Before showing their feedback about my work, I’d like to take this opportunity to give a big shout out to everyone over the years who sent me their trusty Model M(s) for repair or bought one (or two) from me. Thank you! Seriously!
I also can’t thank people enough for being exceedingly patient with me. I took about four years away from this work due to other things in life just taking up all my time. My heart wasn’t in it and I didn’t have the energy. I had many M’s just sitting in my workshop through those times and the fine folks who sent them to me were super cool about waiting.
I don’t make much money from doing this and it takes a big chunk of my time (about 3 hours per board, minimum), but I love doing it and I love that enough people out there have an affinity towards these contraptions that I get to work on them fairly regularly. I love that I occasionally get one shipped to me from the other side of the world. I love giving renewed service life to the same keyboard someone has been using for a decade or two. I love that I’ve had the opportunity to learn a broad spectrum of subjects and develop some rather useful skills. All for the love of the M – a keyboard I remembered typing on as a kid and snagged a few for $3 each at a flea market over a decade ago. Then I never wanted to type on anything else.
…and then I started hoarding them, and even rescuing them from impending doom and the ravages of time and nature and here we are today.
Again, really – thanks for the support. You’re all awesome!!!
So, without further ado here are some kind words from those awesome people:
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Maxx has been fantastic since the day I was pointed his direction. A great person and incredibly talented. I have had 2 boards overhauled by Maxx and each of them exceeded my expectations. Glad to hear business is up, Maxx! Hoping to be sending a third board your way soon!
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“I just got my IBM M SSK back from the famous Phosphor Glow and I am extremely happy with the fine work he has done! He is like the da Vinci of IBM keyboards. NOW it feels and acts like a real keyboard!”
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“I have a few Model Ms lying about and recently when the one I used at work started to act up I started to look around for a repair service. I stumbled upon Maxx’s website and I could tell this was the guy I wanted to work on my Model M. I decided to have an underlay added as well to add some flash to my old keyboard. When it arrived I was blown away at how classy the keyboard looked. I went with the metallic copper and WOW. Typing on my new/old Model M was like the first time I ever used a Model M. Maxx took care of the repeating key and the keyboard appears and feels ready for many, many years of service. Turned out I also had a broken case stud which was rattling around inside and Maxx repaired it, reattaching the case stud, the result is a nice sturdy case again.
Maxx’s service sure beats trying to find another perfectly working Model M. The service he provides is a fantastic bargain and your Model M really will feel like new again.”
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“The overhauled Model M that I purchased looks and works just like a new keyboard. I’m very pleased with my purchase.”
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“I spilled water on my ’91 Model M and it stopped working. I sent it to Maxx and he completely restored it to like new condition for less than the price of a new Unicomp and way less than the price of a used Model M of the same vintage. Thank you for bringing my beloved keyboard back to life.”
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“I have purchased two Model M keyboards from Maxx over the past few months – one full size, one SSK. I love both and Maxx is an artist, I can’t think of a better word. Both boards look amazing and are great to type on.
I added underlays to both, custom LED lights on one, and a USB conversion on the other. Everything works great. Both were shipped and packaged with care.
Maxx clearly takes great pride in his work and it’s obvious when you see his end product that he is an expert in these technologies. Really great to work with too, super nice guy.
Thanks again!”
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“Years ago I used to use an IBM Model M keyboard in college to crank out term papers and the like. So here I am some 25 years later and I see they have old Model M’s for sale on Ebay. I buy one, only to find one of the keys doesn’t work, and there are parts floating around inside the case. I got it cheap enough however, that it wasn’t worth sending back. In steps Maxx. He was recommended to me by another well known Model M aficionado on the web, who vouched for his restoration work.
What can I say, two weeks after I send my keyboard off to Maxx, back it comes better than new. And for only a few dollars more, it’s now USB! It feels great, works like a champ, and it’s even perfectly clean. Throughout the process, I got updates, and he was always responsive to any questions I had. I’m not joking when I say I wish my doctor cared as much about my care as Maxx does about my keyboard.
Long story short, they say you can’t make something old new again. But Maxx does.”
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“I started to give you a review out of the box, but then I realized it wasn’t fair. I needed to actually TYPE on at least one of them first.
OMFG. I know, I sound 14 or something, but this is -so- NICE. After months and months of struggling along on a crappy soft $12 chunk of modern crap, this is typing bliss. ( You know, it’s funny how totally maddening it is when the shift key is soft and sometimes just doesn’t do anything….I love having crisp keys again so much. ) The underlays are awesome, especially the copper, and the cleaning has both boards looking like new and typing beautifully.
You have done a truly wonderful job.”
