Great/Interesting Finds

[Tahoma]

This should arrive later this week in my mailbox:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Clicky ... 4631152826

[dr-lipschitz]

This should arrive later this week in my mailbox:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Clicky ... 4631152826

KPQ switch wiki/Mitsumi_KPQ_Type

[Tahoma]

Thanks! I'm hoping I will like it enough to use it in the office once commuting resumes, and it will be a bit quieter than the Unicomp Model M I have been using (as part of being a good neighbor in cube-farm-land). Anything will be better than the dreadful stock Dell keyboards my employer gives us.

[Rayndalf]

act quick. orange alps m0116 for $60

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Keyboard ... 4649567326

No shipping listed? So I guess 2 or 3 of the 12 watching have already inquired. Weird way to sell an item, especially since they know what orange Alps are...

[dr-lipschitz]

act quick. orange alps m0116 for $60

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Keyboard ... 4649567326

No shipping listed? So I guess 2 or 3 of the 12 watching have already inquired. Weird way to sell an item, especially since they know what orange Alps are...

i see shipping listed from my end

[Rayndalf]

act quick. orange alps m0116 for $60

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Keyboard ... 4649567326

No shipping listed? So I guess 2 or 3 of the 12 watching have already inquired. Weird way to sell an item, especially since they know what orange Alps are...

i see shipping listed from my end

It was listed as "Ships from
Loves Park, Illinois
Delivery to United States
Ask seller" on my end, but it appears to have sold.

I'm glad I didn't have the option to buy it though, I really don't need another project board (and that hasn't stopped be before).

[Weezer]

No shipping listed? So I guess 2 or 3 of the 12 watching have already inquired. Weird way to sell an item, especially since they know what orange Alps are...

i see shipping listed from my end

It was listed as "Ships from
Loves Park, Illinois
Delivery to United States
Ask seller" on my end, but it appears to have sold.

I'm glad I didn't have the option to buy it though, I really don't need another project board (and that hasn't stopped be before).

RELISTED OH NO

[xxhellfirexx]

Aristotle switches

https://www.ebay.com/itm/114655637906?m ... olid=10001

https://www.ebay.com/itm/324536427868?m ... olid=10001

[ddrfraser1]

After building Zealiostotles my conclusion is it was a fun project but lots of hassle for what is essentially a good clicky switch when I can just go out and buy box pinks which I think are better.

[Rayndalf]

Phoenix stems are clones of the Aristotle stems, but with better keycap alignment and can be purchased as loose stems or assembled with decent housings. I haven't tried box pinks, but the box whites I tried were good.

It's a good time to be a clicky fan, the two best MX clone options (phoenix and box with clickbar) are quite inexpensive and are much nicer (and longer lasting) than MX blues.

[Muirium]

And don’t still eat caps for breakfast?

[ddrfraser1]

Phoenix stems are clones of the Aristotle stems, but with better keycap alignment and can be purchased as loose stems or assembled with decent housings. I haven't tried box pinks, but the box whites I tried were good.

It's a good time to be a clicky fan, the two best MX clone options (phoenix and box with clickbar) are quite inexpensive and are much nicer (and longer lasting) than MX blues.

I tried Phoenix switches too. I liked them less. Too high pitched

And don’t still eat caps for breakfast?

Thankfully those issues have been fixed. I’ve never had any problems.

[Rayndalf]

I tried Phoenix switches too. I liked them less. Too high pitched

The pitch of the sound seems to depend a lot on the material of the bottom housing. Aristotle stems in Kailh Halo housings sounded good, as did Phoenix stems in Outemu Sky housings (polycarbonate top, pom bottom). I have to agree though, the Outemu Ice housings (polycarbonate top and bottom) made it sound pingy and brittle.

If you still have the phoenix switches then you could try them in different housings (milky Gateron maybe?), but box switches already have pom lower housings and a variety of clickbars, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[ddrfraser1]

Yep. Mine are the ice ones.

[JP!]

Nothing special. Just an OK-Keyboard

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Oriental-Tech- ... Swc8Zdo8qq

[ekeppel]

Nothing special. Just an OK-Keyboard

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Oriental-Tech- ... Swc8Zdo8qq

I'd consider buying it, but even the manufacturer admits that these keyboards aren't that good. Of course they also say that they aren't all that bad either.

It's a really tough call.

[hellothere]

Nothing special. Just an OK-Keyboard

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Oriental-Tech- ... Swc8Zdo8qq

I'd consider buying it, but even the manufacturer admits that these keyboards aren't that good. Of course they also say that they aren't all that bad either.

It's a really tough call.

I've read through a bunch of posts here saying these KBs were designed by Satan, himself. I'd definitely skip.

[ddrfraser1]

Satan, himself.

I heard he's an OK guy.

[Muirium]

Hail OK guy!

[hellothere]

giphy.gif (835.06 KiB) Viewed 5446 times

[dr-lipschitz]

leading edge dc-2014 for $240. act quick:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Leadin ... 4400375501

[John Doe]

So that is a good deal for leading edge 2014 at that price?

[Bjerrk]

So that is a good deal for leading edge 2014 at that price?

About average, based on previously sold ones.

[dr-lipschitz]

The last few ones I've seen sell went over 300. Prices are getting nuts.

[thefarside]

This Focus FK-555 looked interesting, especially being new in box:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Focus-FK-555-M ... 4727950911

According to the wiki it can have blue Alps or cyan Omron B3G-S switches. I’ve heard the Omron switches can be unreliable and unrepairable. Does anyone have experience with them?

[ekeppel]

I had pre-omnikey Northgate branded 555 a while back. It featured a small square gold badge with the Northgate logo on it.

Mine was blue Alps, so I can't comment on the Omron switches, but I'd still consider any 555 an extremely rare find.

[thefarside]

I had pre-omnikey Northgate branded 555 a while back. It featured a small square gold badge with the Northgate logo on it.

Mine was blue Alps, so I can't comment on the Omron switches, but I'd still consider any 555 an extremely rare find.

I agree and considered making a go for it. If it has blue Alps it’ll be great but if it has Omron‘s that break and cannot be fixed it might just be an expensive ornament. I guess that’s the gamble of vintage keyboard collecting!

[hellothere]

I'm really disappointed that I couldn't hit the button fast enough to win this. QTRONIX KT-30M Trackball "sky blue" Cherry MX. $22.26. I don't particularly care for Cherry MX, but this one might have been fun. Hey, I could have swapped out the switches with Kailh Thick Clicks, which I do like.

[hellothere]

The last few <blue Alps keyboards> I've seen sell went over 300. Prices are getting nuts.

This Leading Edge DC-3014 is at $520 US with more than a day to go.

Historical record:
Least expensive complete (i.e. not missing parts) USED blue Alps KB SOLD on ebay US: $180.
Leading Edge DC-2014. Needs cleaning.
Most expensive complete (i.e. not missing parts) USED blue Alps KB SOLD on ebay US: $320. Northgate Omni Key "Gold Label." Also needs cleaning.
Most expensive, no qualifications, blue Alps KB SOLD on ebay US: $549.
NOS Ortek OEMMAX MCK-860.

[TNT]

Omnikey Ultra 101 and 102 style:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Northgat-Omnik ... 0010.m2109

https://www.ebay.com/itm/254910230963?_ ... m570.l5997

Zenith ZKB-2 with green Alps:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Zenith ... 101224.m-1