Great/Interesting Finds

[seebart]

What is it like typing on yellow Alps? Slightly heavier than greens?

In my opinion, that's exactly what they feel like.

I need to get some then.

[balotz]

On the two Zeniths, the first (zkb-2) seems to have more shine on the caps than the second (kbd17).

The layout is actually not that bad, despite the Return/Enter key. As a HHKB remapper, I can make use of that extra-wide Right Bracket as a Backspace, and of course the Backslash to the right of Right Shift is perfect as a Fn key.

What is it like typing on yellow Alps? Slightly heavier than greens?

I'm using a Zenith 163-73 at the moment. I don't have greens to compare them to, but the yellows are very nice to type on, extremely smooth. The weighting of the switches, for me, is perfect, neither too light nor too heavy.

I got lucky in that mine was in very good condition, from this auction:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262571407748? ... EBIDX%3AIT

[Hypersphere]

I just received confirmation from the seller of the two Zenith boards that the switch stems on both of the them are yellow.

He also said that the underside of the caps on the ZKB-2 are black, indicating doubleshots, but the underside of the caps on KB17 are white -- would this indicate dye-sub PBT on this board, or would it more likely have been some other form of printing?

[Hypersphere]

Ortek MKB-84SX White Alps

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Ortek-Alps ... SwPCVX2V9I

I have one of these. It's not my favorite form factor or layout, but the typing sound and feel are excellent.

[Wingpad]

There are a bunch of cool things on Taobao right now, if you can afford them. Here's a list:

• Blue Switch IBM Model F
• SGI Granite AT101
• Chinese Green Alps Keyboard
• NCR G81-3007
• NCR G81-3077
• CHERRY MX 3000 Dye-sublimated Keycaps
• Mysterious "DL-101" Keyboard with Dark Blue Cherry MX Switches -> Imgur Album

... AND MORE!! Just check out the rest of the guy's items.

[Chyros]

I just received confirmation from the seller of the two Zenith boards that the switch stems on both of the them are yellow.

He also said that the underside of the caps on the ZKB-2 are black, indicating doubleshots, but the underside of the caps on KB17 are white -- would this indicate dye-sub PBT on this board, or would it more likely have been some other form of printing?

Heh, I was right then ^^ . The 163-73 uses dyesub PBT instead of doubleshot ABS.

[Wingpad]

I just received confirmation from the seller of the two Zenith boards that the switch stems on both of the them are yellow.

He also said that the underside of the caps on the ZKB-2 are black, indicating doubleshots, but the underside of the caps on KB17 are white -- would this indicate dye-sub PBT on this board, or would it more likely have been some other form of printing?

Heh, I was right then ^^ . The 163-73 uses dyesub PBT instead of doubleshot ABS.

As the owner of a 163-73 I can confirm they are dye-sub'd PBTs.

[Hypersphere]

When in doubt, consult our very own DT wiki!

wiki/Zenith_163-73

This confirms that the Zenith 163-73 has yellow Alps and dye-sub PBT keycaps.

[Chyros]

I just received confirmation from the seller of the two Zenith boards that the switch stems on both of the them are yellow.

He also said that the underside of the caps on the ZKB-2 are black, indicating doubleshots, but the underside of the caps on KB17 are white -- would this indicate dye-sub PBT on this board, or would it more likely have been some other form of printing?

Heh, I was right then ^^ . The 163-73 uses dyesub PBT instead of doubleshot ABS.

As the owner of a 163-73 I can confirm they are dye-sub'd PBTs.

Yeah that I knew, but I meant that the ZKB-2 has yellow Alps. I'm gathering evidence for a theory on these keyboards.

[BinaryHalibut]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-AT-Ever ... 2083465428

Most likely NMB clicky space invaders. Plus the sort of weird "all the keys are grey and ctrl/shift/alt have colored lettering" color scheme
Price seems a pretty average, but the guy has offers enabled.

Also this one's weird: silver label lexmark-branded model m

[jerue]

NOS Omron F300-K $100 BIN

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Omron-F300-K-Ke ... 2251377819

Two available...anyone figure out what switches were in these?

[seebart]

NOS Omron F300-K $100 BIN

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Omron-F300-K-Ke ... 2251377819

Two available...anyone figure out what switches were in these?

No. This is that strange industrial Omron keyboard we were talking about Chyros! Too expensive and too far away from me.

