WWW clickykeyboards.com

IBM (www.ibm.com) and other trademarks used on this website are the property of their respective holders. We have no affiliation with IBM (International Business Machines), Lenovo, Lexmark, Unicomp or any other keyboard manufacturer.

Q. What is your email address? How can I contact you for additional information?
A. Our address is sales@clickykeyboards.com. We try to answer all emails within 24 hours, Monday-Friday. (No weekends, no holidays) If sending us email, be sure to

1) use a valid return email address (you would be surprised how many people write long emails expecting a response, but then do not leave a return address)
2) add (sales@clickykeyboards.com) to your safe sender list so that our response to you is not filtered as spam.

Q. You have already sold thousands of keyboards. Do you have a one-click means to only view the items that you currently have in stock?
A. Yes.. you can use Google’s Froogle search page to view a list of in stock items. Note this is only indexed every Monday by Google bots and may not produce the most up-to-date listings.
Google products link

Q. Why do you keep details of previously sold keyboards?  Would it not be far cheaper and easier to forget the details, sell just what is wildly popular at the cheapest lowest common price, and to just list what items are now available?
A. We have enjoyed the archival nature of generating detailed information and providing first-hand "fanatical" knowledge about these vintage IBM keyboards.  We are unlike the average online auction / surplus junkyard "expert" who is trying to cleanout the warehouse before the next garbage truck comes, or the anonymous neckbeard "expert" from 127.0.0.1 who may have vaguely remembered last using this IBM hardware in 1986, or the "expert" who may be basing their opinion on a sample size of 1 unit; or even worse, write inflated and exaggerated opinions but not actually own the specific hardware being reviewed. 

We have successfully sold thousands of model M keyboards to those who can appreciate their tactile and clicky qualities and we have satisfied 99.9% of our customers around the world.  For example, see (http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p648qGSv2K7D-LBY4i7eNYg) for a detailed, open spreadsheet of all the 1391401 keyboards (over 900 individual keyboards) that we have collected and sold.   With the spreadsheet, we have archived information which includes links to actual photographs and an index of the part number, serial number, production date and Plt No. of individual 1391401 keyboards. 

Some may call us fanatical geeks, but we believe that we can provide an expert, informed opinion about this specialized item.  We carefully describe and clearly photograph the items that we have currently for sale.  We have established an online store and merchant account to process secure, encrypted credit card payments with Visa and Mastercard (not just PayPal).  We clearly post the shipping rates before we ask for payment information.  We package and ship the next business day using generally accepted UPS and USPS shipping practices.  We have carefully made our site so that it is easily searchable and indexed by Google.  We do this, so that we can put good products in the hands of interested buyers who have carefully researched their purchase. 

We do not require for users to pre-register to determine item pricing, or to "call for availability" and then try to bait and switch with "equivalent products", or send me a private email and play the "make-me-an-offer" game, or give us all your credit card info today then we will calculate the total with shipping and contact you tomorrow.  We do not ship international parcels via UPS or FedEx, as we have found that international customers are sometimes subjected to extra UPS/FedEx "brokerage" fees. 

We know that there are those who seek tools that are better than "average" or "acceptable".  We believe in the viability of providing the remaining quantity of true IBM keyboards to those who seriously care about the tools they use on a daily basis. 

Q. What forms of payment do you accept?
A. We accept MasterCard and Visa. We also accept PayPal and certified checks and postal money orders. For orders less than $10 you can physically mail payment to us in a self-addressed, self-stamped (SASE) padded envelope. Contact us for mailing address.

Q. What is your warranty and return policy?
A. We know that it is difficult to judge and subjectively describe the sound and feel of a "clicky", tactile keyboard.  We offer all our customers the same 30-day warranty and relatively simple return policy. If you are not satisfied with your item within 30 days, simply return the item to us pre-paid and we will refund the purchase price of the item. (The initial and return shipping costs are not refundable). 

