IBM 5954339 Part No. 6112884

[seebart]

This is a first for me, although this keyboard is nothing new. Several users here at DT and GH have bought this in the past. I say it's a first for me because I have never bought a vintage keyboard that was truly new for sure. This IBM Alps keyboard is new in box no doubt. Shipping and import tax cost me four times as much as the actual keyboard which was not expensive at EUR 21,82.

Looks like it survived the trip from Dayton Ohio well.

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Follow those instructions now!

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Hmm really new, or did I get scammed? The only thing I dislike is the missing IBM branding.

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I got the Japanese version, there is also a Chinese revision.

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I really like those clear tops.

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Alps SKCC Green switches and what I make out to be doubleshots. All you M0110 owners know this Alps switch is pretty nice in feel.

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There seems to be a adjustable beeper.

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[Engicoder]

Nice. I picked up one of these as well. It was worth for the experience of opening it alone. The smell is quite amazing. I wonder how many of these things the seller has and what the back story is.

[chzel]

Oh nice!..It's been in my WTB list for so long, but I cringe at the price/shipping cost ratio.
How much does the box weigh?
They are linear, right? How do they compare to the M0110's?

[seebart]

The seller must have a few, he's still got some.

http://www.ebay.de/sch/m.html?_odkw=&_s ... m&_sacat=0

Yeah chzel I know what you mean, but in the end I could not resist. At least shipping was quite fast. The box weighs 2,5 KG. I'll have to do a comparison to my M0110, I can't say yet but the feel is quite similar.

[XMIT]

These are nice indeed.

They are on eBay but best to go to the source:
http://meci.com/nib-ibm-chinese-letteri ... 13442.html
http://meci.com/nib-ibm-japanese-letter ... 12884.html

Buy direct. It's the same price to you, but it saves them eBay's 10% tithe.

dorkvader dubbed this The Pingmaster based on the sound it makes. I've heard that shelf liner inside the case can help with this. I have yet to try it myself.

[seebart]

As I was buying from this seller for the first time and he's abroad I reluctantly chose ebay in terms of buyer "protection" and documentation this time. In fact I would much rather buy right here like I have on several occasions. But aside from that which might have been a bit silly on my part considering the low value I agree with you XMIT. Why give ebay any more profit. I'm not certain about the ping yet. When I tried it out earlier today while shooting these pictues outdoors I did not hear any ping but I'll have to take another listen.

[XMIT]

In this particular case, we're talking about a seller who has dealt with DT folks before, who has shipped internationally, and as a whole is extremely reasonable. Not all are like this.

Anyway I'm glad you had a good transaction and are enjoying the keyboard. If I can make mine a little quieter maybe I'll start using it more often. If shelf liner doesn't work I might floss mod the springs inside the key switches, laborious as it might be.

[seebart]

So the ping is intense? Like on the NEC APC-H412? The NEC is the "pingiest" keyboard I own by far.

[XMIT]

Well, FWIW, I don't consider the NEC APC-H412 to be pingy, and do consider the IBM 6112884 to be so. I guess you'll see for yourself.

[seebart]

In that case it would have to be extreme. Or my NEC APC-H412 is louder than other APC-H412's for some reason. I'll test it tomorrow.

[terrycherry]

seebart, THAT IS SO SO SO EXPENSIVE!! It would cost me 1.5months salary...Which job make you that rich?
As XMIT proofed it, NIB just worth US24.95 .
I had seen that 95%new keyboard chinese layout cost US23.64 but I didn't buy it cause I brought the same switch from another cheaper rare layout keyboard.
Glad to see you shared the NIB pohots.

[seebart]

OK so you think $ 24.95 is expensive for this keyboard? Because that's what I paid. Now shipping cost more than double that. Plus tax. You know terrycherry we have fellow users here that spend + 250,00 Euros on one single keyboard (Topre)!?!

[terrycherry]

OK so you think $ 24.95 is expensive for this keyboard? Because that's what I paid. Now shipping cost more than double that. Plus tax. You know terrycherry we have fellow users here that spend + 250,00 Euros on one single keyboard (Topre)!?!

