Very early IBM Model M XT 1389969 made in 1986
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- Location: United Kingdom
- Main keyboard: Modded IBM Model F AT
- Main mouse: Mionix Naos 8200
- Favorite switch: Capacitive Buckling Springs
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Here is very early IBM Model M XT 1389969 made in 1986 in great condition just thought i would post this as the keyboard is an almost pristine apart from missing a few keycaps example of these old XT model M's hope you like it.
The Keyboard only has 4 broken rivets will be doing a restoration log on it soon.
The Keyboard only has 4 broken rivets will be doing a restoration log on it soon.
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- IMG_20190501_131557.jpg (1.59 MiB) Viewed 4797 times
Last edited by Fkazim on 02 May 2019, 11:43, edited 2 times in total.
- Chyros
- Location: The Netherlands
- Main keyboard: whatever I'm reviewing next :p
- Main mouse: a cheap Logitech
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Blue
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Very nice! ISO square-label M's are very rare; it took me quite a while to get hold of one (and mine isn't even this XT version). Looks great!
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- Location: United Kingdom
- Main keyboard: Modded IBM Model F AT
- Main mouse: Mionix Naos 8200
- Favorite switch: Capacitive Buckling Springs
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Thanks a lot Chyros really appreciate the feedback also love all your videos
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- Location: United Kingdom
- Main keyboard: Modded IBM Model F AT
- Main mouse: Mionix Naos 8200
- Favorite switch: Capacitive Buckling Springs
- DT Pro Member: -
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I think the earliest Model M is a prototype model made in 1985.
- Wazrach
- Location: Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
- Main mouse: Razer Viper 8KHz/ Viper Mini
- Favorite switch: Buckling springs
- DT Pro Member: -
- Chyros
- Location: The Netherlands
- Main keyboard: whatever I'm reviewing next :p
- Main mouse: a cheap Logitech
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
The earliest PC-compatible Model M is the 1388032. Mine has the blue sublegends, but this seems to be very rare. Even other 1388032's I've seen don't have these legends. I'm pretty sure mine is a prototype though, or at the very least an extremely early production model (identifiable parts are all the same as a known prototype).
- Wazrach
- Location: Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
- Main mouse: Razer Viper 8KHz/ Viper Mini
- Favorite switch: Buckling springs
- DT Pro Member: -
Is that the handsome beast industrial model you're on about?Chyros wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 12:49The earliest PC-compatible Model M is the 1388032. Mine has the blue sublegends, but this seems to be very rare. Even other 1388032's I've seen don't have these legends. I'm pretty sure mine is a prototype though, or at the very least an extremely early production model (identifiable parts are all the same as a known prototype).
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- Location: United Kingdom
- Main keyboard: Modded IBM Model F AT
- Main mouse: Mionix Naos 8200
- Favorite switch: Capacitive Buckling Springs
- DT Pro Member: -
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I have also seen the blue sublegends on some IBM Model F122's I think they were an optional extra or some kind of an upgrade kit similar to the kit sold by IBM below
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- IBM Keycaps.jpg (15.13 KiB) Viewed 4703 times
- depletedvespene
- Location: Chile
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F122
- Main mouse: Logitech G700s
- Favorite switch: buckling spring
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The only keyboards where I've routinely seen blue sublegends are the "PC battleships":Chyros wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 12:49The earliest PC-compatible Model M is the 1388032. Mine has the blue sublegends, but this seems to be very rare. Even other 1388032's I've seen don't have these legends. I'm pretty sure mine is a prototype though, or at the very least an extremely early production model (identifiable parts are all the same as a known prototype).
where they were used as a clear way of distinguishing "terminal" and "computer" modes.
EDIT: I'm talking about the numpad and the alpha block here; besides that, plenty of F122 and M122 units have blue sublegends on the F rows, but that's a different thing.
Last edited by depletedvespene on 02 May 2019, 13:23, edited 1 time in total.
- Wazrach
- Location: Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
- Main mouse: Razer Viper 8KHz/ Viper Mini
- Favorite switch: Buckling springs
- DT Pro Member: -
The F122 I'm getting on Tuesday has blue sublegends, mostly on the numpad. Would love it if the 24 command keys had blue legends like on some F122s.
