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IBM Model F XT $11.50 eBay find

Posted: 08 Dec 2018, 15:24
by madrobby
Even shipping wasn’t bad considering the heft.

And it works just fine, plugged it into the good old soarer’s and it came back to life! Only key that has issues is the + key on the numpad. It needs some real good TLC and deep cleaning.
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Will post “after” pics once I get to clean it.

Posted: 08 Dec 2018, 18:43
by Dingster
Damn thats quite a lucky find. Good luck with the restoration!

Posted: 08 Dec 2018, 22:19
by madrobby
Dingster wrote: Damn thats quite a lucky find. Good luck with the restoration!
Thanks! Discovered the + key works fine, just needed a bit of cleaning :)

Posted: 09 Dec 2018, 02:14
by madrobby
Interim progress report!

Insides (yuck):
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Case before:
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Case after:
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I’ve finished washing and scrubbing the keycaps, as well get the stickers and residue of the caps. They’re now drying.
Because the board works, I’m not bothering right now with taking it apart, the dirt on the inside was mostly dust etc. I did wipe down the barrels etc. with isopropyl alcohol, and have the case a good clean. It looks 500% better already!

Posted: 09 Dec 2018, 05:28
by Ir0n
^ i was the "last" bidder on that I got up and forgot about it and you outbid me by a dollar. At least I'm like 90% sure it was this one.

Glad you're gonna use it though because I was going to rape it of springs and flippers for an 122 or a "Model MF".

Posted: 09 Dec 2018, 06:51
by kbdfr
Ir0n wrote: ^ i was the "last" bidder on that I got up and forgot about it and you outbid me by a dollar. […]
No matter how much the winning bid actually is, on eBay the previous bidder is always outbid by just 1 bidding increment.

And this sale is an excellent example why a sniper is always at an advantage against an early low bidder:
https://www.ebay.com/bfl/viewbids/39217 ... 7675.l2565

Posted: 09 Dec 2018, 07:55
by Ir0n
lol yup it was the same one i see my name in your link Lmao son of a bitch.

Oh well it's no biggy I think it's funny.

Posted: 09 Dec 2018, 14:47
by madrobby
Board cleaned up nice!
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Posted: 09 Dec 2018, 16:43
by lueblue
Why do some keycaps look crooked?

Posted: 09 Dec 2018, 16:48
by madrobby
lueblue wrote: Why do some keycaps look crooked?
Do you mean they’re slightly rotated? The Model F has pretty loose and wobbly caps by design, it’s not something that you feel while typing tho. Gotta use a ruler and straighten them out and make a better photo. :)

Posted: 09 Dec 2018, 18:37
by lueblue
Nevertheless, good job on cleaning the keyboard!