We carefully select, test, clean and re-test all refurbished keyboards before we make them available for sale. But after thousands of sales every year selling vintage keyboards, we have seen things happen: (The keyboard is nice.. but it was not 100% exactly what I remembered from when I was in high school in 1987; Mom getting mad because spent too much on her credit card again; I thought that ps/2 connection meant Sony Playstation 2 compatibility; I read that the model M keyboard is like an IBM selectric typewriter and I do not see where to insert the paper and typewriter ribbon; the buckling spring action is nice for a progressive tactile feel, but I need complete solitary silence; item was shipped around the world from New York to Seoul, Korea and arrived in 7 days.. but it was delayed by customs inspection and I needed it in 2 days, items were shipped via APO military mail from New York to Iraq and damaged by carrier during shipment to active war zone, or I am extremely disappointed that the keyboard adapter did not allow me to hook up my Casio 88-key MIDI keyboard to my computer).

Q. I am a customer from outside the US and I find the international shipping rate to be expensive. Can you just squish and flatten and ship the keyboard it in a paper envelope and ship via the cheapest airmail rate?
The cost of shipping 3-dimensional parcels is different than the standard cost of airmail flat letters.  We complete all necessary import/export documentation.  We ship items internationally via USPS priority international, as this is insured and traceable. (We have found UPS and FedEx to charge international customers additional, excessive "brokerage" charges).  We want satisfied customers and we are not interested in putting our goods on ocean-going container ships and then wondering where the package is and whether it will arrive 3-6 months later. The cost of international postage includes foreign currency conversion fees and is determined by the total weight of the package (not by the specific price of the item) (approximate international shipping weight of a model M keyboard is 6-8lbs or 3.6kg).

The cost of shipping these keyboards to US addresses (domestic) via UPS ground or USPS mail ranges from $12.00 - $17.00.

Q. Which IBM model M keyboard do you recommend?
If you are looking for one, true keyboard, we recommend. . .
(most popular category of keyboards that we sell)
. . .our white label (1391401) keyboards 1391401

If you are looking for an earlier vintage item from 1986 or 1987, we recommend. . .
. . .our silver label (1390120 or 1390131) keyboards 1390120

If you are looking for a rare collectible item from 1984 or 1985, we recommend. . .
. . .our IBM’s original keyboard PC_AT (not the IBM 83-key PC XT 5150 keyboard)

If you are looking for lower-cost cheap solution, we recommend. . .
. . .our blue label models (52G9658, 92G74533, 42H1292) models. blue

Q. How many keyboards do you have in stock?

Part of our interest in maintaining this collection of vintage keyboards is to determine
1) when was the first model M keyboard produced? (earliest documented evidence appears to be late 1985, not 1984 as the (c) states)
2) how many model M keyboards were produced?.(we have been photographing and recording individual keyboards to create a database of known serial numbers and production dates)  http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p648qGSv2K7D-LBY4i7eNYg
3) what are the differences between Made by IBM vs. Manufactured for IBM by Lexmark vs. Made by Unicomp?

for example:
earliest known (verified) model M keyboard 1388032 (December 1985, old style barcode rear label)
oldest known 1390120 silver label model M keyboards (January - June 1986, old style barcode rear label)

..and I really, really, really want an all black IBM model M -13 keyboard or an ergonomic split design M-15 keyboard
A. The most popular "contact us" inquires that we receive are for these two keyboard types. When they were made from 1994 - 1998, they were produced in much smaller numbers as compared to other model M keyboards and thus they are very difficult to still find in good condition and are thus rare collectibles.

However, on occasion, we are able to locate one or two of these limited keyboards. If you would like to be put on a notification list, email us a clickykeyboard@gmail.com.

