contribute at least as much if not more to the sound, and the differences in plate thickness and others aren't as easy to track as just looking at the label anyway. Roughly speaking all Model Ms that haven't been excessively tinkered with will have a close enough sound, I would say. Of the six or so Model Ms I own or have owned, none struck me as sounding considerably different from the others, despite them spanning from 1987 to 1995 and from IBM to Lexmark.

I agree more with this statement.  There is little, if any difference in the feel or sound from one to the next.  The only thing I could think of is that there may be a need for a repair if the keyboard doesn't respond or feel right.

[fknraiden]

When you say tune, are you saying that I can adjust the feel and the sound of the keys based on the tightness of each screw? I'm also guessing overcompression is bad?

It can be subtle.

Just picture it in your mind's eye: 50 plastic rods about 2mm-3mm in diameter are melted flat into "mushroom heads" to hold the plates together.

Now you have 50 steel screws (M2 size, with or without nuts and washers depending on whose guide you prefer) that can each be tightened pretty snug.

If you tension them differently, you will create "waves" or "ripples" in the plastic plate (the metal one will govern) that can make keys in different areas behave differently.

That so eloquent. That picture you put in my head was really clear, ahaha! Considering you've done the mod before, which guide did you follow? Nuts and washers, or screws?

I recently screw modded 2 grey labels. I used a 1.7mm drill bit and went all the way through on the barrel assembly. then took some m2x8mm panheads and just screwed them in. perfect fit. You could use 4mm for the bottom row.