Stuff I got in China (Poll)

[User101]

If there's no photo or photo does not match description. I give up. Spend the last two and a half hours editing this multiple times since photo somehow won't show up correctly...

As the title says, I got some keyboard/keyboard related stuff from China. It's gonna be a long post.
Here's an overview of most of the thing I got. The rest is just too large/not worthy of being in the picture.

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Ok, let's start from the top.
A Sigma 459 keyboard, mediocre built quality, with some unknown grey slider clicky alps clone.

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These switches are absolute junk. This is an extremely clean board, but they bind on every key. You don't even need to press very off-center. They DO sound fantastic.
Overall is an unusable keyboard; however, the double shot ABS keycaps are pretty nice.

Next one.
A Siemens keyboard of unknown model. Uses Siemens's STB switches.

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Well, there is some model information on that silver plaque; I just don't know which one is the actual model number.

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Very nice double-shot ABS keycaps.

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Excellent built quality, not a single screw in the entire keyboard assembly tho, all held together by clips.
I don't like the switches; they feel way too heavy for me. Pretty showpiece, I guess?

Next one.
Televideo 950(I think it is or a 965.) Well known board already, don't need a description for this one.
Pretty good keyboard. Virtually unused too. I'm happy with this one.

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Next one
An E&E keyboard with some blue clicky alps clone. Garbage switch but with some sweet, sweet Chinese keycaps. Probably gonna put these keycaps on my MCK-142.
Though the English letters are nice double shot, the Chinese ones are not. I assume its pad-print or silkscreen.
Bad keyboard. Bought purely for keycaps.

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Next one
Oh boy, this one is interesting. It is one of those Taiwan AT clone thing with blue alps. I'm not sure who manufactured it, no model number or anything on this. It looks exactly like the Focus 747(except for the keycaps) with the black metal base. Bought it with the mind of restoring it, but guess what, retard seller didn't even package it. One layer of bubble wrap and here you go. It was annihilated. Here's the extent of the damage:
Cracked Switches
Cracked Keycaps
Spacebar Stabilizer busted
Entire keyboard bend outward, yes, the metal chassis too
Top case internal was destroyed, all front chassis and one switch plate screw mounts destroyed
Don't wanna add any photo. It looks fine after my usual cleanup, but it's pretty far gone.

Next one
An Olivette keyboard with Snap-Action switches.

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Held together with clips but pretty good built quality.

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Thick mounting and back plate.

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Nice thicc double shot keycaps.

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Works in similar principle as the Alps Plate Spring and IBM Beamspring. How does it feel?
Pretty JUNK-Scratchy, inconsistent, shallow travel. Don't even sound that good on this board.
Overall, not very good.

Next one.
This one is not in the overview photo not because it's not worthy; it's simply TOO BIG.
A stage light controller apparently, with a nice LCD display.

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Before

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After clean up.
Its size matches that of the Chyron 4044; built quality came somewhat close too.

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Pretty much falls apart when you look at the switches. CHERRY BLUE.
Every single one of them feels like scratchy black, no click. Some won't even pop up.

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Mind you, this thing is not old-From the components inside it is maximum 2005 old and it's still being used as recently as somewhere around 2010.

That's about it keyboard wise. TBH nothing exciting... Now for the Misc stuff
That bag has some awesome Chinese Keycaps in it.

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Some mics keyboard converters. The big one is for the HP Leaf Spring keyboard, the small one for 122 terminals boards.

Down below is a foam for the FAT keyboard.

The little knob thing down the bottom is an adjustable keyboard feet, detachable too — really nice stuff.

That's about it.

Here's a catch: Obviously I can't bring all of this back to the US. Vote on two keyboards and no the stage light controller is not one of them.

[Myoth]

votes for the Siemens and the Olivetti, the others are just seen over and over again, those two are definitely unique and actually very cute. Nice catch !

[User101]

votes for the Siemens and the Olivetti, the others are just seen over and over again, those two are definitely unique and actually very cute. Nice catch !

