IBM Model F Bigfoot: is this beyond repair?
- DustGod
- Yet another IBM snob
- Location: Italy
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F 6110344 "Battleship"
- Main mouse: Unbranded vertical mouse
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring | Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0196
So, some days ago I purchased an IBM 5291 terminal, complete with the matching keyboard - a "Bigfoot" Model F. The description said that the keyboard was missing two keys.
I surely didn't expect this carnage:
As you can see, there is a ginormous crack that runs over almost the entire length of the Bigfoot's foot.
The description of the item did not mention that there was a fucking Grand Canyon on the case, and the picture was just at the right angle to make it very difficult to see - I don't know if on purpose or not. I'll ask at least a partial refund.
Closer shot:
As you can see better on this image, the two missing "keys" are actually missing barrel and spring. Moreover, at least two other keys are from a Model M, being that they are in two pieces.
Three other keys do not buckle properly - the spring is stuck against the barrel.
The situation becomes even more dire if we look at the top of the board:
It's clearly visible that the crack goes from horizontal to vertical and runs to the edge of the plastic front case. The metal back panel is bent. It is quite clear that the board have received a very strong blow on the top, almost certainly because of a fall from a respectable height. The backplate has probably took the biggest part of the impact, but nevertheless the brittle plastic of the case has taken the heavy damage you see here.
My question is: is this wounded giant fixable? How much of a pain in the ass would this restoration be?
And moreover, are the missing parts (barrels, springs, possibly keycaps) reasonably easy to find?
I tried capacitive buckling spring switches for the first time today, on this board, and I really love both the feeling and the sound. I really like this keyboard, but I need to know how hard and expensive this is going to be.
Thanks in advance, folks!
I surely didn't expect this carnage:
As you can see, there is a ginormous crack that runs over almost the entire length of the Bigfoot's foot.
The description of the item did not mention that there was a fucking Grand Canyon on the case, and the picture was just at the right angle to make it very difficult to see - I don't know if on purpose or not. I'll ask at least a partial refund.
Closer shot:
As you can see better on this image, the two missing "keys" are actually missing barrel and spring. Moreover, at least two other keys are from a Model M, being that they are in two pieces.
Three other keys do not buckle properly - the spring is stuck against the barrel.
The situation becomes even more dire if we look at the top of the board:
It's clearly visible that the crack goes from horizontal to vertical and runs to the edge of the plastic front case. The metal back panel is bent. It is quite clear that the board have received a very strong blow on the top, almost certainly because of a fall from a respectable height. The backplate has probably took the biggest part of the impact, but nevertheless the brittle plastic of the case has taken the heavy damage you see here.
My question is: is this wounded giant fixable? How much of a pain in the ass would this restoration be?
And moreover, are the missing parts (barrels, springs, possibly keycaps) reasonably easy to find?
I tried capacitive buckling spring switches for the first time today, on this board, and I really love both the feeling and the sound. I really like this keyboard, but I need to know how hard and expensive this is going to be.
Thanks in advance, folks!
- fohat
- Elder Messenger
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Main keyboard: Model F 122-key terminal
- Main mouse: Microsoft Optical Mouse
- Favorite switch: Model F Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0158
I would use this one as a parts donor and buy another one in shabby but unbroken condition.
You have some cool and unusual keys, but also some glaring inappropriate replacements.
You have some cool and unusual keys, but also some glaring inappropriate replacements.
-
- Location: Des Moines / Cedar Falls, IA, USA
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F107
- DT Pro Member: 0190
Kind of depends if you are ok with how the case looks as that's not going to be easily fixed. Hammers/springs/barrels aren't too hard to come by, I'm betting you can find a fellow user in Italy that might have some. I sell them, but international shipping kind of kills it as it is a minimum of $13 USD to ship anything no matter how small these days if thicker than 1/4 inch.
Converting to USB is possible, but not sure if that is what you were looking to do or not. Wouldn't be a bad unit to practice the conversion on as you'd be less worried about possibly roasting something while you do it.
Converting to USB is possible, but not sure if that is what you were looking to do or not. Wouldn't be a bad unit to practice the conversion on as you'd be less worried about possibly roasting something while you do it.
- depletedvespene
- Location: Chile
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F122
- Main mouse: Logitech G700s
- Favorite switch: buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0224
- Contact:
This hurts to watch (and it's a Spanish keeb, to boot!). I think fohat's right and it'll be off better as parts donor.
If nothing else, KEEP THOSE KEYCAPS!
If nothing else, KEEP THOSE KEYCAPS!
- DustGod
- Yet another IBM snob
- Location: Italy
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F 6110344 "Battleship"
- Main mouse: Unbranded vertical mouse
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring | Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0196
I see... What saddens me it's the fact that Bigfoots are hellishly hard to get here in Europe, if I understood correctly. I'm new to vintage boards, so the "if only that dummy kept this rare piece intact" feeling really struck me.
Yes, the idea was to convert it to USB.
Well, I already have to purchase an xwhatsit in the near future, so this wouldn't be too badorihalcon wrote: ↑ I sell them, but international shipping kind of kills it as it is a minimum of $13 USD to ship anything no matter how small these days if thicker than 1/4 inch.
Yes, the idea was to convert it to USB.
