I tried XMIT's and immediately wanted one. After some intense eBay watching, I snagged an AT&T keyboard for $60 total. It looked like a 305B, but I think it's different -- the lack of a specific model # doesn't help with identification. It also has some unique quirks.
For one thing, it weighs a hair over 5 pounds without its cable (which sports a 6p6c modular connector < PS/2 connector layout). YES, that is two ounces more than a Model M (!), which comes in at 4 pounds 14 ounces without a cable. My AT&T also has a greyish bottom case half, which isn't normal for 305B models.
I think that the press-force is equivalent to a Model M -- perhaps XMIT's was an outlier in that its springs were light. Or, perhaps, the plastic is smoother? Tolerance on different production runs was likely lax in any case. I'll get out my force gauge to do basic peak force testing. Click sound is divergent from Model Ms. It's much less "thocky" because of the thicker metal backplate. It seems like a cross between Model Fs and Model Ms, which is something that I don't mind at all. It gives an exceptionally solid typing experience. That is primarily due to its weight and backplate thickness.
I think I'll give this model a cool provisional name... I present the AT&T 305 Industrial!
(which is what I'll call it until someone corrects me)
I sourced a one piece space bar and some control keys from a Model M. The space bar was two piece, interestingly enough. It really muted the click. I don't really like the light texture on the caps -- I might migrate to a complete Model M cap set at some point. We'll see.
Look at that beautiful curved body with angular case edges. Yum.
The back. Note the lack of an FCC ID.
Topless -- I'm not a fan of white plates, but whatever. The 'board comes apart easily. Three screws hold the top plate on. A simple tilt and push removes the front latches.
The bottom of the top half.
The plate, which is immensely thick and (remarkably) doesn't have missing rivets. AT&T's plastic composition or tooling might have been better than IBM's.
The inside of the bottom half.
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Here are the keyboards from my TXMIT trip. A link to that thread can be found below.
(keyboards-f2/txmit-ohaimark-s-austin-ke ... 13550.html)
ADDS 1010 with linear White Space Invaders.
JIT keyboard without a proper model number. Its white KPT clones are insanely clicky. Why? I think the click leaf gradually bends backwards with use, eventually allowing the entire leaf to move inside the switch housing. The click leaf then slaps the side of the housing when it pops off the slider.
Tandy 3000 keyboard with Fujitsu Linears. Holy smooth keyswitches, batman! These keyboards come with factory applied lube. They are, without contest, the smoothest switches I've used. Green Alps and Vintage Blacks have nothing on them. This keyboard is also unusual because its keycaps don't have the typical "tombstone" Fujitsu profile.
Siig Minitouch. Monterey Blues. Typical, but nice, keyboard fare.
My fave is the ADDS 1010 though.
