[GB] Vintage Keyboard Mega Lot

[Xonar]

Geekhack user evan has been listing some really cool vintage computer stuff on eBay recently, and he's now here to bring us some great vintage boards!

Currently this buy includes 12 Apple Extended Keyboards, 12 M0116s, 12 M0110As, and 5 M0110s. See the interest check thread for more information!

If everyone orders a board, each M0110 will be $17 + shipping, and each of the AEKIIs, M0116s, and M0110As will be $12.50 before shipping. Shipping cost depends on your location and will be included in the invoice. These boards make awesome cap and switch donors for projects, and they're certainly nice on they're own as well. The M0110 and M0110A make great restoration projects.

If you want to order some keyboards, fill out this form. Currently you can order one of each. The order deadline will be 6/13, or as soon as all the boards are taken.

User Interest List:

• Xonar (M0116, AEKII, M0110A)
• rm-rf (M0110A, Salmon AEKII)
• wakko (M0110)
• trizkut (M0110, AEKII)
• vindaon (M0110, AEKII)
• KatzenKinder (AEKII)
• dorkvader (M0116)
• nubbinator (M0110, M0116, AEKII)
• catdogpaw (AEKII)
• Air tree (M0110, AEKII)
• getf (AEKII)
• Pyrelink (AEKII, M0116)
• Karura (AEKII, M0116)
• tjweir (AEKII)

Available Keyboards Based on User Interest List: 17

0/5 M0110 Available | 10/12 M0110A Available | 7/12 M0116 Available | 0/12 AEKII Available

M0110 Waitlist:

• Karura

Currently we have 5 orders submitted to the form. If you posted in the IC thread and haven't already filled out the form, please do so if you want a board!

Special thanks to evan, dorkvader, SL89, and XMIT for making this group buy possible!

[nubbinator]

I didn't know if the form was the same or different, so I filled it out again.  If we don't have enough M0116s to go around, I'm willing to give mine up since the price is still solid.  More people need to experience Alps goodness.

[Karura]

Drats! I found this thread too late.

I was really interested in the M0110 in the IC, but was late to filling out the form.

Hopefully someone will change their mind on it and will let me have the spot

Thanks for organizing the GB.

[nubbinator]

I was really interested in the M0110 in the IC, but was late to filling out the form.

Hopefully someone will change their mind on it and will let me have the spot

If you plan on converting it, like dorkvader mentioned here, you can take the one I reserved.

[tjweir]

I'll take an AEK II please. 

I also currently have a disassembled M0110 I was going to hand wire with a teensy but I have no time. 

PM if interested.

[Xonar]

I'll take an AEK II please. 

I also currently have a disassembled M0110 I was going to hand wire with a teensy but I have no time. 

PM if interested.

Got you down for one. To confirm your order, please fill out the Google Form.

[catdogpaw]

I'll take an AEK II please. 

I also currently have a disassembled M0110 I was going to hand wire with a teensy but I have no time. 

PM if interested.

Got you down for one. To confirm your order, please fill out the Google Form.

I had filled one out for the AEK-II, but my name doesn't show in the list? Cornflused. I re-filled the google form.

[Xonar]

I'll take an AEK II please. 

I also currently have a disassembled M0110 I was going to hand wire with a teensy but I have no time. 

PM if interested.

Got you down for one. To confirm your order, please fill out the Google Form.

I had filled one out for the AEK-II, but my name doesn't show in the list? Cornflused. I re-filled the google form.

Sorry, I had missed your response. It's on the list now.

All M0110s and AEK IIs are now reserved. You can put yourself on a waitlist for both in case someone drops their order.

[catdogpaw]

I'll take an AEK II please. 

I also currently have a disassembled M0110 I was going to hand wire with a teensy but I have no time. 

PM if interested.

Got you down for one. To confirm your order, please fill out the Google Form.

I had filled one out for the AEK-II, but my name doesn't show in the list? Cornflused. I re-filled the google form.

Sorry, I had missed your response. It's on the list now.

