Great/Interesting Finds

Ray · 04 Jan 2016, 19:37

Ah I misunderstood. Thought for a moment there is an inflation of Model Fs, when you meant inflated prices tigpha.

Makes sense when the only Model F on german ebay I can find is this http://www.ebay.de/itm/291635188909

hypkx · 04 Jan 2016, 20:15

To be fair that is a bin price for a whole computer system, the last months several model f XTs where sold at auctions for around 40€ + shipping and a model f AT at 70€ + shipping (but also with computer system bundled).

Ray · 04 Jan 2016, 20:25

That's what I have observed as well. There's not that many of Fs on german ebay, but they still sell for okay prices (compared to Ms for about the same price with an abundance of them). That's probably where my misunderstanding came from, since I don't think those prices are inflated at all, but quite reasonable.

tigpha · 05 Jan 2016, 17:40

A counter-example to my rant. Perhaps shipping to Germany will be reasonably cheap, Ray? I would consider bidding, but I have an IBM 5150 PC-XT arriving imminently, and I already benefit from two very fine Bigfoots. A third would only assuage my kleptomania, and not increase my typing pleasure much.

IBM "Bigfoot" 5291 Mechanical Keyboard US layout

Muirium · 05 Jan 2016, 17:46

Prices minus shipping are misleading when it comes to heavy metal like BigsFoot and whole vintage computer systems. Sure, maybe in Deutschland you don't get conned, but I'm used to shipping costing more than the item. Especially on IBM Selectrics. Seen several listed for 30 quid or so in Britain but go unsold because of the horrendous shipping!

tigpha · 05 Jan 2016, 18:58

Hi µ, I agree that the shipping from abroad kills most deals in the egg for me too, and it's a shame.

I found that, for example, the Pitney Bowes partnership with eBay can actually cut shipping cost from the USA substantially. The price I paid for both Bigfoots was below the £36 threshold (approximately, I think) there was no custom duty either.

The current eBay offerings of IBM Model F 122 at around £100, and the 4704s offered at £150 up to beyond £230 will incur 30%-40% overcharge. Ouch. No deal.

ramnes · 06 Jan 2016, 00:13

I can get this BBC (type 3 I think), if someone is interested:

If you want it, just shoot me a PM with an offer and I'll tell the seller.

seebart · 06 Jan 2016, 00:16

What kind of switch does it have ramnes? I like the looks of it.

ramnes · 06 Jan 2016, 00:21

See http://deskthority.net/wiki/Acorn_BBC_Microcomputer

If it really is a Type 3, it should have those obscure PED switches: http://deskthority.net/wiki/PED_keyswitch

seebart · 06 Jan 2016, 00:25

ramnes wrote: ↑See http://deskthority.net/wiki/Acorn_BBC_Microcomputer

If it really is a Type 3, it should have those obscure PED switches: http://deskthority.net/wiki/PED_keyswitch

I could / should have looked that up myself.

Thanks. I'll think about it. What's the price? Any offer?

ramnes · 06 Jan 2016, 00:45

There's no price yet, that's just a picture a random French seller sent to me. Again, if you're interested just tell me an offer and I'll try to proxy.

Ray · 06 Jan 2016, 03:12

tigpha wrote: ↑A counter-example to my rant. Perhaps shipping to Germany will be reasonably cheap, Ray? I would consider bidding, but I have an IBM 5150 PC-XT arriving imminently, and I already benefit from two very fine Bigfoots. A third would only assuage my kleptomania, and not increase my typing pleasure much.

IBM "Bigfoot" 5291 Mechanical Keyboard US layout

Not bad really. Now I have to ask myself if I want to sink my time on that. I have a non-keyboard related (sewing) project waiting 2 metres behind my back right now. And some lighting after that.
But I guess converting the Bigfoot is not too time consuming. I have to think about that one (for not too long). Thanks for the link.

HzFaq · 06 Jan 2016, 10:08

Pretty cheap Fk-2001

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Focus-FK-2001-W ... 1693687167?

Ray · 06 Jan 2016, 14:51

It is mine now. Thanks tigpha.

shreebles · 06 Jan 2016, 15:09

Nice!
But does that mean you are seriously going to fork out 35$ for shipping a 30$ keyboard? And paying import taxes?

Blaise170 · 06 Jan 2016, 15:33

Wrong thread.

Chyros · 06 Jan 2016, 15:38

shreebles wrote: ↑Nice!
But does that mean you are seriously going to fork out 35$ for shipping a 30$ keyboard? And paying import taxes?

It looks like it's an older model though, so chance of really nice switches, and it looks like it's in very nice condition. Plus it has some cool caps. So I'd say it's a pretty good deal indeed!

seebart · 06 Jan 2016, 15:40

Right, FK-2001 itself are not rare, really nice older revisions are.

Engicoder · 06 Jan 2016, 16:35

I've had several FK-2001's pass through my hands and the ones with the 7 digit serial numbers always seem to have very nice white alps. Only examples I have seen with blue alps have no serial number. The serial number on this one is lower than most, however. Dare to dream

seebart · 06 Jan 2016, 16:49

Oddly enough my FK-2002 has a serial starting with 8. But possibly the ISO version is not so significant in switch variation.

: IMGP2146.JPG (966.75 KiB) Viewed 4939 times

http://deskthority.net/wiki/Focus_FK-2002

Chyros · 06 Jan 2016, 17:11

It's possible they started off the 2002 serial numbers at a higher number

.

Ray · 06 Jan 2016, 18:13

shreebles wrote: ↑Nice!
But does that mean you are seriously going to fork out 35$ for shipping a 30$ keyboard? And paying import taxes?

No, mine is the F Bigfoot. That's $30 shipping and VAT for a $50 keyboard.
Dunno who took the FK-2001. I think Chryos is right. That would've been a good deal as well. But I should have white Alps heading my way from a certain groupbuy, and my keyboard purse is empty for now

hypkx · 06 Jan 2016, 21:37

x100 usb-ps2 converter for 30€:
http://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anze ... 3-225-3032

Stabilized · 06 Jan 2016, 23:14

Can't you get that style of adapter on eBay for about £1.50 anyway?

hypkx · 06 Jan 2016, 23:16

Stabilized wrote: ↑Can't you get that style of adapter on eBay for about £1.50 anyway?

but there you can get a adapter for £0.2 (piece) if you buy all 100.

Stabilized · 06 Jan 2016, 23:18

oh durr, I was being dumb

thought it was x10 for some reason!

Hypersphere · 07 Jan 2016, 16:04

What is this thing?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/252236710817?_t ... 2202634593

seebart · 07 Jan 2016, 16:18

DanielT wrote: ↑
seebart wrote: ↑
JanitorJoe wrote: ↑Interesting looking Ukrainian keyboard.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Vintage-Computer ... SwJkJWiW1w
Old Soviet-era keyboard:

http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/old ... t=gerkonic
and not Ukrainian

It's the Soviet-era hall effect.

Hypersphere · 07 Jan 2016, 18:23

Texas Instruments keyboard with Green Alps and said to have "thick dye-sub" keycaps:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Green-Alps-Mech ... SwGotWjgz9

seebart · 07 Jan 2016, 18:38

Hypersphere wrote: ↑Texas Instruments keyboard with Green Alps and said to have "thick dye-sub" keycaps:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Green-Alps-Mech ... SwGotWjgz9

Uhh that's nice.