Commodore PET chicklet keyboard goes for $150 plus?

snuci · 13 Feb 2016, 03:51

What the heck is going on with the price of keyboards? I have a Commodore PET 2001 with one key cap missing and a broken key stem on the chicklet keyboard and was going to re-bid at the last minute but it went for a pretty crazy price at this auction. You guys would cringe at this keyboard but it had a history of being a flop when it first came out. Commodore, who made calculators before they started making computers, used their inventory when making the first PETs and everyone hated them. Now their worth some money just by themselves?

Here's a pic:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/121886918063

ohaimark · 13 Feb 2016, 04:01

It could be any number of things, but I'd guess it's that vintage computers and keyboards finally hit their proper generational time for being valued.

The people who owned them/used them are hitting a nostalgic age and the younger generations, such as me, are driven to spend more by a rekindled interest in retrocomputing.

Blaise170 · 13 Feb 2016, 14:48

Unfortunately for us, keyboards are not only looked at by enthusiasts like us, but also vintage computing enthusiasts, Commodore enthusiasts (in this case), etc.

snuci · 13 Feb 2016, 15:04

I do agree these are rising in price but it makes parts like this difficult to source at a reasonable price. I guess it is the distinguishing factor of this model pet.

Blaise170 wrote: Unfortunately for us, keyboards are not only looked at by enthusiasts like us, but also vintage computing enthusiasts, Commodore enthusiasts (in this case), etc.

Ya, I'm one of "them" who needs just one key cap for this guy...

: Commodore PET 2001-8; PET 2001-8 41072- small.jpg (397.81 KiB) Viewed 4493 times

Muirium · 13 Feb 2016, 15:05

I see that reflection, looks like quite a vintage hardware bunker you've built there!

scottc · 13 Feb 2016, 15:06

Hey snuci, there are a load of commodore bits on a local bidding site. If you let me know what model numbers etc. are compatible I might be able to find you a scavengable keyboard.

snuci · 13 Feb 2016, 15:13

Muirium wrote: I see that reflection, looks like quite a vintage hardware bunker you've built there!

Ya, but you guys are supposed to notice the M0110 keyboard with the Alps SKCC key switches, aren't you?

scottc wrote: Hey snuci, there are a load of commodore bits on a local bidding site. If you let me know what model numbers etc. are compatible I might be able to find you a scavengable keyboard.

That would be great! These are the Commodore PET 2001-8 computers. I have the KIM-1 all the way to the Amiga 4000 (I am missing the 4000T) and even a couple of Commodore PCs so I'm always looking

Just noticed you are in Ireland. What I don't have is the B series because these are more prevalent in Europe. I'd love to find a B500 or a PET 8096SK. That line has eluded me so far.

Blaise170 · 13 Feb 2016, 15:25

snuci wrote:
Muirium wrote: I see that reflection, looks like quite a vintage hardware bunker you've built there!

Ya, but you guys are supposed to notice the M0110 keyboard with the Alps SKCC key switches, aren't you?

Ha I noticed the computing equipment but not the M0110. I actually have a M0110A but I found out that the PCB was cracked upon opening it up.

Muirium · 13 Feb 2016, 15:28

Scott's a bit of a traveler, with an eye on Polish stuff too.

An M0110? I assumed by how far left it is, that the board in front of the Mac Plus was one of those later ones with a numpad globbed on the side. I don't like 'em at all, changed very much for the worst!

scottc · 13 Feb 2016, 15:38

Yeah, I'm actually in Poland most of the time now but in the UK for work often. Never got around to modifying my profile...

I find that Allegro.pl always has some random bits of old computers. You can find the "Old computers" section here, which always has a couple of cool things: http://allegro.pl/pozostale-stare-komputery-77926

For example, not quite a PET 8096 but 8296: http://allegro.pl/commodore-pet-8296-10 ... 58852.html
I'm not a big commodore man so I'm not sure how similar or different that is to what you want! It's pretty expensive, though. About $500-600 USD to bid, or a bit more to buy-it-now.