That's perfect! They are the smallest of the bunch

[Muirium]

Same here. The Siemens looks gorgeous, and the Olivetti has real character too. If you've room for a third, I'd go Televideo as Space Invaders are a nice switch and that one's in great shape.

Just be sure to safely cram all those sweet keycaps, besides!

Nice pics by the way. I'm tempted to try cropping one or two as site headers, if you're willing.

[User101]

Same here. The Siemens looks gorgeous, and the Olivetti has real character too. If you've room for a third, I'd go Televideo as Space Invaders are a nice switch and that one's in great shape.

Just be sure to safely cram all those sweet keycaps, besides!

Nice pics by the way. I'm tempted to try cropping one or two as site headers, if you're willing.

Yup. Got lucky with that televideo, will try. For the pics part yeah do whatever you want.

[Wazrach]

what is that red foam mat? looks like it belongs to an AT Model F with XT barrels?

[User101]

what is that red foam mat? looks like it belongs to an AT Model F with XT barrels?

Probably for those want to use XT barrels replacement on their AT?

[Wazrach]

what is that red foam mat? looks like it belongs to an AT Model F with XT barrels?

Probably for those want to use XT barrels replacement on their AT?

That's soooooooo weird! You can't actually do that though. Maybe it's for one of those capacitive buckling spring clone keyboards.

[User101]

what is that red foam mat? looks like it belongs to an AT Model F with XT barrels?

Probably for those want to use XT barrels replacement on their AT?

That's soooooooo weird! You can't actually do that though. Maybe it's for one of those capacitive buckling spring clone keyboards.

I think it's just an oversight on the seller's side lol.

[OleVoip]

A Siemens keyboard of unknown model. Uses Siemens's STB switches.

That's a Siemens TA-BS/1200 teletypewriter keyboard. There seem to be quite a number of variants of it.

This one is not in the overview photo not because it's not worthy; it's simply TOO BIG.
A stage light controller apparently, with a nice LCD display.

This one's especially interesting to me as it's the first time I see Sasse-style caps on Cherry switches; maybe they really are Sasse caps. Could you please make a photo of the inside of one of the caps such that we can see the mount? Does it look similar to that?

[User101]

This one's especially interesting to me as it's the first time I see Sasse-style caps on Cherry switches; maybe they really are Sasse caps. Could you please make a photo of the inside of one of the caps such that we can see the mount? Does it look similar to that?

Nah, just regular cherry mount.

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It is pretty ok but not great. Thick ABS with some sort of pad/silkscreen print.

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I like them. Would be nice if the keyboard comes with the whole set with letters and function keys...

[snacksthecat]

The Televideo 955 is really clean (actually all the boards you posted look nice)! If it was the 1-eyed space invaders, I'd ask you to keep it (someone recently reached out to me looking for those switches).

I had a chuckle seeing this on ebay BIN for $199
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-TELEVI ... 3769820830

I have a couple of really dirty ones left if you come back home and regret not bringing it.

[TheInverseKey]

The Televideo 955 is really clean (actually all the boards you posted look nice)! If it was the 1-eyed space invaders, I'd ask you to keep it (someone recently reached out to me looking for those switches).

I had a chuckle seeing this on ebay BIN for $199
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-TELEVI ... 3769820830

I have a couple of really dirty ones left if you come back home and regret not bringing it.

This is a reasonable priced LOL

[User101]

If it was the 1-eyed space invaders, I'd ask you to keep it (someone recently reached out to me looking for those switches).

Keyboard uses 2-eyed space invaders so not the rare type I guess?

This is a reasonable priced LOL

Your typical feeBay price tag, not greedy at all!

[snacksthecat]

If it was the 1-eyed space invaders, I'd ask you to keep it (someone recently reached out to me looking for those switches).

Keyboard uses 2-eyed space invaders so not the rare type I guess?

I wildly prefer the 2-eyed space invaders. They feel much smoother to me. Never had a clean board to compare fairly though.

Also there are at least two varieties of 2-eyed space invaders. Big eyes and small eyes. Someone more familiar with those switches probably could draw out the whole family tree, though.

[User101]

If it was the 1-eyed space invaders, I'd ask you to keep it (someone recently reached out to me looking for those switches).