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“Didn’t want to chuck my nice 88 white label keyboard, sent it off to Maxx for a reconditioning. One of the keys stuck because of a coffee incident Maxx fixed everything, restored the keyboard to better than new condition, looking forward to another 15 yrs out of the keyboard. Will send my other blue label keyboard off to him, he did such a great job, communication was great. The value is tremendous because even unicomps and cherries cannot match the feel of the old IBM M’s, and Maxx can get one working for a fraction of what a new cherry keyboard costs.”
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“After 27 years of faithful service, my beloved IBM Model M keyboard began to function erratically. Thankfully, I was referred to Maxx at phosphorglow.net. Maxx is a fellow Model M enthusiast who runs a reconditioning program to help those of us whose keyboards need a new lease on life. Maxx did a phenomenal job restoring my keyboard to “like new” condition, did it very fast, and did it for a very reasonable price. What more could one ask for? I highly recommend his services.”
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“The SSK I bought from Maxx is the 4th one I have, and by far my favorite. There are a few companies out there that renovate model m’s, but I have not yet seen anything that comes close to the craftsmanship and attention to detail that Maxx puts into these keyboards. He starts out from a construction which is durable on its own, and improves it in every aspect. The end result is a perfection that I enjoy every single day when I am using his keyboard. It has been a fantastic buying experience and whenever I will be looking for a new addition to my SSK’s, Maxx will be the first person I contact. Best, Peter Csoregh, New York”
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“I’m a long-time fan of IBM Model M’s and purchased an SSK from Maxx about a year ago. Having personally restored a few traditional M’s myself, I know how time-consuming and exacting it can be. Maxx’s SSK surpassed all my personal efforts with attention to detail, careful restoration, and overall TLC. Beyond that, Maxx was a consummate professional in his careful description, in his ongoing pre- and post-sale communication back and forth, and in his packing and shipping. He especially astounded me, though, with his unsolicited offer to perform some additional fine-tuning of the keyboard after I had already received it — talk about going above and beyond to make the customer satisfied! When Maxx reached out to me recently (one year after the initial sale) to make sure everything was still going great with the SSK, I responded with this unsolicited testimonial to support his efforts. Trust me, if my experience is any guide, you can’t go wrong with a keyboard (or other historical computer exotica) from Maxx! Thanks Maxx, Daniel F. (New York, USA)”
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“I just wanted to say…. You must love your work. This keyboard looks new, feels just the way I remembered back in the good ole days, and using it is music to my ears. Ordered on a Friday, and received the following Wednesday without using Next Day shipping. I’ll recommend your services and keyboards for years to come.”
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“I got it back today. It feels orgasmic and god like. You’re doing God’s work with these keyboards because the sound is so nice to my ears.”
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“I am an attorney and spend most of my time typing on my keyboard, and have done so for more than two decades. About 10 years ago, I fell in love with the “clicky” IBM keyboard with the clitoris (aka trackpoint II) so I never need to take my fingers off the home keys to use the stupid mouse thingy. I am DEVOTED to this keyboard layout and am much faster than anyone using a mouse. Even my laptop is the same trackpoint II keyboard.
All was well for over ten years as I pounded out legal documents, decimating forests of trees, until I dumped a Diet Coke on my precious keyboard last month. Time slowed as the brown beverage sloshed over the cup rim down onto the keyboard and disappeared between the keys. I was horrified. I unplugged it immediately and avoided any damage to the computer, but the keyboard was soaked. Apparently, the Diet Coke mixed with 10 years of crumbs and other assorted nasty stuff inside that accumulates over such a long time of almost daily use. YUCK. After it dried out, it did not work the same, the space bar would not work, or stick and run for a few lines or the mouse click keys would not respond. I was devastated.
MAXX TO THE RESCUE! I scrounged around the internet trying to buy another identical trackpoint II keyboard, but couldn’t find any. LUCKILY, I was referred to Maxx (phosphorglow). I explained my plight and Maxx told me to ship him the keyboard, so I did.
My keybaord came back to me a few weeks later and SHAZAAM – it was amazing! SUPER CLEAN and the keys were all snappy and fast and the clitoris was easy to point and the mouse buttons clicked super fast and easy. It was like getting a brand new keyboard – EXCEPT BETTER! Maxx also swapped out the PS2 connectors for a USB cable, so it slipped right into the computer and powered up beautifully!
Frankly, I believe Maxx is TOO MUCH of a true believer. He put in a LOT of work cleaning, replacing parts, adjusting, re-assembling and testing my keyboard. His total invoice was a COMPLETE BARGAIN, not even close to fair (he charges too little, IMHO).
Anyway, I can’t recommend Maxx highly enough. The man is outstanding at resurrecting these cherished keyboards from long term abuse and bringing them back as good or better than they were new. THANK YOU MAXX!!!”
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Want to contribute your feedback and help me out? I’d greatly appreciate it! Leave me a comment and I’ll gladly add it to the page.