All M0110s and AEK IIs are now reserved. You can put yourself on a waitlist for both in case someone drops their order.

Thanks!

[nubbinator]

All M0110s and AEK IIs are now reserved. You can put yourself on a waitlist for both in case someone drops their order.

I'm willing to give up my M0110 for someone if they're going to do the mod dorkvader posted.

[tjweir]

Submitted.

[vindaon]

Submitted the form for an AEK II and M0110.

[dorkvader]

Ok I have a huge amount of keyboards in my car. Probably. 100 - 200 pics on OneDrive since I'm at work and on phone. Basically here is what happened

Guy is really nice. Kbs came from local schools and the like who were throwing them away. Guy just wants to be rid of them but more importantly he wants them to be used by people even for parts

So he listed some lots on eBay. He had since found even more keyboards. I found some more when I was there.

The upside :lots of vintage kbs. I snagged a commodore or two left son portable zenith that sounded like alps IBM portable PC son vintage heath with what felt like tee alps.

I grabbed some more IBM xt. A xt layout with cherry blacks there is one IBM at missing caps. Lots of apple even more than was listed. One in box looked new one empty box. I grabbed a vintage hdd to play with.

So just about everything that was sold I have. We can sort out who gets what later. I stopped taking pics after a while because i was late for work.

Ok see if I can get pics


Edit please someone cross post tho in the ic and great find

Edit see if this link works
http://1drv.ms/1JzGbbx

[SL89]

holy wow thats a lot

[rm-rf]

i need a car! ahhhhhhh

[jbondeson]

I am totally in for a few. Put in for AEKII and M0110. (if we found a few more)

I need a few project boards so I'd be willing to roll with some of the other's as well.

Edit: I added a second response with M0116's on it, I'm not worried about the cases on these only caps and switches as I'm planning on removing them and remounting them.

[t8c]

Apple keyboards are the best. Hoping to get salmon or oranges! Edit: Wow the AEEKs went fast. Would like to be set on a waiting list for AEEK I/ II and M0110

[rm-rf]

well, no one else is biting on the M0116 , so i will go for one of those also.

[Karura]

I'm willing to give up my M0110 for someone if they're going to do the mod dorkvader posted.

I'd be happy to take it; it looks like a very interesting layout (HHKB predecessor?) that I wouldn't mind modding to get working.

That said, I do need some assistance in getting started, is it just hand wiring and a bit of soldering? Were there mentions of a Teensy working with this?

This is related to my field of study, so I'd definitely like to learn

[vindaon]

I'm willing to give up my M0110 for someone if they're going to do the mod dorkvader posted.

I'd be happy to take it; it looks like a very interesting layout (HHKB predecessor?) that I wouldn't mind modding to get working.

That said, I do need some assistance in getting started, is it just hand wiring and a bit of soldering? Were there mentions of a Teensy working with this?

This is related to my field of study, so I'd definitely like to learn

Check this out, it was posted in the IC thread: http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/the-apple-m0110-today-t1067.html

[tjweir]

I'm willing to give up my M0110 for someone if they're going to do the mod dorkvader posted.

I'd be happy to take it; it looks like a very interesting layout (HHKB predecessor?) that I wouldn't mind modding to get working.

That said, I do need some assistance in getting started, is it just hand wiring and a bit of soldering? Were there mentions of a Teensy working with this?

This is related to my field of study, so I'd definitely like to learn

Check this out, it was posted in the IC thread: http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/the-apple-m0110-today-t1067.html

That's what I was basing my build on, alas, now distracted.

[XMIT]

To whoever buys the M0110 with a missing backspace, or the M0110As with missing Esc or numpad *: I may have a spare, PM me if you need it.

The Apple Keyboard II is unfortunate, but, Tammy at Apple Rescue may take them.

More pictures!

[XMIT]

Ooh, an AEK I. I would like to claim one of those, let me see if I can figure out how.

[zenless]

put in to get in line for a M0110. That looks like a fun (albeit intensive) project to tear it down and build it up like linked.

[Pyrelink]

What a nice looking haul. Can't wait.

