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IBM Keyboard Collection

Posted: 29 Dec 2013, 15:41
by 127001
So I have this over on GH but I thought it was time to make an account over here as well. What follows are some photos (crappy ones) of my IBM Keyboard collection:

Left display case:
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Top-down:
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Right display case:
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Top-down:
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I need to get another display case as I have a bunch of other boards that I can't display right now. I plan is to eventually have a fact sheet accompanying all of these and have it be a little personal museum. All of that is a few years off though...

Posted: 29 Dec 2013, 15:46
by cookie
I like the way how you stored your keyboards, the lighting and the collection itself. But I think that the shelfs consume to much space.

Anyway, welcome on DT and nice collection :)

Posted: 29 Dec 2013, 15:48
by Muirium
I have a similar thing going on with my IBMs, but with glass shelves instead which helps make things look lighter. Nice Kishsaver and SSK! I have you matched there, but I've no beam springs yet…

Posted: 29 Dec 2013, 15:49
by mr_a500
I'll take... the two beam springs, the "Kishsaver" and the AT Model F. Have that packaged and sent to Canada tomorrow morning. :mrgreen:

Nice lighting. Your collection isn't complete though. You need an XT and 5155.

Posted: 29 Dec 2013, 15:56
by Muirium
The XT is the heart of my collection, because it was my first!

Posted: 29 Dec 2013, 15:59
by 127001
cookie wrote:I like the way how you stored your keyboards, the lighting and the collection itself. But I think that the shelfs consume to much space.

Anyway, welcome on DT and nice collection :)
Thanks :D. And I agree with you about the shelving, it's really only a temporary solution.
mr_a500 wrote:I'll take... the two beam springs, the "Kishsaver" and the AT Model F. Have that packaged and sent to Canada tomorrow morning. :mrgreen:

Nice lighting. Your collection isn't complete though. You need an XT and 5155.
I don't have 5155 yet unfortunately. I do have an XT that's in my closet right now. I've refurbished it for the most part, just haven't had time to reassemble it yet (found the thing in a puddle in a warehouse :P).
Muirium wrote:I have a similar thing going on with my IBMs, but with glass shelves instead which helps make things look lighter. Nice Kishsaver and SSK! I have you matched there, but I've no beam springs yet…
That's kinda what I'm thinking of doing eventually with mine. I'd like to have a bunch of floating shelves down a hallway. I can't really do that in my current place though. I do like how the lighting works, still haven't figured out how I'll recreate that with floating shelves...

Posted: 29 Dec 2013, 16:06
by mr_a500
I like the wood shelves better than glass. With glass, you'll see reflections and fingerprints rather than that smooth wood look.

Posted: 29 Dec 2013, 16:07
by scottc
Hey, hold on a sec... with all these glorious keyboards sitting on shelves, what do you have connected to your computer? :D

Welcome to DT!

Posted: 29 Dec 2013, 16:14
by Muirium
Bet it's an HHKB…

Glass works well enough up here in Scotland where it's always dim light anyway. They help make the keyboards actually visible, because without a set of lights like that my IBMs would be lost in the shadows!

Posted: 29 Dec 2013, 16:17
by 127001
scottc wrote:Hey, hold on a sec... with all these glorious keyboards sitting on shelves, what do you have connected to your computer? :D

Welcome to DT!
For my personal desktop I switch between a 401 and a HHKB (for gaming). The 401 is used whenever I have to write a lot. The HHKB is usually at work as it's easy to just drop in my bag at the end of the day and it doesn't drive co-workers mad (also, I don't really care about it :P). If I ever have a huge document to write I sometimes use the M15 because it's just such a pleasure to use.

Posted: 29 Dec 2013, 16:20
by mr_a500
Muirium wrote:Glass works well enough up here in Scotland where it's always dim light anyway. They help make the keyboards actually visible, because without a set of lights like that my IBMs would be lost in the shadows!
I keep forgetting you're in Scotland. Just yesterday I was scanning Google Earth for places in Scotland to visit. I've got to go there someday - if only to track you down and steal your keyboards. I'm not afraid of the dim Scottish light. (..Canadians are tough that way)

Posted: 29 Dec 2013, 16:24
by Muirium
Kishsavers make excellent bludgeons, I'll warn you.

The annoying thing about Scotland (besides its low and brief winter light, as a photographer) is that this was once a proud keyboard making land (half my IBMs are from Greenock, of course) yet there's no sign of it at all these days. The only mechanicals I ever see are Tipros and Access POS boards, punched by chippy clerks. (Although fortunately not in Chippies, because you can imagine how they'd look.)

Posted: 29 Dec 2013, 16:27
by scottc
127001 wrote:
scottc wrote:Hey, hold on a sec... with all these glorious keyboards sitting on shelves, what do you have connected to your computer? :D

Welcome to DT!
For my personal desktop I switch between a 401 and a HHKB (for gaming). The 401 is used whenever I have to write a lot. The HHKB is usually at work as it's easy to just drop in my bag at the end of the day and it doesn't drive co-workers mad (also, I don't really care about it :P). If I ever have a huge document to write I sometimes use the M15 because it's just such a pleasure to use.
Nice, sounds good! :D I have to say, I'm pretty jealous - my IBM collection sits on my desk in front of my monitor and I just move all but the keyboard that I want to use on to my bed for the duration of my time at my desktop. It's not quite as sophisticated or pretty as yours!

Posted: 29 Dec 2013, 16:34
by mr_a500
Muirium wrote:Kishsavers make excellent bludgeons, I'll warn you.

The annoying thing about Scotland (besides its low and brief winter light, as a photographer) is that this was once a proud keyboard making land (half my IBMs are from Greenock, of course) yet there's no sign of it at all these days. The only mechanicals I ever see are Tipros and Access POS boards, punched by chippy clerks. (Although fortunately not in Chippies, because you can imagine how they'd look.)
Well Canada used to be a proud keyboard making land too (all those beam springs). Nothing is made here now. You can't even find a pair of socks made in Canada - or even the material used to make socks. You basically need your own sheep, shave that sheep, turn that wool into yarn, then find some old granny to knit you socks with that wool. I just go around barefoot now.

Posted: 30 Dec 2013, 05:06
by xwhatsit
Poor old 5251 needs some keystems straightened. Love the lighting.

Posted: 30 Dec 2013, 05:53
by 127001
Yeah, it needs a bunch of work really and I'd like to get it repainted. The rubber sheet has complete disentigrated also.

Posted: 06 Jan 2014, 22:49
by mj45
@127001 Wow I've seen some pretty nice IBM collections here on DT and some of the other forums but yours is Most Impressive. I really appreciate serious collectors like you sharing your passions, Thanks.

Posted: 24 May 2015, 01:55
by Redmaus
Just found this nice job


Everybody in this thread is probably dead by now though...