Help Identifying for a newbie?
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- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Zenith ZKB-2
- Main mouse: MX518
- Favorite switch: alps yellow/green
- DT Pro Member: -
Could someone confirm my assumptions here? I'm new to this, but I've spent a few weeks creeping around the forums just learning stuff. I've come across a lot of older tech equipment, and I've found quite a few of the following, I just want to confirm what I've researched:
I believe this is a IBM 5251 "beam spring" :
And this was connected to an IBM 5291 (The BigFoot?) ( actually have about 10 intact 5291 machines)
Am I correct in my research? Thanks in advance.
I believe this is a IBM 5251 "beam spring" :
And this was connected to an IBM 5291 (The BigFoot?) ( actually have about 10 intact 5291 machines)
Am I correct in my research? Thanks in advance.
- elecplus
- Location: Kerrville, TX, USA
- DT Pro Member: 0082
- Contact:
Sounds like shark time to me!
- scottc
- ☃
- Location: Remote locations in Europe
- Main keyboard: GH60-HASRO 62g Nixies, HHKB Pro1 HS, Novatouch
- Main mouse: Steelseries Rival 300
- Favorite switch: Nixdorf 'Soft Touch' MX Black
- DT Pro Member: -
Yes indeed, the first is a beam spring and the second is a Model F "Bigfoot". Nice finds! They're both great keyboards, with the beam springs being more sought-after than the Fs.
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- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Zenith ZKB-2
- Main mouse: MX518
- Favorite switch: alps yellow/green
- DT Pro Member: -
Thanks Scottc. I came across a few of each, and a couple ZKB-2's. Going to keep one of each to mess with.
I guess my next question is what they're worth? I have more of them than I can use/mod. I just came across these today so I haven't had much time to go through them, but I don't believe any are missing any keys or anything.
I guess my next question is what they're worth? I have more of them than I can use/mod. I just came across these today so I haven't had much time to go through them, but I don't believe any are missing any keys or anything.
- scottc
- ☃
- Location: Remote locations in Europe
- Main keyboard: GH60-HASRO 62g Nixies, HHKB Pro1 HS, Novatouch
- Main mouse: Steelseries Rival 300
- Favorite switch: Nixdorf 'Soft Touch' MX Black
- DT Pro Member: -
I think a few hundred dollars is a big exaggeration. Probably $150 ish for the beam spring, maybe $40-50 for the Bigfoots. The ZKB-2s depend on whether they use green or yellow Alps switches. I may be interested in a green Alps ZKB-2 as long as you're not planning on selling them at a very high price!
- elecplus
- Location: Kerrville, TX, USA
- DT Pro Member: 0082
- Contact:
I was told I should have sold mine for $200 or more, even though I had about 20 of them. I did not ask that much, but these are much harder to find now. It is up to you, where ever you feel comfortable selling.
- emdude
- Model M Apologist
- DT Pro Member: 0160
Ah my bad, I was just going by from what I saw from previously sold eBay listings. Those were for different beam springs though, perhaps they are more rare then. Then again, eBay prices too..scottc wrote: ↑I think a few hundred dollars is a big exaggeration. Probably $150 ish for the beam spring, maybe $40-50 for the Bigfoots. The ZKB-2s depend on whether they use green or yellow Alps switches. I may be interested in a green Alps ZKB-2 as long as you're not planning on selling them at a very high price!
- scottc
- ☃
- Location: Remote locations in Europe
- Main keyboard: GH60-HASRO 62g Nixies, HHKB Pro1 HS, Novatouch
- Main mouse: Steelseries Rival 300
- Favorite switch: Nixdorf 'Soft Touch' MX Black
- DT Pro Member: -
People on eBay are ridiculous. For example, blue Alps boards are selling for $600. That is absolutely ludicrous price gouging. Nobody within their right mind could say that that is a reasonable price with a straight face. People list things like beam springs at ridiculously high prices and idiots sometimes buy them that high. I agree that $200 is an okay price for a beam spring, but it's still a big amount for a keyboard that you need to spend $50+shipping for a converter for just to find out that some key modules are already dead, in my opinion.
- seebart
- Offtopicthority Instigator
- Location: Germany
- Main keyboard: Rotation
- Main mouse: Steelseries Sensei
- Favorite switch: IBM capacitive buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0061
- Contact:
Absolutely right Scott, looking foreward to seeing more of your nice IBM keyboards Wantsome92! Keep some for yourself.
