Very early IBM Model M XT 1389969 made in 1986

Fkazim · 02 May 2019, 10:05

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.

Chyros · 02 May 2019, 11:01

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!

Fkazim · 02 May 2019, 11:41

Thanks a lot Chyros really appreciate the feedback also love all your videos

Wazrach · 02 May 2019, 11:55

What about Ms with blue sublegends? I would love one of those. Don't see many early Ms. What are the earliest PC Models M?

Fkazim · 02 May 2019, 12:29

I think the earliest Model M is a prototype model made in 1985.

Wazrach · 02 May 2019, 12:37

Fkazim wrote: 02 May 2019, 12:29 I think the earliest Model M is a prototype model made in 1985.

Do you know when the first PC ones came out though? As in the month? What about the blue sublegends?

Chyros · 02 May 2019, 12:49

Wazrach wrote: 02 May 2019, 11:55 What about Ms with blue sublegends? I would love one of those. Don't see many early Ms. What are the earliest PC Models M?

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 · 02 May 2019, 12:59

Chyros wrote: 02 May 2019, 12:49
Wazrach wrote: 02 May 2019, 11:55 What about Ms with blue sublegends? I would love one of those. Don't see many early Ms. What are the earliest PC Models M?
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).

Is that the handsome beast industrial model you're on about?

Fkazim · 02 May 2019, 13:01

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

depletedvespene · 02 May 2019, 13:18

Chyros wrote: 02 May 2019, 12:49
Wazrach wrote: 02 May 2019, 11:55 What about Ms with blue sublegends? I would love one of those. Don't see many early Ms. What are the earliest PC Models M?
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).

The only keyboards where I've routinely seen blue sublegends are the "PC battleships":

: IBM Modem M122 P/N 1397000 ("PC battleship").; 01_s-l1600.jpg (140.51 KiB) Viewed 5556 times

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.

Wazrach · 02 May 2019, 13:19

Fkazim wrote: 02 May 2019, 13:01 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

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.

Fkazim · 02 May 2019, 13:33

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 · 02 May 2019, 13:54

Fkazim wrote: 02 May 2019, 13:33 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.

unfortunately not

I paid a hefty sum just for the postage.

Fkazim · 02 May 2019, 14:12

That sucks hopefully the foam is in good condition fingers crossed.

Wazrach · 02 May 2019, 14:27

Fkazim wrote: 02 May 2019, 14:12 That sucks hopefully the foam is in good condition fingers crossed.

I'll cry if it's not.. haha. If it is, I'm going to bite the bullet and pay the £60 minimum for an order of ultra soft 3mm neoprene and have it laser-cut.

Wazrach · 02 May 2019, 14:31

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.

Fkazim · 02 May 2019, 14:34

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 · 02 May 2019, 15:09

Fkazim wrote: 02 May 2019, 14:34 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.

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.

Wazrach · 02 May 2019, 15:20

Fkazim wrote: 02 May 2019, 14:34 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.

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.

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.

Fkazim · 02 May 2019, 15:38

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.