Death of a close friend (ibm 101M)

Baka^Ni

Baka^Ni

Baka^Ni

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29 Dec 2006
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145
I've just dropped a cup of PG tips over my life long friend, IBM 101 Model M :eek:

After a few hours of drying and praying, it appears the damage was not fatal. However, the left half of the keyboard is babbling nonsense, the space bar doesn't work and the delete key is '4'.

So like an elderly stroke victim, it's time to ship my old friend off to the land of neglect and loneliness.

First off, does anyone know where I can find another ibm 101m? Do they even exist?

Failing that, can anyone recommend a buckling spring keyboard? I'm using one of these stupid rubber dome ones at the moment and it's driving me insane.

RIP 101, you will be missed.
 
remove the KB and rinse thoughly with water and i mean really really rinse it. (id avoid disasembly of those old battle axes as you get 100 springs all fly out if your unlucky)

then leave it overnight or a couple of nights in an airing cupboard or similar warm (not hot) place to dry through then re-install.

you probably have a water caused short somewhere inside the membrane that makes up the working part of the kb, eg if there are 4 data lines, 1 2 3 4 and left shift was shown by 1 (1000) del by 2 (0100) and 4 by 1 & 2 (1100) then left shift could get stuck on (1000) and pressing del now produces 1&2 (1100) = 4 rather than deleting. space could be shown as 0111 and 1111 could be a non valid result - so pressing space gives 1111 rather than 0111 and thus doesnt work)
 
Amonlym said:
remove the KB and rinse thoughly with water and i mean really really rinse it. (id avoid disasembly of those old battle axes as you get 100 springs all fly out if your unlucky)

then leave it overnight or a couple of nights in an airing cupboard or similar warm (not hot) place to dry through then re-install.
Click to expand...

I've dismantled it down as far as it will go, the membrane is attached to the metal plate by tiny black clips.

Cleaned, as it turns out, 21 years worth of hair and scum from it and left everything to dry in the airing cupboard.

Thanks for the explanation of the insides, hopefully the fact that it's only messing up characters is a sign of a temporary short.
 
Baka^Ni said:
Cleaned, as it turns out, 21 years worth of hair and scum from it
Click to expand...

If you're at work, or on MSN or otherwise talking to someone using a well-used PC, tell them about a great optical illusion - hold your keyboard out, facing you at arms length and stare intently at the centre. Then move your arms up until they're vertical and holding it above your head and watch....

Of course there's no 'illusion' but they do get about 5 years worth of crap from under the keys poured on their face :D
 
Baka^Ni said:
I've just dropped a cup of PG tips over my life long friend, IBM 101 Model M :eek:

After a few hours of drying and praying, it appears the damage was not fatal. However, the left half of the keyboard is babbling nonsense, the space bar doesn't work and the delete key is '4'.

So like an elderly stroke victim, it's time to ship my old friend off to the land of neglect and loneliness.

First off, does anyone know where I can find another ibm 101m? Do they even exist?

Failing that, can anyone recommend a buckling spring keyboard? I'm using one of these stupid rubber dome ones at the moment and it's driving me insane.

RIP 101, you will be missed.
Click to expand...


Are you interested in purchasing one?
 
Baka^Ni said:
I've just dropped a cup of PG tips over my life long friend, IBM 101 Model M :eek:

After a few hours of drying and praying, it appears the damage was not fatal. However, the left half of the keyboard is babbling nonsense, the space bar doesn't work and the delete key is '4'.

So like an elderly stroke victim, it's time to ship my old friend off to the land of neglect and loneliness.

First off, does anyone know where I can find another ibm 101m? Do they even exist?

Failing that, can anyone recommend a buckling spring keyboard? I'm using one of these stupid rubber dome ones at the moment and it's driving me insane.

RIP 101, you will be missed.
Click to expand...

My dad used to have one of these on an old 386DX and they were great. I think IBM stopped making them in the mid 90's, but Lexmark and Unicomp then licensed the design. However, these keyboards seem to be equally hard to get hold of in the UK.

As far as modern keyboards go, try the Raptor K1. It uses heavy duty Cherry Crosspoint Gold switches and is similar in feel to the old model M. Still sold at 1 uk retailer, but is expensive at £100.
 
Baka^Ni said:
I've just dropped a cup of PG tips over my life long friend, IBM 101 Model M :eek:

After a few hours of drying and praying, it appears the damage was not fatal. However, the left half of the keyboard is babbling nonsense, the space bar doesn't work and the delete key is '4'.

So like an elderly stroke victim, it's time to ship my old friend off to the land of neglect and loneliness.

First off, does anyone know where I can find another ibm 101m? Do they even exist?

Failing that, can anyone recommend a buckling spring keyboard? I'm using one of these stupid rubber dome ones at the moment and it's driving me insane.


RIP 101, you will be missed.
Click to expand...


Yes. I have one spare.
 
UPDATE:

It Lives! It BREATHES! :D

I'm overjoyed, it seems the 101s are actually invulnerable and will inherit the earth, along with the cockroaches, after the nuclear war.

Having a few troubles snapping the plastic case back together but that's easily solved. Thanks for the support everyone and it's great to know there are spares lying around, in case of meteor impact or global flood.
 
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