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- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Zenith ZKB-2
- Main mouse: MX518
- Favorite switch: alps yellow/green
- DT Pro Member: -
Oh I am seebart! I've got the itch now..but felt like I should ask what they're worth rather than just sit on the ones I'm not going to use. Thanks everyone!
- scottc
- ☃
- Location: Remote locations in Europe
- Main keyboard: GH60-HASRO 62g Nixies, HHKB Pro1 HS, Novatouch
- Main mouse: Steelseries Rival 300
- Favorite switch: Nixdorf 'Soft Touch' MX Black
- DT Pro Member: -
Welcome! There are plenty of guides about how to make converters for the Bigfoot and ZKB around. The beamspring is more complicated (like I said, a $50 converter) but perfectly doable and definitely worth it. Enjoy!
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- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Zenith ZKB-2
- Main mouse: MX518
- Favorite switch: alps yellow/green
- DT Pro Member: -
all of the ZKB-2s I found are Yellow Alps..1989 manufacturing date.scottc wrote: ↑I think a few hundred dollars is a big exaggeration. Probably $150 ish for the beam spring, maybe $40-50 for the Bigfoots. The ZKB-2s depend on whether they use green or yellow Alps switches. I may be interested in a green Alps ZKB-2 as long as you're not planning on selling them at a very high price!
- fohat
- Elder Messenger
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Main keyboard: Model F 122-key terminal
- Main mouse: Microsoft Optical Mouse
- Favorite switch: Model F Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0158
Ebay is the worldwide free market.scottc wrote: ↑
People on eBay are ridiculous.
Nobody within their right mind could say that that is a reasonable price
People list things like beam springs at ridiculously high prices and idiots sometimes buy them
If a buyer will pay $10, $100, or $1000 for something, then that is the "current going rate"
You are a player or a spectator.
If you are the buyer or the seller, then you need to figure out how to make a fair deal with each other.
If you are neither, then don't criticize other peoples' transactions based on your own emotions.
- Ratfink
- Location: North Carolina, USA
- Main keyboard: IBM Displaywriter
- Main mouse: CST L-Trac
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: -
Q-quite a few 5251 keyboards? On the off-chance that any is damaged beyond repair, I'd really like a couple switches to repair my Displaywriter. Otherwise, as long as you don't end up asking far over $200 I may be interested in a whole board.
- Redmaus
- Gotta start somewhere
- Location: Near Dallas, Texas
- Main keyboard: Unsaver | 3276 | Kingsaver
- Main mouse: Kensington Slimblade
- Favorite switch: Capacitative Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
I would like a ZKB-2, depending on the price. You could get a very nice sum for the beamsprings, I am guessing about 200$.
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- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Zenith ZKB-2
- Main mouse: MX518
- Favorite switch: alps yellow/green
- DT Pro Member: -
I'll have to double check in the morning, I believe there are 5 of the 5251's, and I lifted and flipped all of them and didn't see any damage. I'll have a look in the morning.Ratfink wrote: ↑Q-quite a few 5251 keyboards? On the off-chance that any is damaged beyond repair, I'd really like a couple switches to repair my Displaywriter. Otherwise, as long as you don't end up asking far over $200 I may be interested in a whole board.
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- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Zenith ZKB-2
- Main mouse: MX518
- Favorite switch: alps yellow/green
- DT Pro Member: -
As far as the ZKB-2's go, they're all Yellow Alps which I understand are less valuable. I've sold two on E-bay, and I just kinda picked the middle of the two old Ebay ad's I could find. One went for $90 and one went for $70. Am I gouging people? or am I getting gouged?
TLDR: What are yellow alp 1989 ZKB-2's worth?
TLDR: What are yellow alp 1989 ZKB-2's worth?
- Redmaus
- Gotta start somewhere
- Location: Near Dallas, Texas
- Main keyboard: Unsaver | 3276 | Kingsaver
- Main mouse: Kensington Slimblade
- Favorite switch: Capacitative Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Yellow alps worth probably around 30 or 40 dollars tbh. Green alps ones worth more around 90$. There are plenty of yellow alps to go around. It's green alps people want. I would be interested in some ZKB-2's even if they are yellow alps, because I like the layout.