I'm gathering evidence for a theory on these keyboards.

The Zenith 163-73? Don't theorize too much.

[Jimi14]

BTC 5100 (the foam and foil version) in black.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BTC-BTC-5100-Co ... SwbYZXfVa3

[Hypersphere]

BTC 5100 (the foam and foil version) in black.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BTC-BTC-5100-Co ... SwbYZXfVa3

I actually like the looks of this. I am currently using one as the keyboard for my Mac mini entertainment center. The keyboard is not something I would want to type on for any extended time, but it is okay for brief use to navigate to a movie.

[Hypersphere]

Leading Edge DC-2014

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leading-Edge-DC ... Sw8gVX2vEA

[BinaryHalibut]

NiB 122-key model M

[chzel]

What the fuck happened to this?

[Techno Trousers]

What the fuck happened to this?

Looks like it was left on top of a hot stove! Even sitting in a hot car wouldn't do that to an IBM case.

[lot_lizard]

NiB 122-key model M

Another cheap 122 M in nice shape

[Hypersphere]

What the fuck happened to this?

Someone pushed the warp drive button.

[Chyros]

BTC 5100 (the foam and foil version) in black.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BTC-BTC-5100-Co ... SwbYZXfVa3

I actually like the looks of this. I am currently using one as the keyboard for my Mac mini entertainment center. The keyboard is not something I would want to type on for any extended time, but it is okay for brief use to navigate to a movie.

Personally I found BTC foam and foil to be better than Key Tronic's version. They get really tactile if you mod them with Mitsumi sleeves.

NOS Omron F300-K $100 BIN

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Omron-F300-K-Ke ... 2251377819

Two available...anyone figure out what switches were in these?

No. This is that strange industrial Omron keyboard we were talking about Chyros! Too expensive and too far away from me.

Ah yeah, I remember that. Quite an interesting board.

[E TwentyNine]

NiB 122-key model M

There's nothing NIB about that. That isn't how they came from the factory, and you can see dirt on the feet and in the cracks. Someoneone cleaned and shrink wrapped an used one.

[BinaryHalibut]

Back label's pretty weird and nonstandard, so I assumed that it not being boxed in styrofoam was within the realm of normal. Maybe some kind of refurb from after IBM stopped making the keyboards themselves? and also I'm really gullible

I guess if someone actually wants one they're a lot better better off getting the one lot_lizard posted.

[ohaimark]

BTC 5100 (the foam and foil version) in black.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BTC-BTC-5100-Co ... SwbYZXfVa3

I actually like the looks of this. I am currently using one as the keyboard for my Mac mini entertainment center. The keyboard is not something I would want to type on for any extended time, but it is okay for brief use to navigate to a movie.

Personally I found BTC foam and foil to be better than Key Tronic's version. They get really tactile if you mod them with Mitsumi sleeves.

NOS Omron F300-K $100 BIN

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Omron-F300-K-Ke ... 2251377819

Two available...anyone figure out what switches were in these?

No. This is that strange industrial Omron keyboard we were talking about Chyros! Too expensive and too far away from me.

Ah yeah, I remember that. Quite an interesting board.

They just accepted my $40 offer. $40 shipped isn't bad at all.

[ohaimark]

My best guess is that it's Fujitsu leaf spring -- the LED cutouts look a lot like those in my Tandy Fujitsu.

[BinaryHalibut]

Chicony kb-5181 monterey blues

[Chyros]

My best guess is that it's Fujitsu leaf spring -- the LED cutouts look a lot like those in my Tandy Fujitsu.

Or Fujitsu Peerless, which has the same cutouts I think Oo .

[seebart]

My best guess is that it's Fujitsu leaf spring -- the LED cutouts look a lot like those in my Tandy Fujitsu.

Could be leaf spring 3rd generation. It obviously does not have the tombstone keycaps.

wiki/Fujitsu_Leaf_Spring

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=52110.0

What the fuck happened to this?

Extreme heat? Looks like it began to melt.

[Hypersphere]

ISO Focus 2001 White Alps

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Focus-FK2001-Me ... SwNRdX2e7m

[Chyros]

ISO Focus 2001 White Alps

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Focus-FK2001-Me ... SwNRdX2e7m

Oh jeez, what a mindfuck Oo . If there is an ISO FK-2001, what is the FK-2002?