Stopped by a thrift store on the way home

[theycallmestino]

The owner said he was a vintage enthusiast...if he's on here, you don't even know how happy I am.

I am using the top one now, it is my first time using one, and its amazing. Testing them, but so far they all work.
















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[snuci]

Congratulations. Those are beauties! That silver label Model M is particularly nice.

[Chyros]

Congratulations, that's excellent! I'm actually still looking for a square-badge M, it's just about the only model of M I don't have yet xD . The old ones are just irresistible .

[mike52787]

What a find! wish I could find shit like this at my thrift shops.

[theycallmestino]

Congratulations. Those are beauties! That silver label Model M is particularly nice.

Congratulations, that's excellent! I'm actually still looking for a square-badge M, it's just about the only model of M I don't have yet xD . The old ones are just irresistible .

Thanks! This is my first foray into Model M's, I'm reading up on the WIKI. Are there any real differences that make one better than the other (1391401 vs 1390131)?

[XMIT]

There was a glorious time when $5 Model M thrift store finds were very common! I'm always happy to hear that this is still possible in some places. Well done!

[theycallmestino]

It was the fourth I visited, went to 3 during lunch with no luck and tried this one on the way home on a whim!

[Chyros]

Congratulations. Those are beauties! That silver label Model M is particularly nice.

Congratulations, that's excellent! I'm actually still looking for a square-badge M, it's just about the only model of M I don't have yet xD . The old ones are just irresistible .

Thanks! This is my first foray into Model M's, I'm reading up on the WIKI. Are there any real differences that make one better than the other (1391401 vs 1390131)?

The plates are thicker on the older ones. The legends are sometimes also nicer.

[mike52787]

The 1390131 feels better to type on IMO, but the difference isnt huge.

[fohat]

After more than half a decade, the only 2 Model Ms that I ever found in thrift stores were 71* rubber dome models.

[mike52787]

strange, some of the most uncommon fullsize Ms are the only ones you found?

[Chyros]

strange, some of the most uncommon fullsize Ms are the only ones you found?

FWIW, I've had over a dozen Ms and apart from a single batch of 9 terminal rubber dome Unicomps I never found any IBM rubber dome Ms either.

[Harshmallow]

Those are all 80's models too, pretty damn good find for a thrift store whim! As I understand it, the 85-87 models should have the thicker, colourful metal inner plate. I didn't notice a significant difference in typing feel from my May 87 1391401 and my 96 42H1292, but the keys feel noticeably smoother and not as pleasant on the newer 96 one (Both are new quality, the 96 actually being new in box, so it wasn't a case of it being more worn). The stabilized keys on the 87 I have are also the older style metal wires and not those plastic inserts - to me the stabilized keys feel much better with the wires, though also a little stiffer.

[emdude]

From my experience, the '85-'87 Model Ms have had a variety of metal plates; I've had Ms with typical chromate, rainbow plates but with satin and polished finishes, as well as one with a plain, polished finish. I think some of the '87 1391401s have the galvanized(?) plates typical of all later Model Ms as well.

They also have better dyesubs than later Ms so @theycallmestino, if you decide to replace the missing ones, I recommend getting the appropriate keycaps from someone like clickykeyboards!

[theycallmestino]

I can definitely feel the weight difference just when carrying them.
I took apart the 401 and cleaned it throughout. It wasn't that bad but it had quite a bit of dust in there and a few scuff marks on the case. It's already back together and the main keyboard for my main desktop, and my Logitech G710+ is back in the box

They also have better dyesubs than later Ms so @theycallmestino, if you decide to replace the missing ones, I recommend getting the appropriate keycaps from someone like clickykeyboards!

That's what I've decided to do, just take them apart and clean them, restore the original missing pieces.

[seebart]

Very nice mini haul theycallmestino, the model M is the AT classic to own! With that square-badge M you got just about the nicest one possible and you'll be able to find all the spare parts you'll ever need for those!

[Scarpia]

Oh my God, my birthday is in there

...that's the first time I've seen it on a Model M. Jealous.

[seebart]

Oh my God, my birthday is in there

...that's the first time I've seen it on a Model M. Jealous.

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[theycallmestino]

With any luck the square badge will come apart today for cleaning.

[Scarpia]

Oh my God, my birthday is in there

...that's the first time I've seen it on a Model M. Jealous.

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Just the date though -- not the year.

[emdude]

I feel very fortunate to have found a lovely 1390131 with my birthday not long after my entry into the hobby.

The year doesn't match for it either; sadly my exact birthday seems to have been on a weekend, so I don't expect to ever find a Model M with it.

[Chyros]

I feel very fortunate to have found a lovely 1390131 with my birthday not long after my entry into the hobby.

The year doesn't match for it either; sadly my exact birthday seems to have been on a weekend, so I don't expect to ever find a Model M with it.

Hah, yeah, same for me, I was born on a Sunday. I think my brithday would've been JUST outside of square-badge territory, though (Aug 1987).

[Harshmallow]

Same here lol - Sunday, May 3 1987. So I settled for the May 20 1987 1391401 I found just before Christmas a few weeks ago ($41 to boot!). It was a seller with only 2 feedback, so I guess no one else bid on it or it wasn't very high up in the listings. Perfect condition, with the super long coiled cable too.

Edit: Maybe there is hope yet, Clickykeyboards has sold a Sept. 1987 square badge 1390131 (gotta have those lock lights) in the past: http://clickykeyboards.com/product/1987 ... 23-sep-87/

[//gainsborough]

Same here lol - Sunday, May 3 1987. So I settled for the May 20 1987 1391401 I found just before Christmas a few weeks ago ($41 to boot!). It was a seller with only 2 feedback, so I guess no one else bid on it or it wasn't very high up in the listings. Perfect condition, with the super long coiled cable too.

Edit: Maybe there is hope yet, Clickykeyboards has sold a Sept. 1987 square badge 1390131 (gotta have those lock lights) in the past: http://clickykeyboards.com/product/1987 ... 23-sep-87/

I was wondering who got that! I almost went for it myself - Saturday, May 16, 1987 =)

[theycallmestino]

So I took apart the square badge for cleaning. Interestingly enough, the metal plate looks to be the same as the other - no funky color. However, the inner plastic is black, where the other is white.

[Scottex]

how are you planing to reattach the badge?

[theycallmestino]

I was using the term "square badge" as an identifier for the keyboard (out of the 3)

[Scottex]

oh I see

[fohat]

Interestingly enough, the metal plate looks to be the same as the other - no funky color.

1987 is late for the plate to be chromate-finished, although it may well still be the thick heavy one.