IBM 107 FMK - IBM 107 472X-41-53951 - Lot of pictures
- idollar
- i$
- Location: Germany (Frankfurt area)
- Main keyboard: IBM F or M
- Favorite switch: BS
- DT Pro Member: -
Hello,
I was working with the keyboard yesterday. I have taken some mesurements that I will post hopefully after work today
If someone is interested in mesuring any specific part, tell me. I will post it.
I was working with the keyboard yesterday. I have taken some mesurements that I will post hopefully after work today
If someone is interested in mesuring any specific part, tell me. I will post it.
- LLRnR
- \m/
- Location: France
- Main keyboard: New F62 | 8BitDo | IBM Model M SSK
- Main mouse: Kensington Expert Trackball
- Favorite switch: Buckling Springs
- DT Pro Member: -
Your photos are really wonderful!
Just a quick question, for wet sanding, do you use a special tool or can you just use sand paper and a sponge (between your palm and the sand paper)? I'm planning to sand the back plate of my SSK, which is a bit rusty.
Just a quick question, for wet sanding, do you use a special tool or can you just use sand paper and a sponge (between your palm and the sand paper)? I'm planning to sand the back plate of my SSK, which is a bit rusty.
- idollar
- i$
- Location: Germany (Frankfurt area)
- Main keyboard: IBM F or M
- Favorite switch: BS
- DT Pro Member: -
Thanks for the appreciation. It is nice to read that my effort is appreciated.
Regarding the sanding is as simple as having a glass with water near by. I cut a small piece of sand paper and put it for no more than two seconds in the water. Then I sand gently, without pressing too much.
If your plate is rusty you may want to press more.
If your target is a SSK back plate, you can search for a post with my results on the same part. (I will look for it for you, give me a second)
- idollar
- i$
- Location: Germany (Frankfurt area)
- Main keyboard: IBM F or M
- Favorite switch: BS
- DT Pro Member: -
- idollar
- i$
- Location: Germany (Frankfurt area)
- Main keyboard: IBM F or M
- Favorite switch: BS
- DT Pro Member: -
- LLRnR
- \m/
- Location: France
- Main keyboard: New F62 | 8BitDo | IBM Model M SSK
- Main mouse: Kensington Expert Trackball
- Favorite switch: Buckling Springs
- DT Pro Member: -
Thanks for the info and for the link. I already have some sandpaper, quite different grits. Now I just need to find a free and calm weekend to bolt-mod my SSK and sand the plate.
Looking forward to see the rest of your restoration process!
- LLRnR
- \m/
- Location: France
- Main keyboard: New F62 | 8BitDo | IBM Model M SSK
- Main mouse: Kensington Expert Trackball
- Favorite switch: Buckling Springs
- DT Pro Member: -
(EDIT: Never mind, there's too much anticipation on my part (with reference to the reason for removing the old controller). I'll let your log follow and only ask questions only if I don't understand what it is that you're doing.)
- idollar
- i$
- Location: Germany (Frankfurt area)
- Main keyboard: IBM F or M
- Favorite switch: BS
- DT Pro Member: -
You may ask anything at any time !
I was busy with something else. I will post some new pictures now

- Halvar
- Location: Baden, DE
- Main keyboard: IBM Model M SSK / Filco MT 2
- Favorite switch: Beam & buckling spring, Monterey, MX Brown
- DT Pro Member: 0051
Brilliant documentation! You should pursue a career in science ...
One of many photos that cry "DT header":

Is it only the lighing or did you use a tilt shift filter?