[wakko]

Submitted order.

Filled out the IC form but wasn't sure. Anyway.

Thanks.

[dorkvader]

Most m0110a are Mitsumi I forgot my keypuller. Pictures are maybe 2/3 of total

edit: what I meant: most m0110a from teh second batch we found are mitsumi.

I was on mobile so typos happen

[Air tree]

Most m0110 are Mitsumi I forgot my keypuller. Pictures are maybe 2/3 of total

I thought the m0110 where all tall creams? http://deskthority.net/wiki/Apple_M0110

I thought only the M0110A had Mitsumi. http://deskthority.net/wiki/Apple_M0110A

[dorkvader]

everything has been taken out of my car.

If you bought a KB from him on eBay I have it here with me.

I am organizing with everyone to see how best to deal with this.

Pictures in the first link appear to be about 45 - 50 kbs.
I believe I took home about 78 - 82 KBs today.

[rm-rf]

i just picture a tiny car packed full of keyboards haha

[Karura]

I'm willing to give up my M0110 for someone if they're going to do the mod dorkvader posted.

I'd be happy to take it; it looks like a very interesting layout (HHKB predecessor?) that I wouldn't mind modding to get working.

That said, I do need some assistance in getting started, is it just hand wiring and a bit of soldering? Were there mentions of a Teensy working with this?

This is related to my field of study, so I'd definitely like to learn

Check this out, it was posted in the IC thread: http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/the-apple-m0110-today-t1067.html

Thanks for the link; finally got home, sat down and took a careful read through it all.

I've never done the sort of thing, but I read thru it and can understand 90% of what is going on.

From what I gathered, it is a matter of desoldering the switches from the PCB, handwiring the switches, using diodes for the rows, then copper wire to connect the columns from typically the right switch contact, with the exceptions circled in red.



I wasn't sure if the keycaps were grey to begin with, but looking at the post-retrobrited ones, they look absolutely gorgeous.

I am a little more anxious about the ribbon wiring, which looks straight-forward enough, but haven't done anything of the sort before. Also, I would probably need some more explicit advice on how to fabricate a piece of aluminum to mount the teensy and secure to the case. I reckon it can be done via a few thin sheets of aluminum that they sell at the local hobby store, and a bit of dremeling and bending? Thankfully we have a great community, and I'm hoping that I would be able to find help from you guys for the things I get stuck on 

I understand it isn't exactly a walk in the park to complete this mod, and that there may be some difficulties along the way, but I am confident I'll be able to do it (just maybe not as pretty as the lowpoly's handiwork!)

If nubbs is willing to let me take over, I would be more than happy to give it my best and proceed  (thanks nubbs!)

[Karura]

everything has been taken out of my car.

If you bought a KB from him on eBay I have it here with me.

I am organizing with everyone to see how best to deal with this.

Pictures in the first link appear to be about 45 - 50 kbs.
I believe I took home about 78 - 82 KBs today.

Could we please have some photos? I am so excited about this haha.

[dorkvader]

I already posted photos

[jbondeson]

Very interested to see the final numbers on all the different boards.

As I mentioned before I'll be pretty open to different boards as I plan on pulling apart anything but a M0110 (which I would try to restore) and re-mixing into a few different layouts I've been itching to try.

[Air tree]

How difficult would it be to replace the plate in the M0110 and replace the tall creams for more 'modern' alps? Such as Blue alps.

[XMIT]

How difficult would it be to replace the plate in the M0110 and replace the tall creams for more 'modern' alps? Such as Blue alps.

Well, for starters, I believe the PCB and the plate dimensions for newer Alps are different. Plus the keys have a different mount. You could do it of course but you would really just be re-using the case.

[Karura]

I already posted photos

Nevermind, I wanted to see photos of 70 vintage keyboards stuffed in a car :O hard to imagine, haha.

[Karura]

How difficult would it be to replace the plate in the M0110 and replace the tall creams for more 'modern' alps? Such as Blue alps.

