IBM model M industrial? Seriously...

[ShivaYash]

Evening chaps,

Can someone please explain what all the fuss is about? I mean I love my SSK, and to be honest, since getting it, everything else I own, KB wise, has been packed away.

But what is the craze about having a slightly darker outer casing in the lovely SSK layout, that makes us KB nerds, go nuts?

I just don't understand. What I do understand is that having 'something special' on ones desk usually means, not many others are privileged to have the same item, I get that. But with some of the prices being commanded here and on other forums for the 'unicorn' industrial model, I do wonder, do we all need a reality check?

As always, with best,
SY

[Hypersphere]

Some actually like the industrial color. Some are drawn to collecting things that are rare. As for me, I count myself fortunate to have an SSK! As far as I know, the innards and perhaps also the keycaps are the same as the SSK industrial.

[fohat]

Collectors' itch.

Although I do think that the color is quite beautiful, even though almost all of my gear is beige.

Supply and demand dictates price. My guess is that the industrial color is 20x more rare than beige, maybe 100x.

[gatherjunk]

Don't delve into the mentality of a collector if you wish to stay sane. If there a super rare limited model M which shocked you with each keypress, it'd go for thousands still.

[seebart]

Evening chaps,

Can someone please explain what all the fuss is about? I mean I love my SSK, and to be honest, since getting it, everything else I own, KB wise, has been packed away.

But what is the craze about having a slightly darker outer casing in the lovely SSK layout, that makes us KB nerds, go nuts?

I just don't understand. What I do understand is that having 'something special' on ones desk usually means, not many others are privileged to have the same item, I get that. But with some of the prices being commanded here and on other forums for the 'unicorn' industrial model, I do wonder, do we all need a reality check?
As always, with best,
SY

normal SSK = $150 - $350 vs. industrial SSK = $750 - $1250 = MADNESS!

you`re paying approx. 500 - 850 more for a color variation!

[Madhias]

Rarity!

[ShivaYash]

Of course. I want one. Cos I'm an addict. And stupid.

[snoopy]

It's totally stupid to pay that huge extra amount... but... I want a second one...

[Muirium]

Whenever prices shoot off into crazytown, the reason is two words. Geek Hack.

Clacks are the definitive example. Scarcity doesn't only raise the price, but actually increases demand. (Especially artificial scarcity, just ask De Beers.) People seek status, exclusivity, a feeling, essentially. And so prices go up beyond linearly.

Don't stroke them. That's all they want!

[Halvar]

"We buy things we don’t need, with money we don’t have, to impress people we don’t like" (Tyler Durden, "Figh Club")

(edit: added source)

[Muirium]

Then never post it on the internet. The desperate need people have to show off their stuff — including heavy hints about its price — indicates the exact opposite. These are four figure handbags for boys!

Hmm… looks like Industrial SSKs have a long way to go yet.

This one's quarter of a million USD.

Anyway, I've nothing against the hardware itself. Model Ms are very practical boards, and the industrial colour scheme is quite slick. But as we're talking about prices: grumbly old man power: engage!

[TacticalCoder]

But what is the craze about having a slightly darker outer casing in the lovely SSK layout, that makes us KB nerds, go nuts?

Simple: imagine this, but with a SSK:

keyboardTwoIndustrialModelM.jpg (123.93 KiB) Viewed 8974 times

Resistance is futile: buy an industrial SSK or a NOS top industrial shell for your SSK (if anyone is selling one such SSK industrial shell, you can PM me)

[Muirium]

Aren't those special "bianca" or Hellgrau caps or whatever they're called in IBM-speak?

[scottc]

Look like they're from an Ambra M.

[TacticalCoder]

Aren't those special "bianca" or Hellgrau caps or whatever they're called in IBM-speak?

I don't know how they're called: the black keys comes from a black M13 and the white keys comes from an "Ambra" Model which I have here M (but AFAICT not all the Ambra Model Ms had white keys: some Ambra were beige I think).

Ripster once posted a picture (before he was banned on GH) of his "G.I. Joe Mini": an industrial SSK with white-on-black keys from a M13.