One of many photos that cry "DT header":
Is it only the lighing or did you use a tilt shift filter?
- idollar
- i$
- Location: Germany (Frankfurt area)
- Main keyboard: IBM F or M
- Favorite switch: BS
- DT Pro Member: -
- LLRnR
- \m/
- Location: France
- Main keyboard: New F62 | 8BitDo | IBM Model M SSK
- Main mouse: Kensington Expert Trackball
- Favorite switch: Buckling Springs
- DT Pro Member: -
This is really inspiring. My project for this summer (when I have some space to breathe, I'm finishing my Master's degree now) is to acquire, restore and adapt a Model F AT. From what I see, it seems xwhatsit is the way to go for Fs and beamsprings. Did you get yours from OHS Park?
- idollar
- i$
- Location: Germany (Frankfurt area)
- Main keyboard: IBM F or M
- Favorite switch: BS
- DT Pro Member: -
An AT will not require an xwhatsit. A converter will do. It is cheaper and you will keep the keyboard as it was originaly build.
Check the first post. You will find a link to a "lot of pictures" that I did for an AT
I received the xwhatsit together with my first 107. The restoration that you see is my second keyboard. I like it so much that I got one for the office and a second one for home.
- fohat
- Elder Messenger
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Main keyboard: Model F 122-key terminal
- Main mouse: Microsoft Optical Mouse
- Favorite switch: Model F Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0158
- LLRnR
- \m/
- Location: France
- Main keyboard: New F62 | 8BitDo | IBM Model M SSK
- Main mouse: Kensington Expert Trackball
- Favorite switch: Buckling Springs
- DT Pro Member: -
Hehe, it's not hard to figure why it is that you like it so much!idollar wrote: An AT will not require an xwhatsit. A converter will do. It is cheaper and you will keep the keyboard as it was originaly build.
Check the first post. You will find a link to a "lot of pictures" that I did for an AT
I received the xwhatsit together with my first 107. The restoration that you see is my second keyboard. I like it so much that I got one for the office and a second one for home.
What I plan to do for the AT is to remap a lot of keys on the AT. I can see it working as a great layout, just not in its original state. In this case, if a xwhatsit is not required, the better for me, as it's easier and cheaper to buy Teensies than xwhatsit's.
In the meantime, there's a new confirmation from fohat.
Great, so if it's just the AT, a Teensy with Soarer's, a soldering iron and a lot of guts that I need, that'll do

Last edited by LLRnR on 01 Apr 2015, 22:53, edited 1 time in total.
- LLRnR
- \m/
- Location: France
- Main keyboard: New F62 | 8BitDo | IBM Model M SSK
- Main mouse: Kensington Expert Trackball
- Favorite switch: Buckling Springs
- DT Pro Member: -
- fohat
- Elder Messenger
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Main keyboard: Model F 122-key terminal
- Main mouse: Microsoft Optical Mouse
- Favorite switch: Model F Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0158
Depending on how good you are at the workbench, this
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48288.0
is what you really want to do.
- idollar
- i$
- Location: Germany (Frankfurt area)
- Main keyboard: IBM F or M
- Favorite switch: BS
- DT Pro Member: -
Hi,
As you know, the restoration is not finished, but since the beginning of the week I am using this keyboard at the office to test the feeling of the raw metal.
Yesterday I got a little electric shock from the keyboard. In the morning and in the afternoon.
Today, wearing different shoes, I got another one.
I thought that it was worth reporting to check if someone else had the same problem or it is only liked to the direct touch with the metal. In my opinion and from the safety point of view, it should not make a difference to have it painted or not. The design should be resilient to this.
It could well be that the earthing is not well done. I will check it and report. I do not have the required tools with me (nor the required time to do it now)
Cheers.
Íñigo
As you know, the restoration is not finished, but since the beginning of the week I am using this keyboard at the office to test the feeling of the raw metal.
Yesterday I got a little electric shock from the keyboard. In the morning and in the afternoon.
Today, wearing different shoes, I got another one.
I thought that it was worth reporting to check if someone else had the same problem or it is only liked to the direct touch with the metal. In my opinion and from the safety point of view, it should not make a difference to have it painted or not. The design should be resilient to this.
It could well be that the earthing is not well done. I will check it and report. I do not have the required tools with me (nor the required time to do it now)
Cheers.
Íñigo
- LLRnR
- \m/
- Location: France
- Main keyboard: New F62 | 8BitDo | IBM Model M SSK
- Main mouse: Kensington Expert Trackball
- Favorite switch: Buckling Springs
- DT Pro Member: -
I think I've stumbled upon this some while ago. Thanks for the link, it's an excellent thread and the spacebar mod is just amazing.fohat wrote: Depending on how good you are at the workbench, this
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=48288.0
is what you really want to do.
After everything you've done for her, this is how she repays you!...
I hope it's just the grounding and that it can be easily fixed. Good luck!