Great/Interesting Finds

[adamcobabe]

IBM 3278 Beamspring. Little bit rough around the edges.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-3278-1982- ... 3519826887

[fslice]

I did in fact search for sold listings, still doesn't come up (even now). I did some research and apparently this isn't an uncommon issue. Anyway, I ended up using an external eBay search aggregator and found it that way. Looks like I'll have to set up my alerts there instead of eBay itself.

Thanks

Ah - yeah that's happened to me as well. What external site did you use? I'm interested!

I used Geo-Ship, the first one I found that worked for me. It aggregates results across eBay's regional sites. It has 4-hour alerts, but who knows if that's fast enough nowadays.

How good is $500 for two random F122s anyway? I seem to think it's amazing, but I'm new to this. Unicomp -> M -> M122 -> hoping for F122 and I should be done.

[//gainsborough]

I did in fact search for sold listings, still doesn't come up (even now). I did some research and apparently this isn't an uncommon issue. Anyway, I ended up using an external eBay search aggregator and found it that way. Looks like I'll have to set up my alerts there instead of eBay itself.

Thanks

Ah - yeah that's happened to me as well. What external site did you use? I'm interested!

I used Geo-Ship, the first one I found that worked for me. It aggregates results across eBay's regional sites. It has 4-hour alerts, but who knows if that's fast enough nowadays.

How good is $500 for two random F122s anyway? I seem to think it's amazing, but I'm new to this. Unicomp -> M -> M122 -> hoping for F122 and I should be done.

Cool, thanks mate!

$500 for two is pretty okay - probably around market value at this point for unconverted boards (maybe on the high side of average). f122s were selling crazy high even just last month but it seems to have come down a little. I've seen a few go for around $200 recently. The high priced Fs are usually USB converted.

[Bass]

$250 is definitely a good price for an F122 right now but keep in mind that seller had a rather low feedback score and only posted two (REALLY blurry) pictures. Wouldn't surprise me if both were in really bad shape underneath.

[Techno Trousers]

$250 is definitely a good price for an F122 right now but keep in mind that seller had a rather low feedback score and only posted two (REALLY blurry) pictures. Wouldn't surprise me if both were in really bad shape underneath.

Seller only showed a picture of the bottom of one of them, so the cynic in me thought immediately that the second is an M.

[risk23]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-KEYBOA ... 2428744783

Can't quite place it, but the caps are mucho caliente and the board looks interesting. Thoughts?

[DatOtherJosh]

https://www.mercari.com/us/item/m404618 ... ch_results some skbm board but really cheap

[SwissArmyTin]

https://www.mercari.com/us/item/m404618 ... ch_results some skbm board but really cheap

It's a membrane board according to the back of the box.

[Blaise170]

Indeed it is, it uses Alps compatible sliders though.

[Red_October]

$250 is definitely a good price for an F122 right now but keep in mind that seller had a rather low feedback score and only posted two (REALLY blurry) pictures. Wouldn't surprise me if both were in really bad shape underneath.

You're kidding! I paid $160 for mine and I'm not proud of it... I guess I should be?? That's insane that that's considered a good deal, that's the second-most I've ever paid for a keyboard ($200 for a NIB M5-II) and I don't like to spend more than $50 for something I can't use (or would have to make significant outlays of effort to use) or $100 for something I can and would.

[xxhellfirexx]

You're kidding! I paid $160 for mine and I'm not proud of it... I guess I should be?? That's insane that that's considered a good deal, that's the second-most I've ever paid for a keyboard ($200 for a NIB M5-II) and I don't like to spend more than $50 for something I can't use (or would have to make significant outlays of effort to use) or $100 for something I can and would.

You think that is ridiculous? You should see the prices for keyboards with dirty Alps SKCM Blue switches.

[Techno Trousers]

There's a Model F AT on eBay right now, with high bid plus shipping just a hair under $300 USD, and over 3 days left in the auction. IBM Model F and beamspring keyboards are red hot these days.

[Myoth]

to be honest the Model F Market is a weird one at the moment, stuff that should sell doesn't and stuff which is overpriced sells, my F107 has been such a pain to sell even though it's the cheapest one on the market at the moment.

I'm glad I'm quitting Model Fs as a whole since I bought my final Model For recently and will be selling the other ones.

[xxhellfirexx]

to be honest the Model F Market is a weird one at the moment, stuff that should sell doesn't and stuff which is overpriced sells, my F107 has been such a pain to sell even though it's the cheapest one on the market at the moment.

I'm glad I'm quitting Model Fs as a whole since I bought my final Model For recently and will be selling the other ones.

I see it as an effective way to stop my addiction as all the good keyboards are not what I would consider a good deal (under $100 USD).

Just out of curiosity, how much is your f107 listed for? I couldn't find it on eBay.

[consolation]

Monterey Blues

864230812.jpg (239.6 KiB) Viewed 11807 times

Actually, the seller has a bunch of interesting ones https://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Listi ... 61&cid=244
eg:

864188475.jpg (200.41 KiB) Viewed 11807 times

(15NZ$ is roughly 10 US$)




PS.

BTW, just picked this up from a charity auction.

