IBM SSK club!

[alh84001]

Any comparison of Lexmark to IBM manufactured (especially prior to... let's say, '91...) will have subtle variations that can be discernible if you're comparing them side by side. Regardless, they're both great and it comes down to personal preference. Generally speaking, the earlier the board and the thicker the steel plate, the more solid they feel and sound. (Again, generally speaking...)

Thanks on the info. Rowdy over on GH weighed them recently, and there was around 0,1kg difference between early IBM and Lexmark one (IBM being heavier of course)

[derzemel]

Thank you for joining photekq and derzemel! I got a feeling this club will never close its doors.

Thank you!

Derzemel that one is nice the same one as mine actually (blue label)

Thank you! I can hardly wait to get home to see if I have the necessary tools to open it and clean it.

Also, after looking through this thread, I now want a grey label one, an industrial one, one with APL keycaps and a displaywriter one

[seebart]

Thank you! I can hardly wait to get home to see if I have the necessary tools to open it and clean it.

You need a 5.5mm / 7/32" screwdriver like this or you need to improvise:

f-o-r-s-a-l-e-f58/screwdriver-5-5mm-7-3 ... crewdriver

Also, after looking through this thread, I now want a grey label one, an industrial one, one with APL keycaps and a displaywriter one

Sure that will be real easy and cheap.

[DanielT]

A grey label is one like this ?

[derzemel]

A grey label is one like this ?

Spoiler:

yes, brag about it, rub it in my face, together with that gorgeous red BroCap (maybe I'll the chance to clamp my teeth over it and make a run for it)

[shreebles]

Thank you! I can hardly wait to get home to see if I have the necessary tools to open it and clean it.

You need a 5.5mm / 7/32" screwdriver like this or you need to improvise:

f-o-r-s-a-l-e-f58/screwdriver-5-5mm-7-3 ... crewdriver

Here is the link should you need to improvise:

workshop-f7/model-m-disassembly-t1960.html

[DanielT]

A grey label is one like this ?

Spoiler:

yes, brag about it, rub it in my face, together with that gorgeous red BroCap (maybe I'll the chance to clamp my teeth over it and make a run for it)

To be honest it's not my favorite keyboard so you might try and tempt me with stuff

[photekq]

yes, brag about it, rub it in my face, together with that gorgeous red BroCap (maybe I'll the chance to clamp my teeth over it and make a run for it)

Is this one a "grey label" too???

[alh84001]

You need a 5.5mm / 7/32" screwdriver like this or you need to improvise:

f-o-r-s-a-l-e-f58/screwdriver-5-5mm-7-3 ... crewdriver

I saw someone recommend this kit
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141380332599?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

I managed to get my nutdriver locally for about $7-8.

[derzemel]

Thank you! I can hardly wait to get home to see if I have the necessary tools to open it and clean it.

You need a 5.5mm / 7/32" screwdriver like this or you need to improvise:

f-o-r-s-a-l-e-f58/screwdriver-5-5mm-7-3 ... crewdriver

Here is the link should you need to improvise:

workshop-f7/model-m-disassembly-t1960.html

Tnank you Seebart, Shreebles. Now I to see how many Bic pens can I break before buying a 5.5 mm screwdriver

[shreebles]

Personally, I needed two or three

[seebart]

Personally, I needed two or three

Modest man that I am I'll be happy with just this :

b0PqBvM.jpg (288.39 KiB) Viewed 14257 times

or this:

IBM_Model_M_industrial_SSK_1395682_1993-01-07_front_1024x576.jpg (114.15 KiB) Viewed 14249 times

[shreebles]

Very modest indeed! But I was actually referring to the number of BIC pens I needed to destroy in order to open my keyboard.
I had ordered a 5.5mm hex driver already, but was impatient. As for the number of SSKs:

Spoiler:

sskays.jpg (923.5 KiB) Viewed 14235 times

The blue label is a Lexmark, stock. The second one is a screw-modded IBM. The one with APL caps is also screw modded, but is actually an FSSK dummy that's desperately waiting for a controller...

[alh84001]

I picked this up on Monday


I don't know if I qualify though, as this is gonna be a case for an FSSK. Nothing else will be touched from the inner assembly (I swear). And who knows, in the end I might try to do something with my rubberdome model M case, which is a leftover from a back plate and barrel frame donor for the FSSK.

Edit:
Am I reading this wrong or are controller and inner assembly dated as if they're from 1991?



The case has a sticker dated in 1993.

[Redmaus]

Modest

[clickykeyboards]

One of the IBM model M keyboards of the permanent ClickyKeyboards archive collection.

IMG_7364.jpg (802.75 KiB) Viewed 14120 times

[Redmaus]

Damn, stunning presentation.

I am guessing this one will not be altered in any way at all?

[derzemel]

One of the IBM model M keyboards of the permanent ClickyKeyboards archive collection.

Spoiler:

IMG_7364.jpg

That is one of the most beautiful keyboards ever made and it looks perfect kept safe in that display box, safe from fingers and dust.

Maybe you could make something like this:

[webwit]

Why not go all the way?

[seebart]

One of the IBM model M keyboards of the permanent ClickyKeyboards archive collection.

Hell I'd be using that for what it was built.

That looks like the duck of death room webwit.

[DanielT]

One of the IBM model M keyboards of the permanent ClickyKeyboards archive collection.

Hell I'd be using that for what it was built.

Yep, keyboards should be used.

[alh84001]

True. But consider that if clickykeyboards used all of his keyboards for one hour each, it would last on the order of magnitude of years

[livingspeedbump]

[clickykeyboards]

I agree 100%.. fine vintage keyboards should be used and rotated for even use and not always live in an armored shelf.

But there is nothing wrong with protecting equipment when not in day-to-day use.

To appreciate the fine differences among the rich variety of model M keyboards, I rotate among several keyboard variants.

Current rotation is an IBM 84-key 1395682 SSK, an IBM M15 13H6689 ergonomic, an IBM 8184692 soft-touch model M, and my current everyday carry kb is a full-sized 101-key enhanced model M with the requisite numpad for the financial season and the tax accountant.

Spoiler:

ClickyKeyboards daily driver

industrial-modelm.jpg (924.51 KiB) Viewed 14026 times

"This is my keyboard. This is my gun. There are many like it, but this one is mine...
Without me, my keyboard is useless. Without my keyboard, I am useless."

[derzemel]

Found a 5.5mm socket screwdriver for 2Eur in a fleamarket and now she is all nice and clean:



I found 8 broken plastic rivets. Do not think it's enough to warrant a screw or bold mod

[alh84001]

It's the same with mine, so I'm hesitant

[livingspeedbump]

Found a 5.5mm socket screwdriver for 2Eur in a fleamarket and now she is all nice and clean:

I found 8 broken plastic rivets. Do not think it's enough to warrant a screw or bold mod

That's really not bad! Mine had easily 2x as many, and certain keys in areas where the broken rivets were concentrated didn't register 100% of the time. Worked great after bolt modding it though.

[Scarpia]

Here's my application to join the ranks of SSK Club.



DisplayWriter Model M SSK, 1988, 1392464. Some keycaps taken from a 1990s fullsize Model M DisplayWriter, so while all the legends are correct, the dyesub is slightly darker/bolder on the stock 1988 caps if you look closely.

Also, cropped out a few atrocities. Will fix.

[seebart]

Welcome to the SSK club Scarpia! Very nice 1392464 you have, looks good with those caps.

[Scarpia]

Yay - thanks!!!