What's your piece of keyboard unobanium?

retrofitit

09 Jul 2021, 18:56

The two on my list:

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

IBM Model M industrial SSK

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JP!

09 Jul 2021, 19:14

retrofitit wrote:
09 Jul 2021, 18:56
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 :x ). 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.

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Polecat

10 Jul 2021, 21:38

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.
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Gray K104
Gray K104
IMG_8213.JPG (1.49 MiB) Viewed 21548 times

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purdobol

11 Jul 2021, 10:28

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 :lol:

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 ;)

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Scarpia

13 Jul 2021, 17:24

purdobol wrote:
11 Jul 2021, 10:28
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.

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purdobol

13 Jul 2021, 18:42

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.

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timw4mail

22 Sep 2021, 17:03

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.

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Muirium
µ

22 Sep 2021, 19:40

Considered an F122?

Image

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.

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timw4mail

22 Sep 2021, 23:33

Muirium wrote:
22 Sep 2021, 19:40
Considered an F122?

Image

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.

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digital_matthew

22 Sep 2021, 23:42

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.

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raoulduke-esq

23 Sep 2021, 01:21

Muirium wrote:
22 Sep 2021, 19:40
Considered an F122?
That's a great piece of unobtanium!

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zrrion

23 Sep 2021, 20:52

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

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Palatino

23 Sep 2021, 21:51

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.

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raoulduke-esq

24 Sep 2021, 01:56

Palatino wrote:
23 Sep 2021, 21:51
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

20 Oct 2021, 14:06

I want Sangdrax' Sanders (Harris) 8170 keyboard:

Image

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

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Lalaland124

16 Nov 2021, 11:18

Found my endgame

Spoiler:
102669915.01.01.lg.jpeg
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440px-Interfaccia_di_acquisizione_dati_di_IBM_sistema_3_-_Museo_scienza_tecnologia_Milano_D0832.jpg
440px-Interfaccia_di_acquisizione_dati_di_IBM_sistema_3_-_Museo_scienza_tecnologia_Milano_D0832.jpg (23.25 KiB) Viewed 20407 times
IBM system 3

John Doe

16 Nov 2021, 12:11

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

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Muirium
µ

17 Nov 2021, 18:58

John Doe wrote:
16 Nov 2021, 12:11
that's like "one more thing" from Steve Jobs.
What people forget, now that he’s a god: sometimes they weren’t so hot.

Image

headphone_jack

20 Nov 2021, 00:13

The things I would do for an Unsaver and numpad.

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JP!

20 Nov 2021, 00:26

headphone_jack wrote:
20 Nov 2021, 00:13
The things I would do for an Unsaver and numpad.
So an F122? ;)

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JP!

20 Nov 2021, 00:33

Lalaland124 wrote:
16 Nov 2021, 11:18
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 :o

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Lalaland124

20 Nov 2021, 09:44

JP! wrote:
20 Nov 2021, 00:33
Lalaland124 wrote:
16 Nov 2021, 11:18
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 :o

Yeah this thing is wild. If you want a 60% beamer here's your chance
Spoiler:
Keypunch.jpg
Keypunch.jpg (48.51 KiB) Viewed 20137 times
Locher 5496.jpg
Locher 5496.jpg (328.73 KiB) Viewed 20137 times

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Weezer

20 Nov 2021, 13:41

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.

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Yasu0

16 Dec 2021, 02:19

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

27 Dec 2021, 07:19

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.

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Muirium
µ

27 Dec 2021, 11:07

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

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Bjerrk

27 Dec 2021, 12:34

Muirium wrote:
27 Dec 2021, 11:07
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. :evil: The seller assured me it would arrive faster...

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Muirium
µ

27 Dec 2021, 15:08

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

Twisted…
Spoiler:
Image
Or twisted?
Spoiler:
Image

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digital_matthew

28 May 2022, 14:07

So I finally found my piece of unobtanium, but it turns out that it was unobtanium:
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3279.JPG
3279.JPG (173.98 KiB) Viewed 13530 times

invalid mr_a500

08 Jul 2022, 04:33

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.

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