Keyboard uses 2-eyed space invaders so not the rare type I guess?

I wildly prefer the 2-eyed space invaders. They feel much smoother to me. Never had a clean board to compare fairly though.

Also there are at least two varieties of 2-eyed space invaders. Big eyes and small eyes. Someone more familiar with those switches probably could draw out the whole family tree, though.

My favorite thing are the unnecessary complications of these switches lol

[User101]

I forgot to mention that the power led(I assume)on the top right corner of the olivetti is hot-swappable. It's not soldered to anything and you can pull it right out and plug it back in with a nice snap. It's kinda like the Kaihua hot-swap socket for keyboard switches but some 30 years earlier. Smart design.

[SantiGo]

I forgot to mention that the power led(I assume)on the top right corner of the olivetti is hot-swappable. It's not soldered to anything and you can pull it right out and plug it back in with a nice snap. It's kinda like the Kaihua hot-swap socket for keyboard switches but some 30 years earlier. Smart design.

hi can i have link where you buy foam for IBM ?

[Redmaus]

hi can i have link where you buy foam for IBM ?

Do you mean for model F's?

[Wazrach]

I forgot to mention that the power led(I assume)on the top right corner of the olivetti is hot-swappable. It's not soldered to anything and you can pull it right out and plug it back in with a nice snap. It's kinda like the Kaihua hot-swap socket for keyboard switches but some 30 years earlier. Smart design.

hi can i have link where you buy foam for IBM ?

It's not fun or particularly easy to source a material similar to the original stuff IBM used if you're in Europe. McMaster-Carr offer foam in varying thicknesses and densities, but they don't ship internationally. I'd get some 2mm neoprene neoprene from Ebay, which isn't that expensive, but it is firmer than the stock foam. Craft foam is also good. I don't think it deadens the sound as much as neoprene, and it gives it a more dense sound.

[SantiGo]

hi can i have link where you buy foam for IBM ?

Do you mean for model F's?

yep me need for my f122 and for xt ...

[User101]

hi can i have link where you buy foam for IBM ?

Do you mean for model F's?

yep me need for my f122 and for xt ...

Dude only have AT foam... if you want f122 foam I think ellipse sell some?

[Lbibass]

Do you mean for model F's?

yep me need for my f122 and for xt ...

Dude only have AT foam... if you want f122 foam I think ellipse sell some?

I would be interested in purchasing some of the AT foam. My AT was in REALLY bad shape.

[cli]

modelfkeyboards sells foam for ibm f -at
https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/store/
Not cheap though.. 45 dollars. I used some cheap 2mm laminate foam instead...

[User101]

yep me need for my f122 and for xt ...

Dude only have AT foam... if you want f122 foam I think ellipse sell some?

I would be interested in purchasing some of the AT foam. My AT was in REALLY bad shape.

More than happy to provide the link, but I cant find it... I just checked the website. I dont think the seller sells these anymore, cant find it anywhere... again I'm really sorry... I'll keep looking and let you know if it shows up.

[Sbazzeguti]

Hmmm interested in the foam (or foam replacement) for my Model F keyboards.

[User101]

Hmmm interested in the foam (or foam replacement) for my Model F keyboards.

Looks like there's more interest in the foam than I expected. However, I been looking and the seller still don't have any for sale...

[Sbazzeguti]

Hmmm interested in the foam (or foam replacement) for my Model F keyboards.

Looks like there's more interest in the foam than I expected. However, I been looking and the seller still don't have any for sale...

Thanks for checking!
I will experiment with other materials.

[terrycherry]

hmmmm, All I had seen in the seller page which I thought good for collect but the condition is not same as the high price. I let it go. And the winner is you. I hope to know who sell them to you and how you can buy it?

[purdobol]

An Olivette keyboard with Snap-Action switches.

Works in similar principle as the Alps Plate Spring and IBM Beamspring. How does it feel?
Pretty JUNK-Scratchy, inconsistent, shallow travel. Don't even sound that good on this board.
Overall, not very good.

Well that's dissapoiting.
Scratching this one from the list...