My SSK is here!

chzel · 17 Jan 2015, 19:29

Yesterday the elusive IBM Space Saving Keyboard, having ninja'ed it's way through Customs without getting caught, found it's way to my home...but in a moment of lapse it walked through a patch of light in my room...and was captured...

: DSC_0434.jpg (121.59 KiB) Viewed 6649 times

Beautiful blue box!

Upon interrogation, it revealed it's true identity:
IBM Personal System/2 Space Saving Keyboard P/N 1392934 born on 14th January of 1992, two days late for it's 23rd birthday.

: DSC_0440.jpg (150.96 KiB) Viewed 6649 times

Tape was still intact!

: DSC_0445.jpg (156.44 KiB) Viewed 6649 times

Promptly an operating table was set up and the outer shell removed to reveal the protective insides!

: DSC_0447.jpg (117.24 KiB) Viewed 6649 times

And..here it is!

: DSC_0448.jpg (160.07 KiB) Viewed 6649 times

It was flipped to show it's label

: DSC_0452.jpg (388.99 KiB) Viewed 6649 times

The label is covered in plastic film, presumably to protect the sensitive label underneath!
The underside shows some casting irregularities but no big deal!

: DSC_0453.jpg (494.85 KiB) Viewed 6649 times

While turning it, I heard some noises inside, so out came the "Model M Violator"...

: DSC_0459.jpg (155.03 KiB) Viewed 6649 times

And the DIY "Metal stuff Retriever"

: DSC_0461.jpg (136.59 KiB) Viewed 6649 times

After it's shell is removed the problem becomes apparent:

: DSC_0462.jpg (186.27 KiB) Viewed 6649 times

(look at the membrane connector and below right Alt)

Innards removed and rivets poked with fingernail, and the result is this:

: DSC_0466.jpg (132.87 KiB) Viewed 6649 times

Half were already off and the rest needed just the slightest of touches...

The back of the plate clearly shows the distribution:

: DSC_0468.jpg (136.45 KiB) Viewed 6649 times

Funnily enough, the middle ones are intact although they are under way more stress than the others.
And even more funny, the keyboard works fine...keys are not as crisp as they could be, but still...
I am typing on it right now...27 rivets missing vs 22-23 remaining and it just won't die...

I forgot to show it's little pet snake:

: DSC_0472.jpg (139.12 KiB) Viewed 6649 times

NIB coiled goodness!

All in all I am really happy with it!

seebart · 17 Jan 2015, 19:32

congrats on that beautiful NIB SSK! You got the beige barrel, quite rare.

Innards removed and rivets poked with fingernail, and the result is this:

what I find strange is that I own serveral Model M´s, on some the exact same situation: the rivets allmost falling off by themselfs. Other M´s I own are completely intact, and it has nothing to do with the age either. Strange.

chzel · 17 Jan 2015, 19:41

I guess it is just material stress and ability of the plastic to handle said stress!
My other M is a quite used 1383295 Greek one from 1990 with black barrel plate (which I must shoot some day). When I bolt modded that all the surviving rivets were super strong, ejecting themselves all over the place! Maybe some formulations are more elastic than others, enabling them to withstand the stress for longer?

Madhias · 17 Jan 2015, 19:43

Wow, that first picture!

scottc · 17 Jan 2015, 19:48

That first picture is gorgeous, wow!

chzel · 17 Jan 2015, 19:48

Madhias wrote: Wow, that first picture!

Thank you!
I was torn between that one and this:

Spoiler:

But I decided to use the darker one!

seebart · 17 Jan 2015, 19:49

Maybe some formulations are more elastic than others, enabling them to withstand the stress for longer?

Well we`ll probably never find out. I recently took a look inside a IBM 1389278 from 1989 that I own for the first time and all the rivets were super firm. But that´s a different keyboard of course.

Khers · 17 Jan 2015, 19:55

Very nice pics, chzel!

