Author Topic: XMIT's Keyboard Collection (Read 24226 times)

XMIT · « **on:** Fri, 20 January 2017, 07:16:20 »

https://goo.gl/photos/5phzWXQMQZ9jwcvD9

I've been working since June of 2016 to catalog my keyboard collection!

As of now, I've documented 233 distinct keyboards. This number is slightly off: the numbers either correspond to a box, or to a keyboard. When they correspond to a box, I have the problem that two boxes contain two keyboards, and one box is empty!

Still, this is my best attempt to date to catalog my collection. Long term I'll be building a nice Web page with all of these. But for now I wanted to share these all with you in case I could answer some questions!

Each keyboard (or box) has a three digit code. Please refer to keyboards by either the code ("099"), or XMIT plus the code ("XMIT099") outside of this thread.

My earlier attempt at classification - UUIDs - was not great since that only tracked keyboards to a database entry, not a physical location. As of this writing I don't have a great database for all these boards.

There are some real gems in here, including an FSSK, some M15s, and one very SAD board. Post if you find something you like!

Nothing is for sale at the moment (well except for XMIT035 which is already in the Classifieds) but that could change.

The little girl in the photos is my daughter.

sony · « **Reply #1 on:** Fri, 20 January 2017, 08:41:04 »

What boxes are you using? I've been looking for some boxes to organize some vintage boards I have. Right now I'm just using some usps boxes like you have for a few of your boards.

XMIT · « **Reply #2 on:** Fri, 20 January 2017, 10:46:57 »

http://www.esupplystore.com/19-18-x-9-18-x-2-316-Deluxe-Literature-Mailers--bundle-of-50_p_3112.html

Same as Uline's keyboard box, but much less expensive! Allocate about 3-5 minutes for each box to assemble (for 50 boxes that's about three hours...)!

romevi · « **Reply #3 on:** Fri, 20 January 2017, 10:47:49 »

Holy monkey.

MythicalWagyu · « **Reply #4 on:** Fri, 20 January 2017, 11:02:12 »

Next time my friends say I have too many keyboards, I'ma point them to this collection

)

Impressive stuff XMIT! Looking forward to having my own hall effect XMIT board next month.

dante · « **Reply #5 on:** Fri, 20 January 2017, 11:05:19 »

In terms of organization chyros should take notes. Judging from his most recent videos he is sleeping on the floor.

XMIT · « **Reply #6 on:** Fri, 20 January 2017, 11:06:35 »

Thanks for the kind words guys! It took forever to get things in order but I'm so glad I did. Please let me know if you have any questions about a specific keyboard!

dante · « **Reply #7 on:** Fri, 20 January 2017, 11:14:53 »

XMIT, any comments on Fujitsu 3rd gen leaf spring vs. NMB HiTek Linears in terms of smoothness?

Or is the XMIT Hall Effect still king?

Badwrench · « **Reply #8 on:** Fri, 20 January 2017, 11:29:54 »

Ummmmmm, I think the mods need to add "keyboard collector" to your title.

That is a killer collection. Many boards in there I would love to own, especially an 1800 of some sort.

Sifo · « **Reply #9 on:** Fri, 20 January 2017, 11:37:10 »

you should get together with haata

XMIT · « **Reply #10 on:** Fri, 20 January 2017, 11:47:02 »

Quote from: dante on Fri, 20 January 2017, 11:14:53

XMIT, any comments on Fujitsu 3rd gen leaf spring vs. NMB HiTek Linears in terms of smoothness?

Or is the XMIT Hall Effect still king?

I'm biased! But Fujitsu leaf springs are very smooth indeed.

XMIT · « **Reply #11 on:** Fri, 20 January 2017, 11:47:45 »

Quote from: Badwrench on Fri, 20 January 2017, 11:29:54

Ummmmmm, I think the mods need to add "keyboard collector" to your title.

That is a killer collection. Many boards in there I would love to own, especially an 1800 of some sort.

Thanks! The mods are welcome to do so if they'd like.

chyros · « **Reply #12 on:** Fri, 20 January 2017, 11:53:49 »

Quote from: dante on Fri, 20 January 2017, 11:05:19

In terms of organization chyros should take notes. Judging from his most recent videos he is sleeping on the floor.

It's not the organisation that's the problem - my flat is just very small, and I have an enormous amount of keyboards. No matter how you organise it, at some point the space just runs out xD .

