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Posted: 10 Sep 2014, 18:48
by mr_a500
They're linear, but very smooth. I like them. This keyboard has a loud echoing ping noise though.
I put TRS-80 Model III keycaps on mine.
TRSALPS.JPG
(Model III also used vintage T ALPS)
I haven't tried the Soarer CPU replacement trick yet, but will do it some day for sure.
Posted: 10 Sep 2014, 18:49
by quantalume
Frankly, I'll be happy if they turn out to be green Alps. I've never been pleased with any non-IBM tactile switches. The reds are the only Cherry switch I like. Speaking of Cherry, the stems on that IBM keyboard appear as if Cherry caps might fit.
Posted: 10 Sep 2014, 19:04
by foxtrott
Hypersphere wrote:
I had not realized before that these keycaps will fit Topre-switch keyboards. Do you know which models of Brother typewriters used Torpe-compatible keycaps?
hm.. im not sure.. the "AX" series ?
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=406 ... msg1303070
Posted: 10 Sep 2014, 19:05
by mr_a500
quantalume wrote: Speaking of Cherry, the stems on that IBM keyboard appear as if Cherry caps might fit.
Cherry caps do not fit vintage T ALPS.
Posted: 10 Sep 2014, 20:40
by Hypersphere
mr_a500 wrote: They're linear, but very smooth. I like them. This keyboard has a loud echoing ping noise though.
I put TRS-80 Model III keycaps on mine.
(Model III also used vintage T ALPS)
I haven't tried the Soarer CPU replacement trick yet, but will do it some day for sure.
Thanks for sharing this information and the pic of your modified board. I think I will want to keep the original keycaps on mine, as it is one of the distinctive characteristics of this board, although being able to replace them is a plus for practicality.
Posted: 10 Sep 2014, 21:12
by mr_a500
Holy crap! Look what has happened to beam spring prices (..probably because of us):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-IBM-327 ... 1240180058
Posted: 10 Sep 2014, 21:15
by macmakkara
Posted: 10 Sep 2014, 21:28
by Hypersphere
We can do our part by refusing to pay such high prices. If interested, make an offer for something reasonable. After all, these keyboards cannot even be used with contemporary computers without a considerable amount of effort and additional expense for restoration and installation of a new controller. Recently, I paid around $167 for an IBM 3278 beam spring.
Posted: 10 Sep 2014, 21:29
by quantalume
Wow, so glad I bought my beam spring years ago, when there was no hope of intefacing it to a modern computer.
Posted: 10 Sep 2014, 21:34
by bazh
these one are triple shot caps I believe
Posted: 10 Sep 2014, 22:08
by Hypersphere
quantalume wrote: Wow, so glad I bought my beam spring years ago, when there was no hope of intefacing it to a modern computer.
Now
there is the mark of a true Deskthorian!
Posted: 10 Sep 2014, 22:17
by Halvar
Look at the other articles of the $800- 3278 seller, and you'll see that s/he has some nice stuff but no idea what things are worth at all.
Still kind of funny:
Price:
US $800.00
Buy It Now
Shipping:
$48.95 International Priority Shipping to Germany
Import charges:
$221.76 (amount confirmed at checkout)
They do fetch high prices though:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-Ibm-3278-Ke ... 7675.l2557
Posted: 11 Sep 2014, 02:06
by crunch
Posted: 11 Sep 2014, 04:54
by REVENGE
Nice paint job. Blues or knockoffs.
Posted: 11 Sep 2014, 14:51
by seebart
Holy crap! Look what has happened to beam spring prices (..probably because of us):
not because of us but because the demand has risen, and these keyboards are rarish.
These sellers are greedy lurkers trying to make big $ €...
don´t buy from them, it´s like those ridiculous ssk´s auctions for 1000 bucks. They just try it and hope. I mean if it were at least NIB in pristine condition a high price would be justfied.
Posted: 11 Sep 2014, 16:05
by raatmarien
Cherry G81-30xx SAD ?
http://kleinanzeigen.ebay.de/anzeigen/s ... 82-225-942
I asked the seller for the model number of the keyboard and he replied:
Seller wrote:Die Artikelnummer lautet: GB1-30875AD / 01 soweit ich das lesen kann .
I think he just misread and the 'B' is a '8' and the '5' is actually a 'S', in which case those are dyesubs.
Edit:
Also, I think this is a Dell AT-102W
http://kleinanzeigen.ebay.de/anzeigen/s ... 5-228-5950
Posted: 13 Sep 2014, 00:00
by crunch
Posted: 13 Sep 2014, 00:15
by photekq
Considering it.. I really need some browns.
Posted: 13 Sep 2014, 00:22
by andrewjoy
if you do get it and don't want the rack

