What's your piece of keyboard unobanium?

[retrofitit]

The two on my list:

IBM Model M 1397000 (they seem to have all vanished)

IBM Model M industrial SSK

[JP!]

The two on my list:

IBM Model M 1397000 (they seem to have all vanished)

IBM Model M industrial SSK

You have good taste. I'm still looking for the industrial SSK (One got away while I was trying to get a better deal ). I will never see another like it as it had a special Chrysler overlay and I can't find a picture of it. As far as the 1397000 I was looking a long time for one since it was one I found when I first started collecting but the deal well through. It haunted me for a while plus I was a sucker for the blue legends. A few popped up on eBay but they weren't in that nice of condition. Finally I bought one from a member here on DT.

[Polecat]

I just found this thread. My unobtanium was a dark gray Monterey K104, but thanks to a generous member there's now one on my desk. I had one of these about thirty years ago, but the caps were badly and unevenly yellowed, with the legends wearing off. This one has double shot caps, and is in almost new condition. Don't give up! It took me thirty years to find this, but it was worth the wait and I'm typing on it now.

[purdobol]

Considering vintage prices nowadays, every board with somewhat interesting switch is unobtanium.
Lets just say I'm glad I was able to start early enough to be able to try out as many switches as I did

The four in particular I probably never stop looking for are:
1. Alps SKFF board. Rare as hell but ironically most likely to pop up with price tag good enough that I can justify purchase just to test the switch.
2. Alps plate spring board. Just to compare it with other plate spring designs.
3. Capacitive buckling spring board. F122 would be ideal. Had model F XT and sold it. The only board I regret selling at some point.
4. Beam spring. Yeah not gonna happen

[Scarpia]

The four in particular I probably never stop looking for are:
1. Alps SKFF board. Rare as hell but ironically most likely to pop up with price tag good enough that I can justify purchase just to test the switch.

Like this one?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1980s- ... 4098635090

It’s reasonably priced if you ask me - for unobtanium it’s kind of a steal, really.

[purdobol]

Yep like this one.
156$ shipping though

Locally I've found Canon AP 800 with SMKs. So there's hope one with Alps will pop up eventually.

[timw4mail]

Beam spring or Capacitive Buckling Spring in a full 101 or 104key ANSI layout.

I really like my F77 New Model F, but dedicated keys for ~ and Function keys are more important to me than just the size of the board on the desk.

[Muirium]

Considered an F122?



I don't like them myself—way too many keys for my taste—but they're quality boards. Dunno if they came in ANSI, but.

[timw4mail]

Considered an F122?



I don't like them myself—way too many keys for my taste—but they're quality boards. Dunno if they came in ANSI, but.

Not really enough advantage over using my F AT with my Qtronix Scorpius in terms of layout. It is unobtanium, after all.

[digital_matthew]

They don't come in ANSI, but they can be ANSI modded. As a frequent user of an F122 and ANSI fan I can say that getting used to ISO isn't so bad considering the advantages. I turned the Brackets key on mine into an Enter key to create a pseudo Bigass Enter. Works for me.

[raoulduke-esq]

Considered an F122?

That's a great piece of unobtanium!

[zrrion]

Are F122s really that rare? I feel like if you're patient they'll come up every so often. Not like actual unobtanium boards like an F77 or unsaver numpad which never show up for sale

[Palatino]

True. I’ve wanted one of these for a while and seen several come up on eBay, but have always let them pass. Uncheaplyobtanium, perhaps.

[raoulduke-esq]

Uncheaplyobtanium, perhaps.

Exactly this. They have already gone up $200 this year (from $300 unrestored and dirty to $500 unrestored and broken).

[invalid mr_a500]

I want Sangdrax' Sanders (Harris) 8170 keyboard:



I missed out twice getting a yellowed one on eBay. I want the one Sangdrax has though because it's already converted.

[Lalaland124]

Found my endgame

Spoiler:

102669915.01.01.lg.jpeg (136.92 KiB) Viewed 24372 times

440px-Interfaccia_di_acquisizione_dati_di_IBM_sistema_3_-_Museo_scienza_tecnologia_Milano_D0832.jpg (23.25 KiB) Viewed 24372 times

IBM system 3

[John Doe]

that's like "one more thing" from Steve Jobs.

[Muirium]

that's like "one more thing" from Steve Jobs.

What people forget, now that he’s a god: sometimes they weren’t so hot.

[headphone_jack]

The things I would do for an Unsaver and numpad.

[JP!]

The things I would do for an Unsaver and numpad.

So an F122?

[JP!]

Found my endgame

Spoiler:

102669915.01.01.lg.jpeg440px-Interfaccia_di_acquisizione_dati_di_IBM_sistema_3_-_Museo_scienza_tecnologia_Milano_D0832.jpg

IBM system 3

I've never seen this one before

[Lalaland124]

Found my endgame

Spoiler:

102669915.01.01.lg.jpeg440px-Interfaccia_di_acquisizione_dati_di_IBM_sistema_3_-_Museo_scienza_tecnologia_Milano_D0832.jpg

IBM system 3

I've never seen this one before

Yeah this thing is wild. If you want a 60% beamer here's your chance

Spoiler:

Keypunch.jpg (48.51 KiB) Viewed 24102 times

Locher 5496.jpg (328.73 KiB) Viewed 24102 times

[Weezer]

I'm about 95% sure that this system/3 console doesn't use beamspring switches. I will have to double check but when I was doing my research the 5496, was part of the initial s/3 offerings announced in 1969. This was about two years before the beamspring switch was patented. It is most likely similar to the 029 keypunch console that has blue and gray switches. The 029 had a modified Selectric mechanism.

[Yasu0]

I'd like a mopar tkl. But at the rates they go for I'll rattle can a mini-m or 101. Prices have gotten way too stupid for even this really stupid guy.

[infundibulum]

I would really like to find a Model M for a few bucks at a rummage sale . . . I know a Model M isn't a rare board, but all my hobby money has been directed towards purchasing an F77 from Ellipse and I just can't justify spending Ebay prices on a Model M - but it sure would be fun to compare both the F and M side-by-side. Someday.

As for something that doesn't exist - a reproduction of the Zenith Z-150 in a solid cast zinc case.

[Muirium]

Aye. Glad I didn’t enter the hobby with one big all-in gamble followed by a long, long wait. Whatever the result, it would have soured me.

Model Ms are okay but nothing to dream about. Upgrade that idle ambition to an F122 already. Sometimes those even still happen!

viewtopic.php?p=496800#p496800

[Bjerrk]

Aye. Glad I didn’t enter the hobby with one big all-in gamble followed by a long, long wait. Whatever the result, it would have soured me.

You can't believe my bitterness after waiting for that vintage clicky IBM Olivetti mechanical HP SK-2880 for years. The seller assured me it would arrive faster...

[Muirium]

I feel ya. There’s a range of ways bitterness can go, mind.

Twisted…

Spoiler:

Or twisted?

Spoiler:

[digital_matthew]

So I finally found my piece of unobtanium, but it turns out that it was unobtanium:

[invalid mr_a500]

Holy shit! That must be a new beam spring record.

I remember when I missed out on one of these because it went for an insane $390 when I only wanted to pay $250 max. Oh how times change.