- DustGod
- Yet another IBM snob
- Location: Italy
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F 6110344 "Battleship"
- Main mouse: Unbranded vertical mouse
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring | Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0196
Erhm... I totally suck at DIY, if I'm not guided by stuff like a video or a detailed guide. To me, as of now, building a case from scratch sounds way harder than fixing this... Or maybe it isn't?Laser wrote: ↑Make a new, modern/retro, cyber-looking case?
Last edited by DustGod on 23 Aug 2017, 22:26, edited 1 time in total.
- DustGod
- Yet another IBM snob
- Location: Italy
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F 6110344 "Battleship"
- Main mouse: Unbranded vertical mouse
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring | Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0196
I just noticed a thing I should've notice the other day.depletedvespene wrote: ↑ If nothing else, KEEP THOSE KEYCAPS!
The legend on the Field Exit key is fading...
Weren't these supposed to be dyesub??
Either that is covered in dust of an extremely specific shade of grey, or there's something off. I don't have the keyboard with me right now, I'll check tomorrow.
- Laser
- emacs -nw
- Location: Romania
- Main keyboard: Plum TKL \w Topre domes (work) / Novatouch (home)
- DT Pro Member: 0180
Or maybe keep it exposed, as in almost without a case? I did a search but I can't find that thread, 1-2 years ago, where somebody posted an IBM Model F that had its plate with keys stuck to some kind of transparent, bent, plastic support that was folded so that it was also at the right angle when placed on the table.
Also fohat seems to know something about using a F122 without a case https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=53 ... msg1189702
- DustGod
- Yet another IBM snob
- Location: Italy
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F 6110344 "Battleship"
- Main mouse: Unbranded vertical mouse
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring | Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0196
Yup, could be. giokkk too suggested to simply keep it naked.
It would be very cool, even though I'd lose the most distictive trait of a Bigfoot F. In the end - if I don't return it - I'll probably try to fix the case in some way, and I'll keep it naked if I manage to fuck the plastic up even more.
Then, depending on replacement availability and internal conditions, I'll either fix the missing keys or dismantle it for parts.
It would be very cool, even though I'd lose the most distictive trait of a Bigfoot F. In the end - if I don't return it - I'll probably try to fix the case in some way, and I'll keep it naked if I manage to fuck the plastic up even more.
Then, depending on replacement availability and internal conditions, I'll either fix the missing keys or dismantle it for parts.
- fohat
- Elder Messenger
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Main keyboard: Model F 122-key terminal
- Main mouse: Microsoft Optical Mouse
- Favorite switch: Model F Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0158
You reached far into the past for that photo. I put that one back into a case and sold it years ago.Laser wrote: ↑
Also fohat seems to know something about using a F122 without a case
These days I am using a "steampunk-lite" variation.
- Attachments
-
- F-wire04.JPG (556.77 KiB) Viewed 5912 times
-
- F-wire02.JPG (333.53 KiB) Viewed 5914 times
Last edited by fohat on 24 Aug 2017, 00:41, edited 2 times in total.
- DustGod
- Yet another IBM snob
- Location: Italy
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F 6110344 "Battleship"
- Main mouse: Unbranded vertical mouse
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring | Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0196
Let's hope the seller answers quickly, I'm eager to start working on this broken monolith.
Hey fohat, unfortunately we do not have the same keyboard, but I use the Anker vertical mouse too!
Hey fohat, unfortunately we do not have the same keyboard, but I use the Anker vertical mouse too!
- JP!
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Currently a Model M
- Main mouse: Steel Series Sensei
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0194
- Contact:
Duct tape, chewing gum, and a paperclip should do it. Another option might be to try and find an XT case since your pcb and plate would fit in one of those. You should have enough room to convert using a teensy or promicro if you go that route.
- Laser
- emacs -nw
- Location: Romania
- Main keyboard: Plum TKL \w Topre domes (work) / Novatouch (home)
- DT Pro Member: 0180
That's a nice idea for my Bigfoot! If only I could find an XT case ...JP! wrote: ↑ Another option might be to try and find an XT case since your pcb and plate would fit in one of those.
- DustGod
- Yet another IBM snob
- Location: Italy
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F 6110344 "Battleship"
- Main mouse: Unbranded vertical mouse
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring | Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0196
Update: the seller did not respond to my last message. I don't want to start working on this until the option of a return is completely off the table.
My dad has been a carpenter. In the old shop there's still enough tooling to allure me to build a new wooden one.
My dad has been a carpenter. In the old shop there's still enough tooling to allure me to build a new wooden one.
-
- Location: Budapest, Hungary
- Main keyboard: notebook built-in with goodness between G, H and B
- Main mouse: pointing stick with a red dot, between G, H and B
- Favorite switch: (newbie - jury is still out)
- DT Pro Member: 0123
I've got this guy:
Bought it for capsense controller development, but I haven't gotten around to it yet (a few more pics here).
Willing to sell at cost (around 100€ + shipping to you) if you are interested and promise to give it a new life.
Spoiler:
Willing to sell at cost (around 100€ + shipping to you) if you are interested and promise to give it a new life.
- elecplus
- Location: Kerrville, TX, USA
- DT Pro Member: 0082
- Contact:
I have a complete, non-broken bigfoot, but shipping to Italy might be a killer. I also have spare tops and backs.
-
- Main keyboard: POKER 2
- Main mouse: G9X
- Favorite switch: clear
- DT Pro Member: -
I am in china. i have caps springs and other things.In my opinion,put the keycaps which you don't usually use to the O and other place.It's the best way,save money,and fix it up,at least u can type.