Edit: ooh cool, a BBC Micro! http://allegro.pl/bbc-compact-nie-atari ... ml#thumb/1

snuci · 13 Feb 2016, 15:57

Muirium wrote: An M0110? I assumed by how far left it is, that the board in front of the Mac Plus was one of those later ones with a numpad globbed on the side. I don't like 'em at all, changed very much for the worst!

I stand corrected. The Mac Plus has the enhanced Apple keyboard with the numeric key pad and is the M0110A (I took that picture a few days ago). I do try to match up the proper keyboards with the equipment I have; hence my built-in keyboard collection

Muirium · 13 Feb 2016, 16:12

CorrectionThority!!!

snuci · 13 Feb 2016, 16:44

Muirium wrote: I see that reflection, looks like quite a vintage hardware bunker you've built there!

I hesitate to do this because it's messy so I made these pics small but here's what you see in front of me...

Spoiler:

And in the reflection...

Spoiler:

It's like a "Where's Waldo" for keyboards

seebart · 13 Feb 2016, 17:05

Ugh...WOW. It's the vintage chamber of goodness.

Impressive.

Blaise170 · 13 Feb 2016, 17:31

Wow, impressive. And don't mind the mess, I think many of us here are worse with our keyboards, and we don't even have giant CRTs to put away.

ohaimark · 13 Feb 2016, 18:56

His chamber of keyboards... Its power level... Over 9000! (Watts.)

Wasn't expecting a DBZ reference in this thread.

Blaise170 · 13 Feb 2016, 19:37

I just noticed the Leading Edge - does that thing have Blue Alps in it? That's where I managed to get mine from.

snuci · 13 Feb 2016, 20:06

I don't have a Leading Edge PC or keyboard. If you can tell me what you are referring to, I can check.

Blaise170 · 13 Feb 2016, 20:14

Oooh I thought the one below the Mac (down and to the right from the PET) was Leading Edge - that layout was probably pretty common though.

snuci · 13 Feb 2016, 20:18

Blaise170 wrote: Oooh I thought the one below the Mac (down and to the right from the PET) was Leading Edge - that layout was probably pretty common though.

That an IBM AT Model F sitting non top of an IBM 5155 Portable computer with no keyboard (because I have to rebuild it). I used the Model F to test it. Good choice though

berserkfan · 16 Feb 2016, 08:29

at the rate you guys are going, someone will put out an interest check for commodore keycaps on DSA profile very soon.

matt3o · 16 Feb 2016, 09:49

snuci wrote:
Muirium wrote: I see that reflection, looks like quite a vintage hardware bunker you've built there!
I hesitate to do this because it's messy so I made these pics small but here's what you see in front of me...

Spoiler:
room-left.jpg
And in the reflection...

Spoiler:
room-right.jpg
It's like a "Where's Waldo" for keyboards

would you adopt me?

snuci · 16 Feb 2016, 13:33

matt3o wrote: would you adopt me?

Hrmmm... I do have some rare equipment with keyboards that are missing the odd key cap.... but sadly, I don't have the space. You are probably assuming this is the only room I have equipment in

Edit: Just to clarify, when I mean "rare" I don't mean eBay "rare" I mean very few examples still exist or rarely go up for sale. There are a couple of examples in those pictures. Maybe one that you guys in Europe might consider rare is the Amiga 3000T sitting on the floor in one of the pics but even that is not that rare. The Helios II disk drive next to the Sol-20's is rare. There are less than 10 that I am aware of still in existence (including museum pictures) and mine works after I restored it where many of them don't.

XMIT · 16 Feb 2016, 18:45

Very nice.

CRTs are all but banned from the house since the whine they emit drives me nuts. I forgot just how much this bothered me until I brought a CRT terminal home last year. I can still hear the whine, it still drives me insane.