Model M Barn find, broken key barrel

[TomVR]

I've got a broken Model M Keyboard I've found in a barn in Poland and it looks to be in fixable condition except one of the cylinders of the barrel plate / inner frame is broken on the X key.

bustedm.PNG (1.89 MiB) Viewed 1889 times

Any ideas on what I could do to repair this barrel, or maybe salvage one from under the numpad enter key? Or do I need to replace the whole inner frame plate?

[Findecanor]

All barrels are in one piece. You can't move them around, like you can with the Model F's.

The broken-off piece isn't missing is it? If you have it then I think you could try gluing it back on with epoxy and then wrap some tape around the barrel for support.
(I would use epoxy+fibreglass weave instead of tape, but that's not for everyone)

[TomVR]

The broken-off piece isn't missing is it? If you have it then I think you could try gluing it back on with epoxy and then wrap some tape around the barrel for support.
(I would use epoxy+fibreglass weave instead of tape, but that's not for everyone)

I should take another look in the place it was found to see if I can find the missing keys and hopefully that piece to glue back in. It was from my non english speaking polish father-in-law so he'll have to explain where he was storing it. Apparently he had an entire IBM 8580 with it, as he used to sell computers to the east after the wall fell.

Is the black piece ABS plastic? I could try carefully cutting a full barrel off from the bottom of the numpad enter and solvent welding it onto the position of this broken one, and then replace the enter one with a 3d printed cylinder (that one doesn't have a stabilizer on the inside it looks like)

edit:

Has anyone tried installing a unicomp frame inside an original model m? I guess the window key barrels would have to be broken off, but would it fit?

https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/CVSET

[jsheradin]

The barrel plates (at least the IBM Greenock ones) are Noryl SPN422L which is an alloy of PPE, PS, and PTFE. It'll be resistant to normal alcohols but something like MEK or gasoline might be able to solvent weld it. I've had good luck gluing cracked frames with Loctite SF770 primer and 401 prism adhesive if that doesn't work.

If you plan to cut a donor barrel from another key, do note that they are necessary to hold stabilizers in place. You'll have to do some fiddling to keep the stab seated in whatever remains.

Unicomp barrel plates (they call them "Frame-___key") are indeed compatible with any of the old Ms. I don't think they need any modifications to fit if you get the 101 key version. You will need to clip the rivets and do a screw mod to assemble it though.

[TomVR]

Yeah it definitely seems just getting a brand new frame is the way to go, maybe have it delivered somewhere state side the next time I fly over.

I found this post ( viewtopic.php?t=15979 ) and seems that it can be done with careful effort, but 20~ bucks for a new frame plus doing the bolt mod seems like a more sensible solution, unless of course I can find the tiny missing piece of plastic in a barn lol. Other problems is finding the 7/32 driver here in europe to even open it up.

[fohat]

getting a brand new frame is the way to go

Other problems is finding the 7/32 driver here in europe

5.5mm is an acceptable substitute but be sure that the socket is "long" and "thin-walled".

[thefarside]

Yeah it definitely seems just getting a brand new frame is the way to go, maybe have it delivered somewhere state side the next time I fly over.

I recently asked Unicomp about a replacement frame and you can order one but it might require some trimming if your case doesn’t have drain holes. This was their reply to my inquiry:

The barrel frame can be purchased here: https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/CVSET choose the option "Frame-101key" Note that if your keyboard cover does not have drain holes, the frame will need to have some plastic removed to get it to fit. This can be accomplished with some regular end-cutters or dykes.

Good luck and congratulations on the find!