Q. What exactly does an IBM model M keyboard sound like?
www.clickykeyboard.com/model_m_sound.mp3

Q. Why can't my new 2009 computer work with the vintage 1987 IBM keyboard via the ps/2 port ? My computer does not have a ps/2 port, can I use just any cheaper USB dongle adapter?
http://www.geocities.com/jszybowski/keyboard/index.htm
http://www.clickykeyboards.com/index.cfm/fa/items.main/parentcat/11298/subcatid/0/id/124184

Q. Why does my keyboard cable only have 4-pins or 6-pins?
Across the 20+ year lifespan of the product, IBM and Lexmark made model M keyboards that used 6-pin and 4-pin ps/2 configurations.  The normal ps/2 keyboard only uses 4 pins.  http://www.ibmmuseum.com/ohlandl/keyboard/Keyboard.html
There are four conductors used (+5v, Ground, Clock and Data)  Only the pins 1, 3, 4, and 5 are used to communicate with the computer.  Pins 2 and 6 are not used for signaling and are not connected.  There are no functional differences between the keyboard ps/2 connector with 4-pins vs. 6-pins.

Q. What exactly is a "buckling spring"

A. IBM Model M keyboards use a spring mechanism to translate the physical movements of typing into electrical signals. for more info

(image from Qwerters Clinic, Japan)


Q. What is so special about the IBM model M keyboard?
1. It is the rare computer part from the 1980s that still works in the 21st century.
2. Keys are standard size and standard locations (e.g., not having to search for the tiny keys that some foreign keyboard designer decided to move and translocate because it looked better in a marketing promo ad)
3. Keys have full-length travel and actuate before hitting the bottom, not like the laptop style short-length travel that requires a full press to register.
4. The lettering on each key is imprinted and dyed into the plastic (not a removable sticker or rub-off paint)
5. All letter keys are the same full size/shape and can be easily swapped from QWERTY to DVORAK or removed for perodic cleaning
6. Within each model M keyboard, there is a 1.2 pound curved steel plate which places the keys at the optimal typing angle and forms a solid base for typing madly away at.
7. Each keyboard has an individualized serial number and the exact date of manufacture printed on the bottom keyboard plate.
8. No extraneous function keys for "Windows", or "sleep", "check mail", "hibernate", "more lotion".
9. No shiny shiny plastic that needs constant cleaning and polishing to remove fingerprints. No clear plastic to trap and collect lunchtime crumbs and hair and to grow science experiments.  No cheap plastic which is susceptible to yellowing over time.
10. most Model M keyboards were "Made in the USA".

Q. I would like to buy a model M clicky keyboard, but I have read that they are loud. I work in a typical office cubical farm and/or I share a room with others. Will the sound be offensive?

A. If you are using a model M in a very quiet "silence please" monastery, or you have sound-sensitive co-workers, or you are stuck sharing an office cubicle with your assistant or worse.. your boss, then perhaps the traditional buckling spring keyboard may not be appropriate. (Then again, these same people would probably complain if you had your computer speakers turned on, used the stapler too much, or if you talked on the phone, or if you sneezed or dared to chew gum in their presence.. while at the same time having their own transistor radio turned all the way to the 11 blaring lite FM).

Although.. we know that some users have their computer in their bedroom or work in libraries. We can recommend the IBM 71G4644 (quiet-touch model M) which shares similar construction features to other model M’s, but does not have "clicky" buckling-spring keyswitches sound or touch. 71G4644

Q. Does typing on a model M sounds like a machine-gun? (most typical exaggeration that we read in forum posts)
A. The experienced typist can type at 80 words per minute. The average word including a space is 6 characters long. So at a rate of 480-500 keystrokes per minute, we can imagine the analogy. We do not think anyone would seriously confuse the typing on a model M mechanical keyboard with a gunshot. In reality, the model M sounds as if you were typing on a typewriter with the instantaneous impact of the letters onto paper. If you do not like the "noise" that a typewriter makes as each letter is formed, then you would not like the model M keyboard.

Q. I have read that the use of a rubber-dome keyboard is "better" to type with than a buckling spring model M keyboard.
A. I do not think that it requires more "work" to type with a model M keyboard as compared to a standard keyboard. In fact, I think it requires less work..