send PM

Posted: 13 Sep 2014, 01:13
by Hypersphere
quantalume wrote: I believe these are new IBM model Fs at a great price: [Edit: apparently Alps switches]
http://www.ebay.com/itm/380994154944
The attachment 7354460-0160.jpg is no longer available
Seller also has the same thing in Japanese language layout. I bought two of each.
Mine just arrived this afternoon. I was delighted to see that it is apparently NIB! I really like the look of this keyboard -- the overall aspect ratio and the gorgeous spherical keycaps. Although I have not yet typed much on my beam spring, the key action and sound of this board reminds me a bit of the sound and action of the beamspring.

- IBM6113442.JPG (126.74 KiB) Viewed 6304 times
Does anyone know where keycaps can be found for this board and its vintage green linear Alps switches? I would not want to replace the keycaps on the main part of the board, but it might be nice to find number/arrow or arrow keys for the numpad section and other keys for the relegendable keys in the far-right block.
Posted: 13 Sep 2014, 05:47
by sean4star
A little pricy, but I don't see these for sale very often.
Honeywell terminal with keyboard with spherical keycaps.
http://www.eBay.com/itm/200914469940
Posted: 13 Sep 2014, 08:17
by jacobolus
Hypersphere wrote: Does anyone know where keycaps can be found for this board and its vintage green linear Alps switches? I would not want to replace the keycaps on the main part of the board, but it might be nice to find number/arrow or arrow keys for the numpad section and other keys for the relegendable keys in the far-right block.
You can get them from certain old Apple II/Apple III/Mac keyboards (e.g. the M0110), or from some Canon typewriters (e.g.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151393474536 ), a particular Panasonic word processor I spotted on ebay a while back, and various other boards. Look for keyboards/typewriters made in the early to mid 1980s by Japanese companies, and watch out for a centered round LED hole on the caps lock key.
Posted: 13 Sep 2014, 17:00
by Hypersphere
jacobolus wrote: Hypersphere wrote: Does anyone know where keycaps can be found for this board and its vintage green linear Alps switches? I would not want to replace the keycaps on the main part of the board, but it might be nice to find number/arrow or arrow keys for the numpad section and other keys for the relegendable keys in the far-right block.
You can get them from certain old Apple II/Apple III/Mac keyboards (e.g. the M0110), or from some Canon typewriters (e.g.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151393474536 ), a particular Panasonic word processor I spotted on ebay a while back, and various other boards. Look for keyboards/typewriters made in the early to mid 1980s by Japanese companies, and watch out for a centered round LED hole on the caps lock key.
Thanks. And as mr_a500 pointed out, keycaps from the TRS-80 Model III will also work.
Taking another look at the IBM 6113442 this morning, I am liking it more and more. The caps are indeed double-shot sphericals, and I noticed some delightful things about the layout and key action. It has a shortened Right Shift with a 1x key to its right that could be used as a Fn key, and a 1.25x key above the Return that could be used as a Backspace. There are also ample mods on the bottom row. Although the switches are linear, they have a kind of weighted swing to them that seems to promote rapid and accurate typing, although I cannot test this properly until I can find time to convert the board to USB.
Posted: 13 Sep 2014, 19:50
by mr_a500
Posted: 13 Sep 2014, 19:53
by gogusrl
Posted: 14 Sep 2014, 11:11
by RaleghDirat
Posted: 14 Sep 2014, 11:47
by tinnie
It is.
Posted: 14 Sep 2014, 20:52
by seebart
Posted: 14 Sep 2014, 22:52
by chzel
Sorry if reposted but probably is interesting! 5h to go
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Vintage-Cli ... 3a96e17457
Posted: 14 Sep 2014, 23:23
by Muirium
Indeed it is. $177 for a Stretched Kish. Well, for now. I expect it'll soar a good bit higher than that.