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- Location: United Kingdom
- Main keyboard: Modded IBM Model F AT
- Main mouse: Mionix Naos 8200
- Favorite switch: Capacitive Buckling Springs
- DT Pro Member: -
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wow very nice find is the F122 Keyboard you are getting got a UK layout with the pound key too? That would be my dream F122.
- Wazrach
- Location: Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
- Main mouse: Razer Viper 8KHz/ Viper Mini
- Favorite switch: Buckling springs
- DT Pro Member: -
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- Location: United Kingdom
- Main keyboard: Modded IBM Model F AT
- Main mouse: Mionix Naos 8200
- Favorite switch: Capacitive Buckling Springs
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
That sucks hopefully the foam is in good condition fingers crossed.
- Wazrach
- Location: Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
- Main mouse: Razer Viper 8KHz/ Viper Mini
- Favorite switch: Buckling springs
- DT Pro Member: -
- Wazrach
- Location: Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
- Main mouse: Razer Viper 8KHz/ Viper Mini
- Favorite switch: Buckling springs
- DT Pro Member: -
Nice find with the early Model M though. If you bolt mod it, you should find a thinner, spongier alternative to the rubber mat above the membranes! I bet this would make it louder and crisper, without the risk of damaging the membranes over time without a mat.
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- Location: United Kingdom
- Main keyboard: Modded IBM Model F AT
- Main mouse: Mionix Naos 8200
- Favorite switch: Capacitive Buckling Springs
- DT Pro Member: -
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wow £60 for foam sounds a bit much I got my neoprene foam on eBay for I think £8 for a whole sheet. Also the whole laser cutting sounds pretty appealing but that must cost a fair bit. When I did my foam replacement for my IBM Model F XT and Model F AT I just cut the holes in the foam with a leather hole punch worked great so that's always an option if worst case.
- Wazrach
- Location: Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
- Main mouse: Razer Viper 8KHz/ Viper Mini
- Favorite switch: Buckling springs
- DT Pro Member: -
As I'm sure you've heard, my foam replacements never go well, based on the XTs I've done it for. The F122 is my dream, I want to make sure the foam is perfect if I replace it.Fkazim wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 14:34wow £60 for foam sounds a bit much I got my neoprene foam on eBay for I think £8 for a whole sheet. Also the whole laser cutting sounds pretty appealing but that must cost a fair bit. When I did my foam replacement for my IBM Model F XT and Model F AT I just cut the holes in the foam with a leather hole punch worked great so that's always an option if worst case.
- Wazrach
- Location: Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
- Main mouse: Razer Viper 8KHz/ Viper Mini
- Favorite switch: Buckling springs
- DT Pro Member: -
I also bought that stuff you linked me. I haven't made a mat with it yet, but it's quite firm. I think it would deaden the sound as well.Fkazim wrote: ↑02 May 2019, 14:34wow £60 for foam sounds a bit much I got my neoprene foam on eBay for I think £8 for a whole sheet. Also the whole laser cutting sounds pretty appealing but that must cost a fair bit. When I did my foam replacement for my IBM Model F XT and Model F AT I just cut the holes in the foam with a leather hole punch worked great so that's always an option if worst case.
The company I contacted for 3mm, ultra-soft foam can produce foam according to your specifications. The only thing is, you need to order quite a lot. I think I will just bite the bullet and go for it, as I don't have any other options really. McMaster-Carr don't deliver to the UK, and there's nowhere else to get this kind of foam. I'm after soft and compressible - enough to press the barrels firmly against the PCB without deadening the sound.
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- Location: United Kingdom
- Main keyboard: Modded IBM Model F AT
- Main mouse: Mionix Naos 8200
- Favorite switch: Capacitive Buckling Springs
- DT Pro Member: -
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hmm well fair enough quite a dream it will be I would get a Model F122 if there is one for a good price. About what you said before about bolt modding my IBM Model M XT 1389969. I think it would be a crime as 1 its a very old model that still has all apart from 4 of the plastic rivets in tact and 2 all keys are functioning correctly so i don't see a need in bolt modding this one. however I did bolt mod my other IBM Model M 1390136 as it had 22 broken plastic rivets when I received it. Below is a picture of that Keyboard fully restored.
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- IBM Model M AT.jpg (564.21 KiB) Viewed 4588 times