If you are a weenie have weak fingers, you probably are not an expert touch-typist with developed skills. I find it much easier to type with a keyboard that has some built-in resistance, because it allows me to quickly move my fingers across the range of keys on the keyboards without causing inadvertent key presses. Like pulling a trigger, each finger can depress each key to full muscle potential and not have to gingerly and tenderly prance across the keys.
If you are a hunt-and-pecker 5 words-per-minute typist, the "free" keyboard that came with your computer will serve your limited needs.

Q. Can you really put these IBM model M keyboards in the dishwasher to get them clean.
A. I think this is one of the biggest myths about model M keyboards. These are well constructed and while I am sure the original IBM designers intended them to have a certain degree of "spill-resistance", however these model M keyboards have interior areas where it may be difficult to completely remove all water.

Recently we have seen a growing number of ebay sellers try to make a quick buck and find a model M keyboard in the trash and then wash the keyboard in the dishwasher and then quickly put them up for 7-day auctions. The plastics used in the model M are heavy-duty, but they are not dishwasher safe and can bend out of alignment if subjected to excessive heat. While the keyboard may be superficially clean, residual water left inside the metal buckling-spring can eventually oxidize or rust or cause other unseen corrosive residues and poor spring behavior.

All the refurbished keyboards that we sell are carefully cleaned by hand. We remove each and every of the 101 individual key caps and the upper keyboard case and wash the small parts in detergent. We then carefully inspect, dry, reassemble all 101-keys and re-test for full functionality. This does not clean all the interior surfaces, but we try our best to remove as much dirt as possible. Customers looking for perfect units, should purchase one of our brand-new in original box units.

Q. How do I best clean an IBM model M keyboard
A. See the following website for excellent cleaning guide and tips on "care and feeding of an IBM model M" http://www.preater.com/modelm/

Q. Can't I just find these old keyboards at any local charity thrift store or at the junk yard?
A. uh.. sure.. if you are the type that likes to repeatedly go to the landfill, there are many magical cupboards that you can open and by sprinkling magical pixie dust and twirling around three times while rubbing your tummy and patting your head.. these keyboards appear all the time in brand new, never used condition.

Q. I am a Mac OS 10.4 / 10.5 user, how can I remap the Apple modifier keys to the Caps lock or Ctrl or Alt keys?
A. Go to System Preferences Keyboard & Mouse Keyboard Modifier Keys

Q. I have a keyboard from the original IBM XT (5150 or 5160). Will it work on my PC?
A. The IBM XT keyboard looks very similar to the IBM PC AT keyboard, with a distinct set of 10 function keys on the left side of the keyboard.

But the important difference is that the IBM XT keyboard has 83-keys and the IBM AT keyboard has 84-keys. The two keyboards send two distinct, incompatible scan codes to the computer. http://www.computer-engineering.org/ps2keyboard/

We can not believe how many stupid (or dishonest, deceitful, fraudulent, shady) ebay sellers cannot correctly count to the number 84.. and regularly list an 83-key IBM XT keyboard and claim that it is 84-key IBM AT keyboard and then put stupid descriptions like (item sold as is, no testing done, unable to hookup to my computer, keyboard removed from service 15 years ago and assumed to be working, duh... keyboard looks like a keyboard (and not like a fruitcake) therefore it should work, final sale, as-is, no returns). At least once per month, we get emails from frustrated buyers who thought they found a bargain, wait 3-4 weeks for delivery, then find out that they bought the wrong keyboard from ignorant (or devious) sellers and then ask us for advice. The conversion of XT to AT signals requires dedicated keyboard signal conversion hardware, not just a $2.00 adapter.

Q. Where do you ship from? How long does it take to arrive.
A. Our offices are located midway between New York and Philadelphia (Princeton, New Jersey, zip code 08544). Below is a map which shows standard shipping transit times for UPS ground.