That's where I got the idea for the setup (although in full-size: I don't have the industrial SSK) and I've seen others with the same setup

[Muirium]

Ah, "Ambra", that was the name I was looking for!

I like the native industrial look, especially with those mysteriously blue keys they'd throw on the SSKs. But then again I like the standard Model M outfit just as much. All these originals are better than what Unicomp can manufacture these days.

(Besides blanks. A black Kishsaver with black blanks is a notable exception!)

[andrewjoy]

Aren't those special "bianca" or Hellgrau caps or whatever they're called in IBM-speak?

oh man if they did them in ansi !

[Madhias]

Whenever prices shoot off into crazytown, the reason is two words. Geek Hack.!

Nope, it is not GH, it is about possession and/or collectors. You have that in every other nerdy hobby too, doesn't matter if it is comics, antiques, books, trading card games or whatever.

[Muirium]

True. I just like to maintain the pretence that all the nouveau riche big spenders are on GH, while the discerning connoisseurs of crud-caked antiquities frequent our club instead. It's almost true, most of the time…

But then I forget all about Korea!

Some of the collectors who push prices way beyond sense aren't even on the forums. There's even that guy who dares bid against HaaTa, whose asterisk masked name lives in infamy. Whatever he does with his spoils doesn't involve posting pictures online.

[ShivaYash]

I accept all the points made. In 2015, what should an industrial grey SSK fetch, on the open market, minus silly inflation. I.e. what do WE think SHOULD be worth?

My background and SSK ownership:

Being a newbie SSK owner, in real terms my KB cost me a tad under £140. I procured it via a swap and the unit I received in exchange, from a lovely seller on this forum, was exactly what I was expecting. A well used, single piece key example from Sept. 1987, complete with years of dirt and debris inside, battle scars, a broken up-stand etc. and in need of a jolly good wash and brush up.

It took me about two weeks to get it running nicely, and only yesterday, did I manage to solve the right hand side shift key issue. Its still not 100% perfect, but I feel, once bedded in, it will be.

Given the circumstances, I think both parties got a good deal, especially given the Realforce I swapped was brand new and retails for a tad under £200 (in the UK), and the SSK from my understanding, isn't that widely available. But I managed to save on the initial purchase as the Realforce was sourced from Australia. I benefitted from free global shipping, courtesy of my father in law, and a weak Australian dollar against the pound.

So, with this in mind, what should the 'unicorn' of the range cost, and what is the best year for such a board?

With best,

[snoopy]

somewhere around 400$

[seebart]

you got a decent deal. I paid € 150,00 for my first one and it`s not perfect but clean and working. On the other hand I could have gotten a NIB one from cindy for that. It´s all relative. I paid € 170,00 for Madhias super clean screw modded SSK which is an even better deal to me since it`s refurbished in a very professional manner. I´d considder anything beyond € 350,00 for a really nice one quite expensive.

[snoopy]

Overall I paid around 180€ for my first one, including shipping and import taxes. And it was the longest wait ever. I think it took around 2 month to arrive.

[1391401]

I'll be honest. I wouldn't want an industrial M even if they were $20(well, maybe I would if only to resell it for bank), and a lot of it comes down to the color, which does absolutely nothing for me, but that's me. Personally, I think they're ugly.

[webwit]

Ugly keyboard:

[guk]

Quite the duckly ugling. *drools*

[1391401]

That Industrial SSK with blank caps looks nice, but I could care less about the standard 101 key industrial M.

[ShivaYash]

I'm an idiot and love it. I have my SSK already, but am slumming it without the dark grey. Stupid.

[Khers]

Industrial with blanks - awesome! Makes me want to put blanks on my standard one. Might not give quite the same effect though...

Kind of agree that 101 key industrial Ms look kind of meh, but I haven't ever seen one IRL.

[fohat]

what should an industrial grey SSK fetch, on the open market, minus silly inflation be worth?

3x-5x the price of a standard one, based on supply (low) and demand (high)