If I'm not wrong (I am new to this, did a little bit of reading), the ALPs (tall creams) don't even have the same stems as the newer ones, so you would be losing keycap compatibility as well. Please correct me if I'm wrong

[dorkvader]

How difficult would it be to replace the plate in the M0110 and replace the tall creams for more 'modern' alps? Such as Blue alps.

If I'm not wrong (I am new to this, did a little bit of reading), the ALPs (tall creams) don't even have the same stems as the newer ones, so you would be losing keycap compatibility as well. Please correct me if I'm wrong

they are sometimes called "tee mount". 'z mount' kecaps do not fit.

[Air tree]

How difficult would it be to replace the plate in the M0110 and replace the tall creams for more 'modern' alps? Such as Blue alps.

If I'm not wrong (I am new to this, did a little bit of reading), the ALPs (tall creams) don't even have the same stems as the newer ones, so you would be losing keycap compatibility as well. Please correct me if I'm wrong

I was only thinking of some kind of overhaul in that case and make something unique out of it. Maybe find some compatible caps and such.

Just a thought.

[micr0n]

I'm down for some tasty orange ALPs.   

[evan]

A couple photos of loading boxes of keyboards into a car...

[rm-rf]

the gooods!!!

[KatzenKinder]

Filled it out! Thanks~

[Air tree]

Updated it, just to make sure I didn't screw up any of my previous updates.  )

[dorkvader]

ok guys I have cleaned out just about all the KBs he had. There's about 5 more boards and a mess of laptops and suchlike.

Since I guess nobody else wants to manage this, I'll have to start doing work. I have a lot on my plate, so if anyone wants their keyboards sometime in 2015 there's gotta be some teamwork here.

Here's what I'm thinking:
1. I will be buying packaging materials and adding that to the cost. I can get boxes for free from work but it's pretty random what's there. I'll see about getting properly sized boxes from uline or whatever
2. same with bubblewrap
3. I'll photograph each KB with a shot of the switches and serial number. Xonar or whoever's keeping track of what everyone wants can send me a list.
4. I';ll put KBs into boxes, mark the serial number and switch type on the side. Then I'll weigh them and post measurtements and weights.
5. if you want your KB soon, you can prepay for shipping online and send me the PDF of the label. I'll print it out and swing by the post office
6. If you are willing to wait a few weeks or a month, I'll look up your address, pay for postage, print it, etc etc.

---
8. payment will be to evan directly for the price of the KB, and to me for packaging and handling. If you don't pay for your own shipping, you can pay me. I will know the weight and all that. I will charge a handling fee
9. Any donations will be evenly split among those who are helping put this together.

That way I can get all these KBs out of my garage and into y'alls hands.

--
Any advice , or volunteer help or management is greatly appreciated. Ideally I'd just give these to sl89 or xonar to deal with but it seems I'm stuck with them for now.

I will continue taking pictures of every KB, organizing them into folders and compiling a spreadsheet like what xmit has done.

[berserkfan]

ok guys I have cleaned out just about all the KBs he had. There's about 5 more boards and a mess of laptops and suchlike.

Since I guess nobody else wants to manage this, I'll have to start doing work. I have a lot on my plate, so if anyone wants their keyboards sometime in 2015 there's gotta be some teamwork here.

Here's what I'm thinking:
1. I will be buying packaging materials and adding that to the cost. I can get boxes for free from work but it's pretty random what's there. I'll see about getting properly sized boxes from uline or whatever
2. same with bubblewrap
3. I'll photograph each KB with a shot of the switches and serial number. Xonar or whoever's keeping track of what everyone wants can send me a list.
4. I';ll put KBs into boxes, mark the serial number and switch type on the side. Then I'll weigh them and post measurtements and weights.
5. if you want your KB soon, you can prepay for shipping online and send me the PDF of the label. I'll print it out and swing by the post office
6. If you are willing to wait a few weeks or a month, I'll look up your address, pay for postage, print it, etc etc.

