Great/Interesting Finds

[ekeppel]

This looks pretty neat, but I'm pretty sure it'll be gone before I decide if I want to buy it.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Keyboa ... 4677252972

There's a story there on why the CTRL key says CTRL KEY.

More than a story -- it's a 'legend'.

Interesting that in addition to the 'Ctrl Key' key, there is also a 'Ctrl State' key. *shrug*

[Muirium]

Command and Control State: Soviet bloc.

[Rayndalf]

Milspec USB keyboard

https://www.ebay.com/itm//294110603483

I imagine this has some kind of rubber barrier to make it sand-proof and some shielding to make it HEMP-proof, all of which probably means it's horrible to type on.

And here it is. So many screws! Domes are short and tactile, actually feel really good, but the water barrier needs to go.

Pretty sure it's USB internally with a milspec plug on the outside. Unless I can find a cheap compatible plug I'll run a seperate cable.

[John Doe]

Worth sharing?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124678562684

[Rayndalf]

Worth sharing?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124678562684

Very cool. I wonder if they're stackpole or something more exotic.
Either way that's quite a lot of them, probably a whole intranet worth.

[Jan Pospisil]

Didn't Burroughs use proto-Topre domes? I might be misremembering.

[John Doe]

I was thinking they're keytronic butterfly switches when I shared the link here, am I incorrect?

[4_404]

I was thinking they're keytronic butterfly switches when I shared the link here, am I incorrect?

Looks a lot like Hi-Tek to me

[MMcM]

Looks a lot like Hi-Tek to me

My bet is on grid as well. These are the same model as the single one discussed a bit above from the same seller.

The SR100 is the rebranded SRI/Century after Burroughs bought Systems Research Incorporated in '81.

Their ads are cringe-worthy even by the standards of that day.

[Rayndalf]

Looks a lot like Hi-Tek to me

My bet is on grid as well. These are the same model as the single one discussed a bit above from the same seller.

The SR100 is the rebranded SRI/Century after Burroughs bought Systems Research Incorporated in '81.

Their ads are cringe-worthy even by the standards of that day.

Yeah. The image doesn't really match the rest of the advert which focuses entirely on the specs of the computer and how you can't afford not to buy one (as one would expect from such ad).

I imagine the ad firm took a provocative image they already had on file to spice it up.

I mean... if the computer is the women who is priced cheaply enough that this miserly cretin would buy her...

Are they comparing their computers to a cheap prostitute?
Applying logic to it only makes it creepier.

[MMcM]

In the end, it's a cheap substitute for the wonderful TD730 / TD830 boards with Micro Switch SD switches and thick doubleshot caps that we see around here. The reason you couldn't just plug in a cheap ASCII terminal was Burrough's two-wire direct (TDI) rival to RS-232. I think SRI made tape-drives as well, which also had to work with some proprietary bus. So it's small wonder they got bought as customers asked Burroughs themselves to offer better price alternatives.

[fohat]

this miserly cretin would buy her...

Are they comparing their computers to a cheap prostitute?

The computer is the gift that the old geezer, who is the boss, should buy in order to make his secretary happy.

He clearly couldn't make her happy any other way ....

[xxhellfirexx]

Alps SKCM blue?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/274759263004?m ... olid=10001

[Redmaus]

Alps SKCM blue?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/274759263004?m ... olid=10001

I had a keyboard that looked exactly like this which had SKCM blues.

But could be pine whites if manufactured at a later date.

[motoko]

I think it's a rebadge DFK-777 - wiki says Alps Blue or Futaba wiki/Datacomp_DFK777

[motoko]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Grandt ... SwbdxgQiSf

Amazing marketing on the original box for this listing! I still can't figure out what it is, though. Mushy!

[JP!]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Grandt ... SwbdxgQiSf

Amazing marketing on the original box for this listing! I still can't figure out what it is, though. Mushy!

Burn it with fire

[Weezer]

I think the ad's pretty funny. "user friendly" "engineering to satisfy" "guaranteed to make you smile". The audience for the ad is the 1980's IT Admin who needs to have all his department's purchases approved by management. The butt of the joke is the old man (management), who doesn't want to pay for nice things. But NOW there is finally a nice thing that even the bean counters want to buy.

[jbtb077]

IBM F XT: https://www.ebay.com/itm/124681925129/
IBM Model M Silver Badge: https://www.ebay.com/itm/124681870309

[motoko]

Datadesk Mac101e Pine White Alps ADB board for $38 OBO
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mac-101e-Stand ... SweypgWSUF

[raoulduke-esq]

Datadesk Mac101e Pine White Alps ADB board for $38 OBO
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mac-101e-Stand ... SweypgWSUF

Any guesses as to what the appendage is in the photos?

[zrrion]

Looks like the chair's arm rest

[motoko]

Demon tentacle? I think someone bought it from here

[thefarside]

Demon tentacle? I think someone bought it from here

That’s me! I’m hoping it doesn’t come with a demon tentacle... I love my complicated white alps Focus FK-2001 and have wanted to try pine white to see if there’s a difference. I figured it’d go quick so I jumped on it. Anyone have experience with these boards? I’m hoping my M3501 ADB cable will work.

[motoko]

Here's another one for $45 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Mac-101e ... Swt4xfiKcu

Looks like a good choice if you can convert it. Wiki says it comes with the same caps set as Focus

[thefarside]

Here's another one for $45 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Mac-101e ... Swt4xfiKcu

Looks like a good choice if you can convert it. Wiki says it comes with the same caps set as Focus

That’s good to know about the key caps thanks. I’m hoping mine is clean and hopefully new. It was hard to tell from the pictures.

[motoko]

Opening and cleaning the case and keycaps is what I'd recommend in any case. Should be fine.

[thefarside]

Unknown terminal board. Whenever I found one they’re usually foam and foil. Any ideas?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mechan ... 4759951554

[hellothere]

Here's another one for $45 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Mac-101e ... Swt4xfiKcu

Looks like a good choice if you can convert it. Wiki says it comes with the same caps set as Focus

That’s good to know about the key caps thanks. I’m hoping mine is clean and hopefully new. It was hard to tell from the pictures.

F3 keycap is an obvious replacement. Not a bad price, though.

Comes with an ADB cable. You can build your own converter or buy a Drakware. If you want to use it with a Windows box, the Command key automagically becomes the Windows key.

[Lekrafter]

Unknown terminal board. Whenever I found one they’re usually foam and foil. Any ideas?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mechan ... 4759951554

Yup that's foam and foil for sure