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IBM Model M with molded keyboard protector - any value?

Posted: 28 Feb 2015, 21:47
by I.C. Rhodes
First time poster here. I have a IBM Model M (P/N 52G9700 November 1993) that is fitted with a molded keyboard protector. This keyboard came with a Techline T-20 Plus, a piece of automotive test equipment that IBM manufactured for General Motors back in the 1990s.
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IMG_1502.JPG (743.71 KiB) Viewed 2641 times
As you can see, the keyboard protector is yellowed from age and exposure, but it seems to have served its purpose of protecting the keyboard.

I would like to use this keyboard (without the protector). Would removing and disposing of the keyboard protector be destroying some collectible value?

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

Posted: 28 Feb 2015, 22:22
by fohat
"Keyboard condoms" are something of a joke but they do serve a good real function, particularly in a garage.

I would take it off, wash it, and keep it. Hopefully, it has not glued itself to the keyboard due to solvent fumes in the air.

Posted: 28 Feb 2015, 22:28
by 0100010
Doesn't Unicomp sell Model M covers like that?

Posted: 01 Mar 2015, 15:53
by E TwentyNine
0100010 wrote: Doesn't Unicomp sell Model M covers like that?
Here: http://www.pckeyboard.com/page/ProtectiveCovers/CVR

I think. It's hard to tell what they're selling with that crappy website.

Posted: 01 Mar 2015, 15:57
by Muirium
My god, that font. My nightmares use it for their subtitles.

Image

Care to imagine the much anticipated Unicomp SSK wearing some text like that?

Posted: 01 Mar 2015, 18:19
by mr_a500
Muirium wrote: My god, that font. My nightmares use it for their subtitles.
You have subtitles on your nightmares? How convenient. My nightmares are dubbed in some language I don't understand.

Re: IBM Model M with molded keyboard protector - any value?

Posted: 01 Mar 2015, 18:22
by seebart
My nightmares have little or no text! But if they did then probably in that Unicomp font!

Posted: 01 Mar 2015, 19:06
by Muirium
The subtitles are often for the same words I can hear perfectly well without them, but with sarcastic errors, and are ruthlessly badly kerned.

They are nightmares, after all.