---
8. payment will be to evan directly for the price of the KB, and to me for packaging and handling. If you don't pay for your own shipping, you can pay me. I will know the weight and all that. I will charge a handling fee
9. Any donations will be evenly split among those who are helping put this together.

That way I can get all these KBs out of my garage and into y'alls hands.

--
Any advice , or volunteer help or management is greatly appreciated. Ideally I'd just give these to sl89 or xonar to deal with but it seems I'm stuck with them for now.

I will continue taking pictures of every KB, organizing them into folders and compiling a spreadsheet like what xmit has done.

You seem to have a lot of time to do all these. What about your earlier commitments?

A few days from June 22 and still no tracking number from you. Is my stuff actually going to get shipped?

[Air tree]

I will pay for a shipping label in a little bit.

I still haven't got my invoice though.

[Karura]

I am also still waiting on an invoice.

[cheddarbek]

Submitted a form for one M0116. Hope I'm not too late.

[doodersbrother]

I still don't even know if my order has been accepted...

[dorkvader]

You seem to have a lot of time to do all these. What about your earlier commitments?

I have a lot on my plate, so if anyone wants their keyboards sometime in 2015 there's gotta be some teamwork here.

I am also still waiting on an invoice.

I will pay for a shipping label in a little bit.

I still haven't got my invoice though.

i dont know who wants what, or what it costs so i cant send invoices. I expect payment will be made to evan directly but that's up to whoever's handling the payment logistics

[jbondeson]

I expect payment will be made to evan directly but that's up to whoever's handling the payment logistics

Wait, you picked up a bunch of keyboards from evan and he hasn't been paid yet? 

[getf]

No invoice yet... Whats going on here?

[berserkfan]

You seem to have a lot of time to do all these. What about your earlier commitments?

I have a lot on my plate, so if anyone wants their keyboards sometime in 2015 there's gotta be some teamwork here.

Best not to take on new commitments until the old ones are settled. It's the death of all group buys. We're having a big problem with a Tai Hao group buy because GhostofHarry got overloaded when he took on new commitments at school without having finished the group buy.

[XMIT]

I can help with orders here to some extent. dorkvader can you please contact me off thread and let me know exactly what you have? We can work up prices and get some invoices sent. As long as you can physically pack and ship these I can handle some of the rest. I have some experience with selling hundreds of keyboards.

[dorkvader]

I expect payment will be made to evan directly but that's up to whoever's handling the payment logistics

Wait, you picked up a bunch of keyboards from evan and he hasn't been paid yet? 

He's been a real pal.

No invoice yet... Whats going on here?

Still figuring out how to get kbs out of my garage and into your hands in the easiest way possible

I can help with orders here to some extent. dorkvader can you please contact me off thread and let me know exactly what you have? We can work up prices and get some invoices sent. As long as you can physically pack and ship these I can handle some of the rest. I have some experience with selling hundreds of keyboards.

thanks very much for the offer. Let's get this GB on the road!

[Air tree]

EDIT: Never mind, actually read the post correctly to get my information.

[berserkfan]

You seem to have a lot of time to do all these. What about your earlier commitments?

I have a lot on my plate, so if anyone wants their keyboards sometime in 2015 there's gotta be some teamwork here.

Best not to take on new commitments until the old ones are settled. It's the death of all group buys. We're having a big problem with a Tai Hao group buy because GhostofHarry got overloaded when he took on new commitments at school without having finished the group buy.

Time is running out. In less than 24 hours I post.

[XMIT]

Post where? Sorry, I don't follow. I was maybe going to help sending invoices but still need to touch base with dorkvader.

[jbondeson]

Post where? Sorry, I don't follow. I was maybe going to help sending invoices but still need to touch base with dorkvader.

Pretty sure this has absolutely nothing to do with this thread and is an issue between berserkfan and dorkvader.

[nubbinator]

Post where? Sorry, I don't follow. I was maybe going to help sending invoices but still need to touch base with dorkvader.

Pretty sure this has absolutely nothing to do with this thread and is an issue between berserkfan and dorkvader.

Yup, and he's decided to spam all of dv's posts.