XMIT · « **Reply #13 on:** Fri, 20 January 2017, 12:06:28 »

Quote from: chyros on Fri, 20 January 2017, 11:53:49

Quote from: dante on Fri, 20 January 2017, 11:05:19
In terms of organization chyros should take notes. Judging from his most recent videos he is sleeping on the floor.
It's not the organisation that's the problem - my flat is just very small, and I have an enormous amount of keyboards. No matter how you organise it, at some point the space just runs out xD .

HaaTa also has a small apartment or "flat". He makes excellent use of high ceilings, though. IIRC his are about 15 feet or about 4.5 meters high.

Bucake · « **Reply #14 on:** Sat, 21 January 2017, 13:23:31 »

4.5 meters! damn, that sounds so blissful. would love to have high ceilings like that.

anyway, OT: wow, must've been quite some work! wouldn't have expected photos of them all.
really cool XMIT, thanks for sharing this. amazing collection

edit: was fun seeing that tiny HHKB after seeing all of those old, vintage monsters. 129 is my favorite, what a beaut!
didn't you have a beam spring? or did i just scroll past it?

chyros · « **Reply #15 on:** Sat, 21 January 2017, 17:02:19 »

My ROOM back home is bigger than my FLAT here, to illustrate my point

.

XMIT · « **Reply #16 on:** Sat, 21 January 2017, 18:27:58 »

Someone said something about a going away party for you. Did you finish your thesis? Are you done???

chyros · « **Reply #17 on:** Sat, 21 January 2017, 18:46:29 »

Quote from: XMIT on Sat, 21 January 2017, 18:27:58

Someone said something about a going away party for you. Did you finish your thesis? Are you done???

Yes, I finished by thesis a few months ago and did the defence just before Christmas. I passed with minor corrections, which I'm tending to now

. I'll be leaving the UK around the end of February.

My family is going to be quite... stunned... when they see just how many keyboards and keyboard stuff I've accumulated xD .

riotonthebay · « **Reply #18 on:** Sat, 21 January 2017, 20:15:56 »

Quote from: XMIT on Fri, 20 January 2017, 10:46:57

http://www.esupplystore.com/19-18-x-9-18-x-2-316-Deluxe-Literature-Mailers--bundle-of-50_p_3112.html

Same as Uline's keyboard box, but much less expensive! Allocate about 3-5 minutes for each box to assemble (for 50 boxes that's about three hours...)!

Thanks for the suggestion! I'm moving soon and so needed something like this. Found with Prime on Amazon, btw (shipping was $25 on the site you linked, so this saves $15): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BT5MC9W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

XMIT · « **Reply #19 on:** Sat, 21 January 2017, 20:35:43 »

Oh that's a really good deal riotonthebay! Please let me know what you think of the boxes, I may end up buying some more.

Pwner · « **Reply #20 on:** Sat, 21 January 2017, 21:37:05 »

Damn, what a collection!

What's the board at 101?

ImpendingxDoom · « **Reply #21 on:** Sat, 21 January 2017, 22:24:07 »

THE FARM!

XMIT · « **Reply #22 on:** Sun, 22 January 2017, 06:04:53 »

Quote from: Pwner on Sat, 21 January 2017, 21:37:05

Damn, what a collection!

What's the board at 101?

Do you mean this one?

That's my Texas Instruments 914 terminal board. More photos and discussion here:
https://goo.gl/photos/eZgaooPGgRvS6rzBA
https://deskthority.net/photos-f62/texas-instruments-914-terminal-keyboard-t11114.html

I won a Goodwill auction for this one in July of 2015. I think some other folks here had their eye on this board and let me have it, for which I say, thank you!

XMIT · « **Reply #23 on:** Sun, 22 January 2017, 06:06:42 »

Quote from: ImpendingxDoom on Sat, 21 January 2017, 22:24:07

THE FARM!

Yep, this is it! Here's something familiar for you at XMIT167...

)

richfiles · « **Reply #24 on:** Mon, 23 January 2017, 23:10:21 »

Daughter: "Daddy, is it true that there are kids in Africa that don't even have one keyboard?"
XMIT: "Unfortunately, that's true, sweetie."
Daughter: "How sad...

"

Seriously, you collect keyboard like I collect calculators! AWESOME collection!

