Stuff you just bought

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dcopellino

12 Nov 2020, 17:26


The one I had was in perfect physical condition, didn't look yellowed at all, It also did end up in the EU so this could be it
Hi Jesseg, I got the chicony that doesn't present any yellowing, even though it isn't flawless. I discovered with my great disappoinment that the "end" key doesn't properly register, as you can see on the attached pic. I'll attach the serial number also so that you can tell me if this kind really comes from the other part of the world!
My regards.
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User avatar
hellothere

12 Nov 2020, 17:42

@ dcopellino, I'd recommend that you desolder the End and Pause keys and flip them. I do use the pause key, but not often. You could also see if someone's willing to sell you a single switch and/or you could buy, say, an Alps orange switch and swap the switch plates.

The really bad thing would be is if you swap the End key with a known good switch and it still doesn't register.

Or, if you prefer a software approach, get a free copy of SharpKeys and map some other key to End.

User avatar
dcopellino

12 Nov 2020, 20:22

Thank you for the right tip if I only were able to use the soldering tool :mrgreen:
..... I know what you are thinking.... Wtf so are you doing on this board, if you aren't even good at using it :lol:

User avatar
inmbolmie

15 Nov 2020, 01:48

Just bought the in worst condition IBM Thinkpad 700c ever. The rubber finish is a sticky mess and for everything that can be possibly broken, it is. The keyboard seems to be in quite decent condition though. Obviously I paid next to nothing for it. I see it as an amusement project.

I was curious about its keyboard quality, as this is the first Thinkpad laptop ever (1992) but haven't seen here any mentions or reviews for this particular model. If it finally doesn't end in the trash bin and it is of any interest, I will try to make a "review".

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User avatar
hellothere

15 Nov 2020, 20:30

dcopellino wrote:
12 Nov 2020, 20:22
Thank you for the right tip if I only were able to use the soldering tool :mrgreen:
..... I know what you are thinking.... Wtf so are you doing on this board, if you aren't even good at using it :lol:
Hey, I only had limited soldering experience before coming here. I do recommend getting into it. Doing it is much easier than you think and there are lots of YouTube videos on the subject. Only real problem is that you do have to put down $80+ to get a decent soldering iron station and -- trust me on this -- a good solder sucker. (I also recommend flux pens, instead of wick or the cans.)

Jan Pospisil

16 Nov 2020, 12:19

Just got this interesting piece. The seller (imo incorrectly by mistake) listed it as a Chicony KB-6926, but it's clearly an ACER keyboard.
KB-084C to be precise, a model which I found mentioned only once on DT in 2017.
The seller said:
"Can’t find another one like it. It will have come from a Philips/IBM research facility where my father worked so may have been a model that was on special order."
(and said it was untested, but I just did try and it works.)
I remember that Chyros mentioned in his review the KB-101A was the oldest ACER keyboard. Could this one be older?
edit: Clearly it's a (budget? silent/tactile?) version of this one:
wiki/Acer_KB-084AS
It has some kind of Mitsumi hybrid switch, but I'm not sure which variant it is yet. (PCB or membrane) I'll be opening it later in the week.
Also notice the stem hole is octagonal, not square as on other Mitsumi hybrid switches. The caps are not great, some kind of printed ABS.

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User avatar
hellothere

16 Nov 2020, 22:50

Well, it's some kind of some with slider.

User avatar
hellothere

16 Nov 2020, 23:10

Jan Pospisil wrote:
16 Nov 2020, 12:19
Just got this interesting piece. The seller (imo incorrectly by mistake) listed it as a Chicony KB-6926, but it's clearly an ACER keyboard.
KB-084C to be precise, a model which I found mentioned only once on DT in 2017.
The seller said:
"Can’t find another one like it. It will have come from a Philips/IBM research facility where my father worked so may have been a model that was on special order."
(and said it was untested, but I just did try and it works.)
I remember that Chyros mentioned in his review the KB-101A was the oldest ACER keyboard. Could this one be older?
edit: Clearly it's a (budget? silent/tactile?) version of this one:
wiki/Acer_KB-084AS
It has some kind of Mitsumi hybrid switch, but I'm not sure which variant it is yet. (PCB or membrane) I'll be opening it later in the week.
Also notice the stem hole is octagonal, not square as on other Mitsumi hybrid switches. The caps are not great, some kind of printed ABS.
Possibly some variant of wiki/Acer_6510_series. The stem is octagonal, but the inner piece looks round.

Can you post a picture of a key removed from the keyboard? I'd like to see the shape of the stem.