1980 NZ Railways Corp. Keyboard. SKCC Alps as far as I can tell; without getting my hands on it.

NZRAILWAY.jpg (89.84 KiB) Viewed 11807 times

Also, I got this a while ago, but haven't had time to play with till now, a 1984 Amkey BIORAD from a nuclear science lab (?) It's by the same people who did keyboards for B52s, the body is fiberglass and the switches are ridiculously smooth, non spongy, foam and foil based individual linears with n-key rollover. I've got to do a full teardown on this one at some stage.

BR-Plan_NT.JPG (261.73 KiB) Viewed 11807 times

(Norbatouch for scale - this thing is super long - if we have battleships and battlecruisers; this is a nuclear sub.)

[zrrion]

that sub and the skcc board are super nice

[Elrick]

BR-Plan_NT.JPG

(Norbatouch for scale - this thing is super long - if we have battleships and battlecruisers; this is a nuclear sub.)

To be 100% clear it can only be a functioning "Nuclear Sub' if it actually works - meaning you must have it working on your PC desktop.

As most old keyboards are large and heavy most end up like beached whales, dead and worthless unless someone talented and unique, can resurrect them from their long time slumber and inactivity.

[consolation]

They got a amkey working a while ago on geekhack, they seem fairly simple to convert to modern protocols. The reason I have to get inside is to figure out how the joystick works. BTW 9U spacebar on the sub...

[consolation]

that sub and the skcc board are super nice

I can't wait to get my hands on the Rail corp. board. I really like the layout and the 70s leather couch stylings

[digital_matthew]

Pretty nice F XT in box for $150 plus shipping:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-IBM-PC ... 1215!US!-1

[orihalcon]

that sub and the skcc board are super nice

I can't wait to get my hands on the Rail corp. board. I really like the layout and the 70s leather couch stylings

Hmm, yeah, will be interesting to see what switches that uses. The appearance of the numpad zero with the line through it kind of makes me think less likely alps as I don't recall seeing that on other SKCC boards, but this definitely isn't my field of expertise

[JP!]

that sub and the skcc board are super nice

I can't wait to get my hands on the Rail corp. board. I really like the layout and the 70s leather couch stylings

Hmm, yeah, will be interesting to see what switches that uses. The appearance of the numpad zero with the line through it kind of makes me think less likely alps as I don't recall seeing that on other SKCC boards, but this definitely isn't my field of expertise

Every time I look at that board I am reminded of this:

Spoiler:

IMG_3729.JPG (764.35 KiB) Viewed 11669 times

[snufflecat]

Monterey Blues

864230812.jpg

Interesting. I have an identical board with black switches.

[Ander]

To be 100% clear it can only be a functioning "Nuclear Sub' if it actually works...

Nonsense. A motor doesn't stop being electric when it's turned off.

[consolation]

that sub and the skcc board are super nice

I can't wait to get my hands on the Rail corp. board. I really like the layout and the 70s leather couch stylings

Hmm, yeah, will be interesting to see what switches that uses. The appearance of the numpad zero with the line through it kind of makes me think less likely alps as I don't recall seeing that on other SKCC boards, but this definitely isn't my field of expertise

IMG_20180913_164123.jpg (78.89 KiB) Viewed 11478 times

SKCC cream alps

Check out the crazy profile

IMG_20180913_164215.jpg (94.45 KiB) Viewed 11478 times

Interestingly the keyboard was built in in 1973 using Lexan and was upgraded in 1984 to the current PCB and switches (or at least the PCB was manufactured in 1984.) It feels so much like 70s vinyl / plastic of my childhood; thicker and less brittle - more like stiff textured vinyl. I'm an idiot and should know better, look at post below by Hak Foo

865350656.jpg (311.45 KiB) Viewed 11478 times

Nice doubleshots

865350938.jpg (6.55 KiB) Viewed 11478 times

I will make a detailed post with the Railways Corp board and the sub, as soon as a third board i got arrives. I'm hoping it's fujitsu gen 1 switches. The Railways board would be a very usable layout (oh numpad is all R3 lol), I'm thinking hand wire to teensey is probably simplest. Just not sure I've got the time as other projects are queued up... really would like to see it revived though.

[Hak Foo]

If it's a Taiwanese board, the '73' in the date stamp may refer to their era calendar, which is ~1984.

[t!ng]

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Cherry-MX5000-V ... Swgh5bmTZV

[Drclick]

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Alte-PC-Tastatu ... SwJppbm8LI

[//gainsborough]

Okay.... What is going on?!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Zenith ... SwHShbm-Pt

The title is obviously wrong (it's not SKCM greens) - but I've never seen a z150 with the tree logo, nor have I seen a tree-logo zenith board have green alps (usually yellow)! Also, the price is ridiculous, haha.

[risk23]

Okay.... What is going on?!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Zenith ... SwHShbm-Pt

The title is obviously wrong (it's not SKCM greens) - but I've never seen a z150 with the tree logo, nor have I seen a tree-logo zenith board have green alps (usually yellow)! Also, the price is ridiculous, haha.

Look like pine greens to me, unless I'm missing something? If it's a Z-150, it's the XT rather than the AT board. The tree is strange. Let me guess - you want to harvest the keycaps off this piece of computing history too?