I had something similar with regards to broken rivets, but also mine works despite this. Only one of my four model Ms have all/most of its rivets intact. It is also the only one I have with Swedish layout and thus is the only one that has not been shipped across the Atlantic at some point (recently)...

photekq · 17 Jan 2015, 20:10

chzel wrote:
DSC_0434.jpg

I like this pic a lot

beltet · 17 Jan 2015, 21:32

Soooo nice!!!!
I envy you chzel. And the first picture. May I have it as a desktop background

seebart · 17 Jan 2015, 21:34

May I have it as a desktop background

yes me too!

chzel · 17 Jan 2015, 21:40

beltet wrote: May I have it as a desktop background

seebart wrote: yes me too!

Please do! I am honored!

scottc · 17 Jan 2015, 22:01

I've been using it as mine since this afternoon, if you need some more ego stroking.

vivalarevolución · 18 Jan 2015, 16:57

Is there a bolt mod in the future for this machine?

chzel · 18 Jan 2015, 17:04

Absolutely! This is a keyboard to be used, so a bolt mod (screw mod most likely) is a must!

vivalarevolución · 18 Jan 2015, 17:22

chzel wrote: Absolutely! This is a keyboard to be used, so a bolt mod (screw mod most likely) is a must!

Great. Love the attitude.

pyrelink · 19 Jan 2015, 06:11

Yeah I will have to remember this thread for the 2015 Photo DTA's.

Any chance of posting that first one uncompressed full res?

chzel · 19 Jan 2015, 07:53

pyrelink when I get back from work I'll see what I can do!

chzel · 19 Jan 2015, 15:58

There you go!

Spoiler:

ramnes · 19 Jan 2015, 16:09

Nice! I feel really bad about getting only one.

andrewjoy · 19 Jan 2015, 16:33

nice , i hope mine does not have too many missing rivets i don't feel i could do a good enough job on an SSK

snoopy · 19 Jan 2015, 16:49

argh, so nice... hope I receive mine soon.

pyrelink · 19 Jan 2015, 18:59

Thanks! It makes a fantastic background.

andrewjoy · 20 Jan 2015, 11:23

Closer AND closer!

Code: Select all

This is a post-only message. Please do not respond.

Andrew Joy has requested that you receive a USPS Tracking&#0153 update, as shown below.

USPS Tracking&#0153 e-mail update information provided by the U.S. Postal Service.

Label Number: CJ422486885US

Service Type: International Parcels

Shipment Activity	Location	Date & Time
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Departed	London, UNITED KINGDOM	January 20, 2015 9:04 am
Departed	Chicago, UNITED STATES	January 19, 2015 6:54 pm
Arrived	Chicago, UNITED STATES	January 19, 2015 11:04 am
Processed Through Sort Facility	ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS)	January 19, 2015 10:56 am
Arrived at Sort Facility	ISC CHICAGO IL (USPS)	January 19, 2015 7:38 am
Shipping Label Created	KERRVILLE, TX 78028	January 15, 2015 6:09 pm
Departed Post Office	KERRVILLE, TX 78028	January 15, 2015 5:53 pm
Picked Up	KERRVILLE, TX 78028	January 15, 2015 3:54 pm

andrewjoy · 21 Jan 2015, 13:37

Code: Select all

Shipment Activity	Location	Date & Time
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Customs Clearance	UNITED KINGDOM	January 21, 2015 8:56 am

Hmm does that mean i got past the UK extortion racket ?????

Ether way its even CLOSER!

seebart · 21 Jan 2015, 13:41

Customs Clearance UNITED KINGDOM January 21, 2015 8:56 am

you're clear and ready for takeoff!

Muirium · 21 Jan 2015, 14:59

Somewhere, probably around Watford or Slough, I sense a disturbance in the Parcelforce. Like every penny in one man's current account screaming in unison, then silence.

Expect a nice curtly worded postcard from them demanding £40 or so for the hostage!

chzel · 21 Jan 2015, 15:12

Muirium wrote: Expect a nice curtly worded postcard from them demanding £40 or so for the hostage!

Sneaky bastards...

andrewjoy · 21 Jan 2015, 16:13

How about i just spend the 40 quid fixing pot holes in my road as you know the government will just keep it in there piggy bank or spend it buying new carpet for the hose of commons or something, assholes.

andrewjoy · 23 Jan 2015, 11:23

Code: Select all

Customs clearance processing complete	UNITED KINGDOM	January 23, 2015 6:49 am

ooo and no letter or email for charges yet ..... you never know !