Jan Pospisil

16 Nov 2020, 23:20

hellothere wrote:
16 Nov 2020, 23:10
Jan Pospisil wrote:
16 Nov 2020, 12:19
Just got this interesting piece. The seller (imo incorrectly by mistake) listed it as a Chicony KB-6926, but it's clearly an ACER keyboard.
KB-084C to be precise, a model which I found mentioned only once on DT in 2017.
The seller said:
"Can’t find another one like it. It will have come from a Philips/IBM research facility where my father worked so may have been a model that was on special order."
(and said it was untested, but I just did try and it works.)
I remember that Chyros mentioned in his review the KB-101A was the oldest ACER keyboard. Could this one be older?
edit: Clearly it's a (budget? silent/tactile?) version of this one:
wiki/Acer_KB-084AS
It has some kind of Mitsumi hybrid switch, but I'm not sure which variant it is yet. (PCB or membrane) I'll be opening it later in the week.
Also notice the stem hole is octagonal, not square as on other Mitsumi hybrid switches. The caps are not great, some kind of printed ABS.
Possibly some variant of wiki/Acer_6510_series. The stem is octagonal, but the inner piece looks round.

Can you post a picture of a key removed from the keyboard? I'd like to see the shape of the stem.
I'll take pictures when I take it apart. But I do think it's a Mitsumi hybrid of some kind. The round outer ring in the photo is a rubber buckling sleeve. The key stem is quite small.

User avatar
Reimu64

17 Nov 2020, 14:55

Two boards came in today...and from completely different worlds.
Bought the Model F because I had a Model M before that I really liked and people said the Model F was better feeling (the spacebar is heavy af though). The Cooler Master board has these "mem-chanical" switches that piqued my interest, but it wasn't that interesting otherwise.
Image

User avatar
hellothere

17 Nov 2020, 17:03

BTC-5100C. This is after I ultrasoniced the keycaps.
Spoiler:
IMG_1260 (2).JPG
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The front legends for the "numeric keyboard" and Num Lock key are light blue.

It's a mini keyboard. The switches are BTC dome with slider. I also bought it on the advice of others. It's surprisingly nice. It's tactile with a very small click. The keys are dye-sublimed ABS. I'm very fond of the font. I can even use the "numeric keypad" properly. Only disadvantage, after typing appx one hour on it, is that the up arrow/page up is directly to the right of the shift key. Fortunately, I generally use the left shift key.

I think I'll put a Teensy in this and convert it to USB. I assume that this was a "travel" laptop, but it has a big ol' 5 pin DIN.

kelvinhall05

17 Nov 2020, 17:09

hellothere wrote:
17 Nov 2020, 17:03
BTC-5100C. This is after I ultrasoniced the keycaps.
Spoiler:
IMG_1260 (2).JPG
The front legends for the "numeric keyboard" and Num Lock key are light blue.

It's a mini keyboard. The switches are BTC dome with slider. I also bought it on the advice of others. It's surprisingly nice. It's tactile with a very small click. The keys are dye-sublimed ABS. I'm very fond of the font. I can even use the "numeric keypad" properly. Only disadvantage, after typing appx one hour on it, is that the up arrow/page up is directly to the right of the shift key. Fortunately, I generally use the left shift key.

I think I'll put a Teensy in this and convert it to USB. I assume that this was a "travel" laptop, but it has a big ol' 5 pin DIN.
I doubt those are dyesubbed, as you can't dyesub ABS and reverse dyesub (everything but the legend gets dye) is very uncommon on vint boards.

User avatar
hellothere

17 Nov 2020, 17:13

kelvinhall05 wrote:
17 Nov 2020, 17:09
hellothere wrote:
17 Nov 2020, 17:03
BTC-5100C. This is after I ultrasoniced the keycaps.
Spoiler:
IMG_1260 (2).JPG
The front legends for the "numeric keyboard" and Num Lock key are light blue.

It's a mini keyboard. The switches are BTC dome with slider. I also bought it on the advice of others. It's surprisingly nice. It's tactile with a very small click. The keys are dye-sublimed ABS. I'm very fond of the font. I can even use the "numeric keypad" properly. Only disadvantage, after typing appx one hour on it, is that the up arrow/page up is directly to the right of the shift key. Fortunately, I generally use the left shift key.

I think I'll put a Teensy in this and convert it to USB. I assume that this was a "travel" laptop, but it has a big ol' 5 pin DIN.
I doubt those are dyesubbed, as you can't dyesub ABS and reverse dyesub (everything but the legend gets dye) is very uncommon on vint boards.
Hmm. Interesting. So, if the keys aren't pad printed/silk screened, they're probably PBT? That'd be nice.

kelvinhall05

17 Nov 2020, 18:03

hellothere wrote:
17 Nov 2020, 17:13
kelvinhall05 wrote:
17 Nov 2020, 17:09
hellothere wrote:
17 Nov 2020, 17:03
BTC-5100C. This is after I ultrasoniced the keycaps.
Spoiler:
IMG_1260 (2).JPG
The front legends for the "numeric keyboard" and Num Lock key are light blue.