Do I detect some inspiration for your name there?

invariance · « **Reply #25 on:** Tue, 24 January 2017, 02:56:03 »

Quote from: XMIT on Fri, 20 January 2017, 07:16:20

........ is my daughter.

You have a very talented photographer; takes excellent pictures and is a hardware tester.

XMIT · « **Reply #26 on:** Tue, 24 January 2017, 05:36:33 »

Quote from: richfiles on Mon, 23 January 2017, 23:10:21

Do I detect some inspiration for your name there?

Yep, that's it! Though if you look closely I botched a retrobright job on this one so the XMIT key is sort of faded. So sad!!! I'll have to make some new keys at some point.

Tangtawan · « **Reply #27 on:** Tue, 24 January 2017, 16:21:39 »

How long since you started collecting?

XMIT · « **Reply #28 on:** Tue, 24 January 2017, 16:37:52 »

Quote from: Tangtawan on Tue, 24 January 2017, 16:21:39

How long since you started collecting?

Seriously, since about Feb 2015, but I've been into keyboards since middle school (the late 90s). A few Model Ms in that collection date back to about 2005 or 2010.

richfiles · « **Reply #29 on:** Tue, 24 January 2017, 18:00:19 »

Quote from: XMIT on Tue, 24 January 2017, 16:37:52

Seriously, since about Feb 2015, but I've been into keyboards since middle school (the late 90s). A few Model Ms in that collection date back to about 2005 or 2010.

I really should be shocked at the rapid rise of your collection in such a short amount of time, but in all honesty... I know exactly where you're coming from. I've really only been collecting calculators since 2010, more or less, so I can totally understand how a collection can rapidly balloon! Fun times!

Tuntematon · « **Reply #30 on:** Sun, 12 February 2017, 16:20:33 »

Quote from: XMIT on Fri, 20 January 2017, 10:46:57

http://www.esupplystore.com/19-18-x-9-18-x-2-316-Deluxe-Literature-Mailers--bundle-of-50_p_3112.html

Same as Uline's keyboard box, but much less expensive! Allocate about 3-5 minutes for each box to assemble (for 50 boxes that's about three hours...)!

Are you finding this was a good choice? This is one of the options I looked at but I was concerned about the 19 1/8" length, which makes for a very tight fit for the average full-size vintage board. Ideally, I want a one size fits all box. I ended up ordering some over-sized boxes (23x13x2.5) instead. I searched high and low and couldn't find the perfect keyboard box anywhere

alienman82 · « **Reply #31 on:** Sun, 12 February 2017, 16:30:37 »

removed.

XMIT · « **Reply #32 on:** Sun, 12 February 2017, 20:10:21 »

Quote from: Tuntematon on Sun, 12 February 2017, 16:20:33

Quote from: XMIT on Fri, 20 January 2017, 10:46:57
http://www.esupplystore.com/19-18-x-9-18-x-2-316-Deluxe-Literature-Mailers--bundle-of-50_p_3112.html

Same as Uline's keyboard box, but much less expensive! Allocate about 3-5 minutes for each box to assemble (for 50 boxes that's about three hours...)!

Are you finding this was a good choice? This is one of the options I looked at but I was concerned about the 19 1/8" length, which makes for a very tight fit for the average full-size vintage board. Ideally, I want a one size fits all box. I ended up ordering some over-sized boxes (23x13x2.5) instead. I searched high and low and couldn't find the perfect keyboard box anywhere

This is perfect for all my non huge boards (e.g. F122). To fit a full size Model M requires a slight modification: I cut off the first 2-3 inches of the side flaps on the top of the box so it closes a bit easier. A G80-3000 will fit with no trouble.

XMIT · « **Reply #33 on:** Sun, 12 February 2017, 20:11:27 »

Quote from: alienman82 on Sun, 12 February 2017, 16:30:37

DT crosspost?

Yes, I often cross post.

mrduul · « **Reply #34 on:** Sat, 03 June 2017, 08:13:05 »

Very impressive.

Targa-TV · « **Reply #35 on:** Sun, 04 June 2017, 14:57:21 »

I was stunned for a full minute just staring at the picture and wondering about all the goodness in there. Impressive.

