Are IBM Model F122's really worth this much now???

[Fkazim]

Hello everyone so I was browsing eBay the other day and saw this listing for a not too great condition IBM Model F122. Are these keyboards really worth this much?

I paid so much less then this for my F122 in 2019 and mine was in almost prestine condition.

So my question is this a ridiculous price or are they really worth $500+ now in 2020 im just curious?

Link to F122 on eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274317190223

[dcopellino]

As regard as my experience with an f122 imported from USA to Italy, they practically doubled their price, and we're talking of just one year ago....

[fohat]

They are worth whatever buyers are willing to pay.

They are truly magnificent machines and there will not be any more of them made. The aborted M/F project of a few years ago vacuumed up a large portion of the supply while demand continues to grow unabated.

I will disagree with you and say that this specimen looks particularly nice, better than 90% of the ones I have seen for sale.

[zippolupan]

I have recently purchased one for $375 and with shipping + international duties it cost me more than $500.

I always dreamed of an F122, and as fohat pointed out, it's a price I was willing to pay.

Let's hope it arrives in one piece and I'll keep it for 34 more years

[kmnov2017]

I paid significantly less just two months ago on my F122 acquisition. By significant less, I mean less than a factor of 5.

Just because one seller lists it at a price X, doesn't make it valued at that. As correctly pointed out, value is dependent on what a person is willing to pay. Also just because a single buyer buys a product at a price X doesn't mean that everyone in the community would pay that amount for those or value it at that.

The best places to look for such keyboards are locally - in recycling centers and local classifieds - where they can cost anywhere from a few cents to a few euros.

[Rauha]

I bought one for 250$ in late February. Definately worth that.
With shipping USA->Finland + EU customs + nordic VAT it cost total of 403€. Still worth it (IMHO).

Just check reddit's mechnical forum and there are people spending insane amounts for the flavour the week MX clone hipster switch boards. Some of them propably spend more on lube alone.

[zippolupan]

That's a lot more shocking to me: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-good ... %7Ciid%3A1

[Fkazim]

That's a lot more shocking to me: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-good ... %7Ciid%3A1

That price is insane. its a Model M122!!! Crazy

[fohat]

Those 1st generation 122-key Ms have cases that can be very easily modded to be replacement top case shells for Fs.
But yes, that is too much to pay for a case top.

[shine]

I got one recently from the same buyer as zippolupan for $325, but total cost with shipping got near 500€, so.. a steep price for a dream kb.

[zippolupan]

I have recently purchased one for $375 and with shipping + international duties it cost me more than $500.

I always dreamed of an F122, and as fohat pointed out, it's a price I was willing to pay.

Let's hope it arrives in one piece and I'll keep it for 34 more years

It's here!

Spoiler:

photo_2020-04-02_10-11-46.jpg (280.97 KiB) Viewed 4253 times

But, apparently I didn't get too lucky this time around:

Spoiler:

photo_2020-04-02_13-00-47.jpg (144.11 KiB) Viewed 4253 times

photo_2020-04-02_13-00-47 (2).jpg (84.2 KiB) Viewed 4253 times

If I apply pressure to it, it becomes almost unnoticeable, but the hole is still there:

photo_2020-04-02_10-41-03.jpg (122.17 KiB) Viewed 4253 times

The rest of the keyboard appears to be in very good shape. I can't test it yet as my Soarer is going to take quite some time to arrive. A bit of a bummer for the price tag, but I'll eventually mend it and forget about this problem soon.

[fohat]

That is all too common. Model Fs used a plastic that was much more brittle than Model Ms, and it is also hard to work with because there is a glossy white core with a textured off-white coating on top that is all but impossible to match properly.

I recommend that you push the crack together and then do not mess with it. It is on the back side, after all.

If it were mine, I might reinforce it with epoxy from behind, but not do anything to the face side.

Otherwise it looks very nice, and has a complete set of keys, including the top function rows. Those can be devilish to replace.

[zippolupan]

I am considerably unskilled in those sorts of crafts and repairs (never done anything more sophisticated than superglue before), but it seems to me that I would need to reinforce it anyway because there is some slight movement going on there depending on drag, flex, etc. I want to prevent it from widening the crack even further, probably from behind as you suggested.

[fohat]

it seems to me that I would need to reinforce it anyway because there is some slight movement going on there depending on drag, flex, etc. I want to prevent it from widening the crack even further, probably from behind as you suggested.

Remember that Super Glue has a limited life span, after some weeks or months it will just let go.

In my guide I showed how I laid straight segments cut from paper clips embedded in a long gob of epoxy on the back side.

[inmbolmie]

But, apparently I didn't get too lucky this time around:

That's the reason 1st gen M122 are well worth the money they are asking for, all F122 cases may some day eventually break up and the PVC version from M122 is a perfect replacement as they will last forever. Its a personal preference though if it's worth to sacrifice a M122 to repair a F122. I personally won't do it unless the F122 case is damaged beyond repair.

[ddrfraser1]

I got really really really lucky last year and found one at the Nashville recycle center for $20. Here's the before and after. I had to build a new stab wire from scratch. I haven't had the guts to tear it apart and put a proper shift key and ANSI enter on it yet.

[fohat]

Nice! How are you stabilizing the space bar?

[ddrfraser1]

Joe at brand new model f's put me onto wcass's guide here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA8IpiI ... e=youtu.be

[zippolupan]

By the way, epoxy worked perfectly - thanks fohat!

IMG_20200405_155053_413.jpg (234.85 KiB) Viewed 3822 times

I've also floss modded mine and it sounds ideal now. Just need to make the space bar stabiliser a bit quieter now - it's way louder than anything else.