It's a mini keyboard. The switches are BTC dome with slider. I also bought it on the advice of others. It's surprisingly nice. It's tactile with a very small click. The keys are dye-sublimed ABS. I'm very fond of the font. I can even use the "numeric keypad" properly. Only disadvantage, after typing appx one hour on it, is that the up arrow/page up is directly to the right of the shift key. Fortunately, I generally use the left shift key.

I think I'll put a Teensy in this and convert it to USB. I assume that this was a "travel" laptop, but it has a big ol' 5 pin DIN.
I doubt those are dyesubbed, as you can't dyesub ABS and reverse dyesub (everything but the legend gets dye) is very uncommon on vint boards.
Hmm. Interesting. So, if the keys aren't pad printed/silk screened, they're probably PBT? That'd be nice.
I doubt they are PBT, much less (reverse) dyesubs. Probably lasered, pad printed, or silkscreened ABS.

User avatar
derzemel

19 Nov 2020, 10:29

got an amazing deal for a brand new Realforce R2 PFU on a local classifieds website:

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rox

23 Dec 2020, 18:56

Just upgraded from my F122 to this 1982 3278. Thanks to cKype for the board and pandrew for the controller. It's working nicely through an Adder CCS4-USB for seamless sharing across 4 systems.

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User avatar
Reshala

24 Dec 2020, 19:11

My first Topre keyboard, an Epson BFK
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ddrfraser1

24 Dec 2020, 22:11

snap. nice.

User avatar
ifohancroft

12 Jan 2021, 11:57

It came about an hour ago:

Image

I found it a couple of months ago on Bulgaria's version of Craigslist and I just had to have it, so I asked the seller to save it for me. It was selling for 100BGN, which converted to USD, today is about $62. It is hella dirty but supposed to work, although I don't know if there's any ink in and in what state. I have not tested it yet as it came wet from condensation and I am waiting for it to dry. It doesn't say Selectric anywhere, which is weird, but it does say IBM XYD on the bottom. It is made by IBM Netherlands (sorry for not taking a picture of the model number sticker on the bottom). Btw it wasn't fun carrying it up four flights of stairs :D

Any tips on repairing/disassembly/assembly/cleaning and re-lubing the insides?
Last edited by ifohancroft on 01 Apr 2021, 17:08, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Scarpia

12 Jan 2021, 17:12

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I just got this M0118 with Alps SKCM Orange switches in decent condition. I got it as part of a great deal together with the mouse, two poor-condition AEKII boards and a beautiful Macintosh Classic II:
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Last edited by Scarpia on 12 Jan 2021, 18:11, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
ifohancroft

12 Jan 2021, 18:04

Scarpia wrote:
12 Jan 2021, 17:12
I this M0118 with Alps SKCM Orange switches in decent condition. I got it as part of a great deal together with the mouse, two poor-condition AEKII boards and a beautiful Macintosh Classic II:
That's an awesome find!

User avatar
TNT

12 Jan 2021, 18:31

ifohancroft wrote:
12 Jan 2021, 11:57

Any tips on repairing/disassembly/assembly/cleaning and re-lubing the insides?
Afaik, "XYD" is how IBM branded their late Selectric II models for the german market.
I recommend watching Phoenix Typewriter's video about the selectrics. You can find him on YouTube.

Those are a nightmare to maintain and repair tho, be prepared :mrgreen:
Last edited by TNT on 14 Jan 2021, 21:33, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
TNT

12 Jan 2021, 20:09

Olivetti Lettera 22
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IBM 6715
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IBM PS/2 M65SX
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John Doe

13 Jan 2021, 16:18

Done my 2021 goal.

Spoiler:
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fricked

13 Jan 2021, 16:55

John Doe wrote:
13 Jan 2021, 16:18
Done my 2021 goal.

Spoiler:
1610551020625.jpg
good keyboard

User avatar
mcmaxmcmc

14 Jan 2021, 02:56

John Doe wrote:
13 Jan 2021, 16:18
Done my 2021 goal.

Spoiler:
1610551020625.jpg
Congrats!

John Doe

14 Jan 2021, 13:04

fricked wrote:
13 Jan 2021, 16:55
good keyboard
mcmaxmcmc wrote:
14 Jan 2021, 02:56
Congrats!
thanks, man.

User avatar
shine

14 Jan 2021, 14:37

I just got a working 3101 :D Manufactured week 28 1983
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inmbolmie

14 Jan 2021, 16:14

shine wrote:
14 Jan 2021, 14:37
I just got a working 3101 :D Manufactured week 28 1983
:o

User avatar
ifohancroft

14 Jan 2021, 21:11

TNT wrote:
12 Jan 2021, 18:31
ifohancroft wrote:
12 Jan 2021, 11:57

Any tips on repairing/disassembly/assembly/cleaning and re-lubing the insides?
Afaik, the XYD is how IBM branded their late Selectric II models for the german market.
I recommend watching Phoenix Typewriter's video about the selectrics. You can find him on YouTube.

Those are a nightmare to maintain tho, be prepared :mrgreen:
Thank you!

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