Great/Interesting Finds

[dcopellino]

One of the rarer beamsprings:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ibm-beam-spring/402459322295

It surely comes from a collector as one can easily see from the listing third picture. But what a shame it's non converted. Never plugged into any PCs. I see that's not so easy using a beamspring as daily driver for the known issues layout related, but what a pity limit yourself to just watching and taking dust off, unless you keep it into a hidden box. Is it only greed for possession, ending in itself? Who knows?

[ekeppel]

Yes, if you do a reverse Google search on the first photo in the listing, it takes you to a site with many more photos and a nice write-up. (Use chrome to translate it)

[Redmaus]

One of the rarer beamsprings:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ibm-beam-spring/402459322295

Same seller as the other beamspring currently listed and once again we have $400 shipping

[depletedvespene]

… and once again we have $400 shipping

That better include a MOUNTAIN of bubble wrap (and perhaps even a complimentary Model M keyboard).

[Redmaus]

Well, it sold. Did anyone here get it?

[inmbolmie]

Complete IBM Displaywriter with its BeamSpring keyboard, UK local collection only. Accepts offers just now...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-comp ... 4171616228

[orihalcon]

Guuuuys... check out this IBM numpad.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/274496258628?ul_noapp=true

I don't think I had ever seen one like this before.

And I can't imagine how high the price is going to end up being.

Went for almost 2100 bucks. I was expecting it to go high as the only one sold in recent memory, but not over 2 grand

Do we actually know that this is a Model F and not a Model M? I know it was used with the Unsaver which was a Model F, but without internal pics, do we really know?

[ddrfraser1]

Check out this bitchin thing. That's a pretty sexy prebuilt right there! Wiki article is ambiguous and incomplete. Would be interested to hear more about the switches and caps.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Olivetti-M15-n ... 0005.m1851

Seller sent along some pictures. I can't tell if this is some kind of rd with slider or something else.

1.PNG (3.06 MiB) Viewed 5506 times

2.PNG (2.9 MiB) Viewed 5506 times

[Anakey]

wiki/Futaba_MA_series

[MMcM]

Some of what Chyrosran in a recent review calls Micro Switch microswitch switches:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/224171925218

He believes them to be the tallest keyboard switches around.

[Yasu0]

I guessed at "former military use" and I was right.

4" L x 2.3" H x 4" wide. Trackball is 3.328" diameter. That's pretty big.

Like a missile command ball, except real missiles.

[hellothere]

Some of what Chyrosran in a recent review calls Micro Switch microswitch switches:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/224171925218

He believes them to be the tallest keyboard switches around.

IIRC, he did say that he needed at least one switch.

The seller has about 90 total available, so a TKL project board, perhaps? Key caps might be hard to get.

[zzxx53]

IBM P70, bidding at $200
https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/104287704

[arkanoid]

Avant Prime with box, looks good, buy it now $75 OBO
https://www.ebay.com/itm/284023445976

[ekeppel]

$100 shipping, though.

[arkanoid]

$100 shipping, though.

Oops, I didn't notice that

[zzxx53]

Fujitsu leaf spring?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Fujits ... 3116086938?

[zrrion]

Looks like it

[Findecanor]

Fujitsu leaf spring?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Fujits ... 3116086938?

I think it looks more like Fujitsu Peerless type 1.

[zzxx53]

Fujitsu leaf spring?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Fujits ... 3116086938?

I think it looks more like Fujitsu Peerless type 1.

You're probably right. On closer examination it's missing the round hole in the middle.

[Jan Pospisil]

$100 shipping, though.

230 to Europe. O_O

(oh, it's UPS. No wonder. Yeah, guess that's what happens when USPS gets butchered.)

[Theallknowingsause]

I just got an IBM PS/2, (no disk or hard drives) with the monitor and the keyboard (It's a 1988 IBM model M, with out the cable) and a gateway 2000 MS DOS computer with the keyboard, mouse, some random older mouse for free!

It's been all sitting in a barn for over 20 years and this super cool person on facebook saw that I was looking for computer junk and gave it to me. It all even happened the day after my birthday, that makes it the best birthday present I've ever gotten lol

[depletedvespene]

Congrats!

[tigpha]

Complete IBM Displaywriter with its BeamSpring keyboard, UK local collection only. Accepts offers just now...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-comp ... 4171616228

The beam-spring keyboard that didn't even get any bids?!

Perhaps the impending, seemingly random, local lock-downs and "collection only" have made buyers reconsider? Guildford is a long distance for me to travel, to be denied and turned back empty handed.

I noticed antiques of different categories also failed to attract bids -- if a buyer has a van, and willing to make the effort, some beautiful artefacts are going apparently for a song.

[mhinsch]

Complete IBM Displaywriter with its BeamSpring keyboard, UK local collection only. Accepts offers just now...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-comp ... 4171616228

The beam-spring keyboard that didn't even get any bids?!

Perhaps the impending, seemingly random, local lock-downs and "collection only" have made buyers reconsider? Guildford is a long distance for me to travel, to be denied and turned back empty handed.

I noticed antiques of different categories also failed to attract bids -- if a buyer has a van, and willing to make the effort, some beautiful artefacts are going apparently for a song.

I did in fact bid on it, but the bid was rejected a day later and the auction cancelled. I assume someone messaged the seller with a high off-ebay offer...

[Yasu0]

There are a couple of TKL IBM M's up on the bay. Priced high though...250 and 300. The "space saver" design.

[tigpha]

I did in fact bid on it, but the bid was rejected a day later and the auction cancelled. I assume someone messaged the seller with a high off-ebay offer...

We likely will never know what happened. Pity. The Displaywriter looked complete, and I have no spare energy to do it justice. I fear that the keyboard will be severed from the rest that ends up dumped, and the keyboard sold at higher profit to a wealthy hoarder.

[xxhellfirexx]

Tandy 3000 keyboard

https://www.ebay.com/itm/383747419028

[Rayndalf]

There is an orbit "mouse" for $175 shipped on the bay.. very cool vintage pointing device.

Skill level required and dollar level required to get it going both too high for me.

272688588455

I guessed at "former military use" and I was right.

4" L x 2.3" H x 4" wide. Trackball is 3.328" diameter. That's pretty big.

There seem to be slightly smaller(?) ones that go for much less.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Measur ... 2500505546

[Yasu0]

That for sure is within my price range.. nice vintage look too. I wonder if that is 8917 is 1989 17th week. I may go for one even though I have no idea how to get it working on the standard internals. Its cheap enough.. the seller has five available.

There are a couple more "space saver" ibm keyboards up on ebay. Rubber dome for over 100 usd!! Sold prices corroborate these space saver auction asking prices too.. Unicomp needs to get on this. Their retail wouldn't need to be inline with their wider boards imo. How much more the they could charge before the market loses its taste for them I do not know. I'm guessing quite a bit more than $110 usd.