Sorry for that, I don't think $24.95 is expensive. I just want to save some space to buy that smaller keyboard with same switches simultaneous.
I knew someone is willing to buy the best favorite stuff with big money.
That's my feeling only. Tax and shipping are the huge cost.
Your keyboard is really good. Happy couldn't buy.

[Muirium]

Hmm… I considered one of these when 7bit was selling them. And seeing it all new and shiny like that, hmm. The layout is good and generous with mods, which I definitely like. But I'll put it off until I'm in America and sitting in the middle of an already enormous haul I need to bring back here! I might have just about changed my mind by then.

That cable looks like the one I took off my Kishsaver. And the overall styling of the case is similar too, even down to the variable volume on the beeper and the shape of the rubber feet. But with a connector as big as that, surely these don't just talk sensible old AT protocol, do they? How are you guys using them?

[seebart]

I just got mine today so I'm not using it at all yet. The case is solid, the build quality is similair to Model F. XMIT says these have a audible "ping" to them, for lack of experience with this keyboard I cannot judge. I'm not sure we have this in our wiki, I do not know what protocol it speaks. I do know from my M0110 I like Alps SKCC, and these green ones feel like the cream ones. Linear, smooth. Nice.

[XMIT]

TMK should work on this, as should Soarer's Controller IIRC.

[Engicoder]

Soarer already cracked that nut
http://deskthority.net/post114200.html#p114200

The config file is included with the other configs in his download.

[seebart]

Thanks guys, more pics here:

https://plus.google.com/photos/11384566 ... 1777829441

[fohat]

Soarer already cracked that nut

I do so miss Soarer. Besides his awesome products, he seemed like quite a decent guy.

[Chyros]

Awesome keyboard, very cool. There's nothing quite like getting an old keyboard in that good a condition ^^ .

[terrycherry]

Did it have LED or lock inside? I haven't got luck with this cream variant.

[seebart]

Did it have LED or lock inside? I haven't got luck with this cream variant.

I don't think it has any LED's but I'm not sure if it has an Alps SKCC lock switch. I'll have to check.

[Steveenn]

How difficult would it be to get this board working with a modern computer. I saw a youtube video about a converter from Hasu, but I don't know if I can just buy one from him.

[seebart]

How difficult would it be to get this board working with a modern computer. I saw a youtube video about a converter from Hasu, but I don't know if I can just buy one from him.

Soarer already cracked that nut
http://deskthority.net/post114200.html#p114200

The config file is included with the other configs in his download.

[XMIT]

I've got an 820 keyboard at home. I've set myself a reminder to get you some photos of it.

[faycheung]

Can you document how you'll get it working with modern systems? I'm interested in a Chinese one since it has Symbol Pinyin.

[seebart]

Can you document how you'll get it working with modern systems? I'm interested in a Chinese one since it has Symbol Pinyin.

http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/xt-a ... t2510.html

[faycheung]

Yeah I wasn't sure how to wire up the Teensy as Soarer only gave a simple pic that didn't show much. I went digging on GH and I've taken a look at his full explanation, thanks.

[Samir]

Ahh, you took the pictures as you opened it.

I bought one each of the Chinese and Japanese versions directly from the company website, bypassing ebay completely. The arrived via UPS with the original boxes packed inside other boxes. It was the same cool experience to open them.

I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with them. Maybe if I have time, adapt them for modern usage, or maybe just pass them on to someone else. I never even opened the bags on mine, just pressed the keys a little as I didn't have too much time to spend with them before boxing them back up.

[mr_a500]

Here's mine:

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I put TRS-80 Model III keycaps on it because I prefer black keys. I love it and it's one of my favourite linear keyboards, but the ping annoys me a bit. Also, the plastic smell is a bit weird. I still need to convert it. I've got a Teensy set aside for it.

I'm still amazed that people aren't buying these. I consider this to be the #1 NOS vintage keyboard to buy for value. ($35 Cortron/Licon hall effect keyboard is #2)