- kbdfr
- The Tiproman
- Location: Berlin, Germany
- Main keyboard: Tipro MID-QM-128A + two Tipro matrix modules
- Main mouse: Contour Rollermouse Pro
- Favorite switch: Cherry black
- DT Pro Member: 0010
Welcome, and thumbs up for doing your homeworkWantsome92 wrote: ↑[…] I'm new to this, but I've spent a few weeks creeping around the forums just learning stuff. I've come across a lot of older tech equipment, and I've found quite a few of the following, I just want to confirm what I've researched […]
- keycap
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: often switching
- Favorite switch: SKCL green, SKCM salmon, monterey blue
- DT Pro Member: -
I must be way too used to worn-down Dell AT101Ws being sold for that price, with the only other keyboards being Chicony rubberdomes of which are called "clicky mechanical" by sellers.Redmaus wrote: ↑Yellow alps worth probably around 30 or 40 dollars tbh. Green alps ones worth more around 90$. There are plenty of yellow alps to go around. It's green alps people want. I would be interested in some ZKB-2's even if they are yellow alps, because I like the layout.
For the record, I own a Chicony KB-2961 and it's not clicky... at all. Just really stiff domes that happen to be somewhat snappy. I really need to look around for better prices...
- Chyros
- Location: The Netherlands
- Main keyboard: whatever I'm reviewing next :p
- Main mouse: a cheap Logitech
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCM Blue
- DT Pro Member: -
Greens are great switches, but there's no reason why they should cost twice as much as yellows. The quality of the linear action is due to the general Alps design, not just because they're greens.
- tentator
- Location: ZH, CH
- Main keyboard: MX blue tentboard
- Main mouse: Pointing Stick
- Favorite switch: Cherry MX Blue and Model F BS
- DT Pro Member: -
I've never tried beamsprings but would most probably like it.. what really attracts me is those so beautiful spherical caps! Maybe not everyone likes untextured shiny glossy stuff under fingers..
The bad luck is that being in Europe those are difficult to find there and require big importing and shipping not to speak price itself just for something I've never tried..
The bad luck is that being in Europe those are difficult to find there and require big importing and shipping not to speak price itself just for something I've never tried..
- Scottex
- Location: Spain, Madrid
- Main keyboard: Realforce 55g TKL
- Main mouse: Logitech G500
- Favorite switch: IBM Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: -
yeah, living in europe isn't specially great in this hobbytentator wrote: ↑I've never tried beamsprings but would most probably like it.. what really attracts me is those so beautiful spherical caps! Maybe not everyone likes untextured shiny glossy stuff under fingers..
The bad luck is that being in Europe those are difficult to find there and require big importing and shipping not to speak price itself just for something I've never tried..
- ramnes
- ПБТ НАВСЕГДА
- Location: France
- Main keyboard: 35g BKE FC660C
- Main mouse: SteelSeries Kana v2
- Favorite switch: Beamspring
- DT Pro Member: -
You really like inflating the keyboard market, don't you?ohaimark wrote: ↑$150 is a lowball based on what's been flying about on eBay. That might be a sane member to member (with love) price at DT though.
- lot_lizard
- Location: Minnesota
- Main keyboard: Indy SSK Model MF
- Main mouse: Logitech Anywhere MX
- Favorite switch: Beamspring
- DT Pro Member: -
I picked up one of Wantsome92's 5251 boards off of eBay. This is in really nice shape with expected outer grime. I have several beamsprings, and this has been the cleanest on the inside to date for a black debris shield (it looks 5 years old vs 85 like most). I am currently taking apart and cleaning, and am about half way through the arduous task of yanking keys for their bath. So far, the shield is staying 100% in tact. I attached a pic of how the top housing (resin.. not metal) cleaned up. I have a couple spare controllers and solenoid drivers laying around, and should have it breathing within a week (have to travel for work the next few days). I will take better pics later, but if he listed another, I would be more interested knowing what I know now. Just an fyi...
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- lot_lizard
- Location: Minnesota
- Main keyboard: Indy SSK Model MF
- Main mouse: Logitech Anywhere MX
- Favorite switch: Beamspring
- DT Pro Member: -
Also... I'm planning on having the keyboard template insert printed using some old poster board stock. I will print several once I get it dialed in. If anyone else is interested in a template card, PM me.