And I know something about tiny apartments away from home so cheer up Thomas, I feel you there. (This still an acceptable way to say "I'm sympathizing with you" right? That thread about 'keeb' and other slang monstrosities made me feel outdated).

rowdy · « **Reply #36 on:** Thu, 22 June 2017, 22:13:36 »

That's awesome!

ideus · « **Reply #37 on:** Thu, 22 June 2017, 22:28:50 »

Your helper is cute and browsing your gallery was great.

XMIT · « **Reply #38 on:** Fri, 23 June 2017, 05:52:02 »

Quote from: ideus on Thu, 22 June 2017, 22:28:50

Your helper is cute and browsing your gallery was great.

Thanks! My helper is a little bigger now.

JP · « **Reply #39 on:** Fri, 23 June 2017, 07:44:56 »

I don't feel so bad now about all the keyboards I've acquired in the past 2-3 months

Although at this current rate I may have this many boards in a few years.

avid · « **Reply #40 on:** Fri, 23 June 2017, 07:54:14 »

Top 5 keyboards?
Which switches do you like the most?

XMIT · « **Reply #41 on:** Fri, 23 June 2017, 08:01:00 »

Quote from: avid on Fri, 23 June 2017, 07:54:14

Top 5 keyboards?
Which switches do you like the most?

Hard to say what my favorite keyboards are. More like, there is something about each of them that I like, and they all have inspired parts of the boards I'm designing.

Favorite switches, that's a bit easier. In no particular order, the XMIT Hall switch (of course), Topre with factory damping, "Nopre"' (Noppoo/Plum/Royal Kludge) 55g, capacitive buckling spring, and middle weight vintage Alps with tall switch plates (brown, orange, blue). Vintage MX Clear gets an honorable mention in there. Phew!

But again, all the switches have some nice properties, it's hard to pick a favorite. I've got a Realforce XF01TS out at the moment but I change out boards often.

avid · « **Reply #42 on:** Fri, 23 June 2017, 08:40:14 »

Quote from: XMIT on Fri, 23 June 2017, 08:01:00

Quote from: avid on Fri, 23 June 2017, 07:54:14
Top 5 keyboards?
Which switches do you like the most?

Hard to say what my favorite keyboards are. More like, there is something about each of them that I like, and they all have inspired parts of the boards I'm designing.

Favorite switches, that's a bit easier. In no particular order, the XMIT Hall switch (of course), Topre with factory damping, "Nopre"' (Noppoo/Plum/Royal Kludge) 55g, capacitive buckling spring, and middle weight vintage Alps with tall switch plates (brown, orange, blue). Vintage MX Clear gets an honorable mention in there. Phew!

But again, all the switches have some nice properties, it's hard to pick a favorite. I've got a Realforce XF01TS out at the moment but I change out boards often.

Cool!

Do keyboards get a rotation? I only own a few (5-6) but find myself using 1-2 boards 90% of the time.

XMIT · « **Reply #43 on:** Fri, 23 June 2017, 09:44:00 »

Yeah I switch stuff out all the time. I had my F107 on my desk last week.

ideus · « **Reply #44 on:** Fri, 23 June 2017, 12:05:23 »

Quote from: XMIT on Fri, 23 June 2017, 09:44:00

Yeah I switch stuff out all the time. I had my F107 on my desk last week.

With all those keyboards you certainly should be switching, for them not to add more dust layers.

XMIT · « **Reply #45 on:** Fri, 23 June 2017, 13:10:13 »

Quote from: ideus on Fri, 23 June 2017, 12:05:23

Quote from: XMIT on Fri, 23 June 2017, 09:44:00
Yeah I switch stuff out all the time. I had my F107 on my desk last week.

With all those keyboards you certainly should be switching, for them not to add more dust layers.

Well most of them are in boxes, that helps greatly.

alienman82 · « **Reply #46 on:** Fri, 23 June 2017, 17:38:41 »

removed.

XMIT · « **Reply #47 on:** Fri, 23 June 2017, 18:50:59 »

Quote from: alienman82 on Fri, 23 June 2017, 17:38:41

I would ask to buy one or two of these, but clearly you're a hoarder

No, I really need to start moving some. Send me a PM and I'll see what I can do. Part of the problem is that it's easier to buy than to sell when you're short on time like I am.

Once Round 2 stuff settles down I'm going to take a long hard look at what I've got and try to do some de-duplication. I do want to keep stuff on hand for meetups, ongoing research, etc. but I don't need so many Model Ms for example.

News:

Author Topic: XMIT's Keyboard Collection (Read 24226 times)