« previous next »
Pages:  [1]     Go Down

Author Topic: Help finding retired Model M keyboards? What businesses used them most?  (Read 1903 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline figit090

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 47
  • RGB LED Kinesis Contoured
Help finding retired Model M keyboards? What businesses used them most?
« on: Sat, 15 August 2015, 06:14:11 »
I feel like the area I live in might have a few businesses that could have used Model M keyboards, and I know that people who specialize in them procure them in larger quantities (clickykeyboards...omg)...so they must be out there still, in storage or perhaps even still used (oddly my lawyer's assistant uses one, to the dismay of his associates).  I don't want 500, but if I could save a few here and there it would be cool.  I've found and acquired some pretty awesome stuff before so I think I can do this.

Can anyone give me tips on what sorts of corporations would have them?  AT&T offices?  Newspapers?  Schools?  I'm not sure what kinds of computers came with Model M boards, and what businesses would have used lots of them.  ESPECIALLY what places would have used them as long as possible (less risk they've been tossed). 

I know some workstations would have been sold in quantity to certain locations like schools and data/networking centers so I wanted to focus my effort there.  I know of at least one college near me that has an entire LIBRARY that was decommissioned.  Inside are all SORTS of old mechanics' teaching tools and antiquated equipment from all disciplines.  I didn't see keyboards last time I was there, but I feel like I could find IBM's somewhere.  I know I've seen tons of Dell crap hit yard sales after colleges updated their workstations, so I'm hoping back in the 90's or early 2000's they boxed up and kept something and didn't auction it all off. 

If anyone has tips on where to look, what will be good to actually ask, and what to offer as compensation...I'd greatly appreciate the tips, here or VIA PM.  :)


 



« Last Edit: Sat, 15 August 2015, 06:31:35 by figit090 »
Logged

Offline demik

  • Pronounced "demique"
  • Posts: 11159
Re: Help finding retired Model M keyboards? What businesses used them most?
« Reply #1 on: Sat, 15 August 2015, 07:56:45 »
This is off topic. No keyboards here. You might want to try keyboards sub.


Mod Note: This thread has been moved since this comment was posted.  Hi demik!
« Last Edit: Mon, 17 August 2015, 01:14:03 by infiniti »
Logged
No, he’s not around. How that sound to ya? Jot it down.

Offline fohat.digs

  • * Elevated Elder
  • Posts: 6533
  • Location: 35°55'N, 83°53'W
  • weird funny old guy
Re: Help finding retired Model M keyboards? What businesses used them most?
« Reply #2 on: Sat, 15 August 2015, 08:31:07 »
It's too bad that they are so heavy and that it costs $15 minimum plus requiring a good box just to ship them.

If you did stumble across a lode of them for little or nothing, you could sell them reasonably ($30-40  shipped) and still make some money - at least enough to finance your purchase of some fancy boards for yourself!
Logged
"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline 3K

  • Posts: 279
  • Location: Germany
Re: Help finding retired Model M keyboards? What businesses used them most?
« Reply #3 on: Sat, 15 August 2015, 09:21:53 »
I guess I would start with looking for small businesses who could have an office or server room. Small businesses because the more money someone has, the less he will care about throwing out old things.
Logged

                   Model M '88    | Model M SSK '87 | HHKB P2  | Zowie FK1

Offline katushkin

  • Too Keycool for School
  • * Elevated Elder
  • Posts: 3669
  • Location: Birmingham - Not Alabama
  • Just the guy
Re: Help finding retired Model M keyboards? What businesses used them most?
« Reply #4 on: Sat, 15 August 2015, 09:34:02 »
Just remember that places have got to have been around for 30+ years so the amount of places you think might have them, probably haven't been around as long as you think.

Also, they will have to be in a large enough location so they have enough space to store 30+ years of crap that they haven't thrown away. Regular offices will probably be a no go because they office space really won't be enough to store a big old whack of keyboards they haven't used for a decade or two.
Logged
Quote from: Hak Foo on Wed, 04 May 2016, 22:57:23
Can we get them to build the Alps ten feet higher and get Cherry to pay for it?
Katushkin's Clearout | Twitter | Steam | Instagram| Discord - katushkin

Offline figit090

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 47
  • RGB LED Kinesis Contoured
Re: Help finding retired Model M keyboards? What businesses used them most?
« Reply #5 on: Sat, 15 August 2015, 16:20:15 »
Quote from: demik on Sat, 15 August 2015, 07:56:45
This is off topic. No keyboards here. You might want to try keyboards sub.

Okay, sorry guys!
Logged

Offline TastaturenAuslese

  • Formerly temence
  • Posts: 231
  • Location: North Vancouver, Canada
  • life marrow suckerer
Re: Help finding retired Model M keyboards? What businesses used them most?
« Reply #6 on: Sat, 15 August 2015, 21:49:22 »
You'll never know though. You kinda just gotta look around.

Shadovved found a bunch of SSK's and Industrial Model M's from what looks to be a church. Lol.
Logged
Home: Kishsaver - IBM 6019284/F62 | Work: HHKB Professional 2 Silenced | Temporary Retirement:
More
IBM '89 1391401 Merrill Lynch Financial Edition


They are a functional and practical indulgence.

Offline njbair

  • Posts: 2825
  • Location: Cleveland, Ohio
  • I love the Powerglove. It's so bad.
    • nickbair.net
Re: Help finding retired Model M keyboards? What businesses used them most?
« Reply #7 on: Sat, 15 August 2015, 21:59:23 »
Quote from: demik on Sat, 15 August 2015, 07:56:45
This is off topic. No keyboards here. You might want to try keyboards sub.

So, no keyboards allowed at all in Off Topic? I'm sure I've broken that rule before.

But wait. If the forum is Off Topic, and I talk about keyboards, that's actually me being off topic, which is on topic for Off Topic.
Logged

Alpine Winter GB | My Personal TMK Firmware Repo
IBM Rubber Band "Floss" Mod | Click Modding Alps 101 | Flame-Polishing Cherry MX Stems
Review: hasu's USB to USB converter
My boards:
More
AEKII 60% | Alps64 HHKB | Ducky Shine 3, MX Blues | IBM Model M #1391401, Nov. 1990 | IBM SSK #1391472, Nov. 1987, screw modded, rubber-band modded | Noppoo EC108-Pro, 45g | Infinity 60% v2 Hacker, Matias Quiet Pros | Infinity 60% v2 Standard, MX Browns | Cherry G80-1800LPCEU-2, MX Blacks | Cherry G80-1813 (Dolch), MX Blues | Unicomp M-122, ANSI-modded | Unicomp M-122 (Unsaver mod in progress) | 2x Unitek K-258, White Alps | Apple boards (IIGS, AEKII) | Varmilo VA87MR, Gateron Blacks | Filco Zero TKL, Fukka White Alps | Planck, Gateron Browns | Monarch, click-modded Cream Alps

Offline figit090

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 47
  • RGB LED Kinesis Contoured
Re: Help finding retired Model M keyboards? What businesses used them most?
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 16 August 2015, 05:16:34 »
Quote from: temence on Sat, 15 August 2015, 21:49:22
You'll never know though. You kinda just gotta look around.

Shadovved found a bunch of SSK's and Industrial Model M's from what looks to be a church. Lol.

HAH, nice.  I had a want-ad online once, all I got was keytronic hits.  I'll look up some places and see what happens. :)
Logged
Pages:  [1]     Go Up
« previous next »