deskthority

Can't wait until mine arrives. The only time I've tried buckling spring was on a IBM typewriter, it felt good.

Leaping straight to an SSK? That's the spirit! Even if you don't like it, they're in high demand and always sell fast. It's like buying an HHKB without trying one first. Not as big a risk as it first looks!

I can certainly recommend it, I vaguely remember an IBM system at where I studied mid nineties, so I must have typed on it..
But my first conscious buckling spring experience is on this SSK here and I do get to understand why people like them so much...

Dear Sirs/Madams,

I would like to submit my application to join the esteemed SSK club.

Please find attached a blurry phone picture of it on a desk this afternoon as part of my application.



Kind regards, etc etc etc

:3
Scott's one above is one of these

Fine, fine, you win! I still think you should've put them in the shape of an "M", though.

It's been done:

(From Webwit's own collection.)

Anyway, thanks for reminding me. Here's my one and only SSK, trying on some caps for the day. Apparently communism's back in fashion.

jesus, dat webwit pic

He has a lot of floorspace, I'll give him that.

I have about 3 of those boards. Hmm…

The best/worst part is, that is not my entire IBM collection. But I couldn't fit IBM in the picture (which is taken from climbing to the ceiling).

A tiny violin plays just for you.

Thank you for feeling my pain.

webwit, I want to take away your pain. Let me help you.

I have an amazing large room (somewhere ...) and if you ship them to me I can take the whole IBM in one shot

This is what happens when you put your money into keyboards instead of fancy pants wide angle lenses.

Next summer I will take them into the garden and climb into a tree.

Muirium wrote:This is what happens when you put your money into keyboards instead of fancy pants wide angle lenses.

No, 14 is still too big. Need 10.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YYDF7W

Fisheye vs. rectilinear. With that 10, most of Webwit's IBMs would look like radical curved ergos! Rectilinears cost the big bucks because they keep things straight… ish. Wide angle lenses are seriously heavy glass because they've got their work cut out for them.

Guess what showed up today, and customs did not even finger me. Make room, I'm joining the club.

First impressions are good, a bit filthy, but nothing a good clean will not fix. How does one usually go about cleaning these boards? Tips are welcome.


Both feet/raisers are present


I'm guessing IBM did not expect people using these after 20 years


Unfortunately the board did not come with a SDL cable, and seeing as this is my first Model M I don't have one lying around.
So if the board is actually working is yet to be seen. If you have got one to spare, please get in touch. Might try to open it later on and check on the status of the rivets if I have any tools that fit the nuts the shell is closed with.

Muirium wrote:This is what happens when you put your money into keyboards instead of fancy pants wide angle lenses.

That reminds me... I need to buy some wide angle lenses and some fancy pants.

Everyone needs fancy pants.

That reminds me: I don't think I officially entered the club by posting a picture in this thread yet. So here:

The SSK is actually one of my larger keyboards as I'm also in the Kishsaver club now, but that's another story!

The SSK has some 122 key terminal caps on in the top corner as I try to work out what I'd best like there.

Ahab: They clean up pretty good. And so long as all your keys are clicky, the chances are very good the whole thing works. You could cheat by avoiding an SDL cable entirely, if you like, by building Soarer's Converter inside your SSK's case. The SDL socket joins to the SSK's controller board by a little cable, which you could swap for a Teensy and a mini USB cable or socket. I use all my IBMs through Soarer's converter anyway and I highly recommend it for adding layers and all the rest.

Muirium wrote:Everyone needs fancy pants.

That reminds me: I don't think I officially entered the club by posting a picture in this thread yet. So here:

The SSK is actually one of my larger keyboards as I'm also in the Kishsaver club now, but that's another story!

The SSK has some 122 key terminal caps on in the top corner as I try to work out what I'd best like there.

Ahab: They clean up pretty good. And so long as all your keys are clicky, the chances are very good the whole thing works. You could cheat by avoiding an SDL cable entirely, if you like, by building Soarer's Converter inside your SSK's case. The SDL socket joins to the SSK's controller board by a little cable, which you could swap for a Teensy and a mini USB cable or socket. I use all my IBMs through Soarer's converter anyway and I highly recommend it for adding layers and all the rest.

Oh man.. All 3 are beautiful boards sir.

Thanks. I'm all about small footprint, space saving keyboards… The SSK's still my reigning favourite. But there are challengers!

Muirium wrote:Thanks. I'm all about small footprint, space saving keyboards…

Spoiler:

The SSK's still my reigning favourite. But there are challengers!

Beautiful photo! I love my hhkb and I hope to get a clean SSK one day!

Thanks! I got my SSK from China, via Tinnie. Needed a bit of cleaning but functionally good. But if you fancy a real treat: there are some NIB SSKs showing up today…

http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/ ... ml#p147409

Muirium wrote:Thanks. I'm all about small footprint, space saving keyboards…

Spoiler:

The SSK's still my reigning favourite. But there are challengers!

The very pretty SE/30 is my favorite out of that little line up...

SpaceSaver84key…Although I do not have, the early model has 1 key size like NMB HI-TEK in Ctrl and Alt.

While I wait for round 5: just bolt modded with the iso twist and new clean caps.
This is the s**t...
Now giving my fingers a good workout

Since you've just been in there, do you know if the SSK has two barrels behind Backspace, so I could potentially gain an extra key up there? I use mine exclusively through Soarer's Converter, so I'm always looking for more keys available to program…

Muirium wrote:Since you've just been in there, do you know if the SSK has two barrels behind Backspace, so I could potentially gain an extra key up there? I use mine exclusively through Soarer's Converter, so I'm always looking for more keys available to program…

Yes there are two barrels for the backspace, just don't know if there is a contact for another key in the membrane.
A picture of the membrane will clear that up, only I did not do it

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=53709.0
shows the M membrane and there is a contact there, so I assume the ssk will too.