deskthority

Well like matto3 said, it's a hobby, the process is more important than the result.

Here is something I wanted to ask for quite some time now: Can somebody decipher this label for me and tell me when this board was built?

That is probably the shop date. keyboards-f2/ibm-shop-date-t13443.html

It looks like (at least) the mounting plate was manufactured in 1980.

Thanks emdude! Looks like it will go to the "older than me" cabinet when finished.

What are those condom looking things over the switches, Is that part of the mat thing? I've never noticed those..

Ir0n wrote: What are those condom looking things over the switches, Is that part of the mat thing? I've never noticed those..

That's the last remains of the contamination shield, a thin foil that covers the whole board and is supposed the prevent dust from entering the switches. I tends to disintegrate

Nice job on this. I am surprised how most rust there was. Are there any suggested replacements for the contamination shield?

JP! wrote: Nice job on this. I am surprised how most rust there was. Are there any suggested replacements for the contamination shield?

The pretty much universal conclusion is that contamination shields make them feel much worse and aren't really worth the hassle. The most maintenance you'd be looking at without one is cleaning it out every few years with compressed air.