[XMIT]

dorkvader and I chatted last night. I'll probably help with this keyboard group buy by helping to sort and organize, do some data entry, send invoices and collect funds. dorkvader is working on taking inventory and getting photos of each keyboard. Please be patient while we work through this, and please know that we won't cancel any orders or deny any previous requests without communicating that widely.

When sales begin, you'll know.

[dorkvader]

Huge thanks to XMIT for all his help. A lot goes into the planning and execution of this, and he has been a fount of information.

Current stage is to number and photograph all KBs. We still need to decide what to charge for each KB, what sort of boxes we'll be using, etc etc. This is where XMITs knowledge really comes in handy.

I will update everyone with the progress of photography when there is progress.

[getf]

Been about a month - any update?

[vindaon]

Sorry, kind of want to pull out... I was signed up for M0110, AEKII if anyone was interested.

[Karura]

Is this still happening?

[t8c]

Sorry, kind of want to pull out... I was signed up for M0110, AEKII if anyone was interested.

Me too. great initiative but something has come up.

[Air tree]

My enthusiasm for a new project is slowly diminishing...   

I honestly forgot about this..

[tjweir]

I still want that AEKII, I dreamed a dream....

[XMIT]

Hi - dorkvader sent me some photos of the non-Apple keyboards at some point. That's all the news I have.

There is not much I can do for sales sitting here in Texas apart from maybe offering pointers to dorkvader on how to manage inventory. If you still want a keyboard and want to check status, I advise sending dorkvader a PM.

[dorkvader]

My enthusiasm for a new project is slowly diminishing...   

I honestly forgot about this..

Yeah, I really want to get this huge box of KBs out of the basement. When I picked them up, I honestly though I'd just be warehousing them for a short while. I thought most of the work, organization and labor would be from other people, because I surely don't have the time.

anyway, none of that surfaced except for the exceptionally good advice and resources that XMIT gave me. That guy is awesome.

Right now I have labelled and photographed everything that is *not* an apple KB. If people want to start sorting out who gets what, and they send me prepaid shipping labels, I'll provide pictures and box dimensions and weights. Right now I only have large flat rate boxes, but will be purchasing more shipping materials soon.

Confounding this is the fact that xonar still hasn't come by to pick up his stuff. I don't know if he even paid evan for it. If he did then I need to keep it aside for him. If not, then I'll happily list all the stuff together.

[SpAmRaY]

Did this every go anywhere?

[Air tree]

Did this every go anywhere?

Nope, no one got an invoice and it has pretty much stagnated, dorkvader hasn't even been on since the 14th of this month. I doubt this will move until dork or who ever just gets tired of all the keyboards in the way and finally does something.

I was really exited to start a fun restoration project and now my enthusiasm has sorta gone away for the time being. 

[jbondeson]

The worst part here is that I doubt evan ever got paid! 

[XMIT]

I'll try to check in the next time I visit Boston but that won't be until almost a year from now. (That may still be before Round 5a ships.)

[tjweir]

Ya bummer on this, I'd love to have another AEKII. 

[SamirD]

Sad to hear this terrific opportunity has become a tremendous amount of work.

I don't know how much help I can be, but when I owned an auto parts distribution company, I was shipping almost 15 parts a day and my partner and I could pack them, prep the labels and be at UPS within 30 minutes.  Don't know how to do this over distance though.

If the parts are packed and the boxes weighed and dimensioned, then it's just a matter of getting labels, invoices sent out and receiving payments prior to shipment.  There's some accounting involved as well as physically coordinating the shipments, but just charging for shipping on the invoice and generating the labels in-house would probably be easier than coordinating labels coming in from the buyers imo.

How many parts/boxes are there and how much work can be done to pack them?  If it's not easy, then outsourcing to someone like the UPS store after negotiating a solid discount due to the volume might be a great option.

Just throwing ideas out there.  I really hate to see such wonderful retro equipment not to go those that can cherish them.  There's enough good stuff being thrown away.

[XMIT]

Kind of late now, but, I wonder what ever happened to all these keyboards.