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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: ander on Thu, 01 February 2018, 22:07:21

Title: [ENDED] IBM Japanese 5576 keeb, dual sublegends
Post by: ander on Thu, 01 February 2018, 22:07:21

Vintage IBM 5576 keyboard RARE APL (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-IBM-5576-keyboard-RARE-APL-/152890713486)


(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FKEAAOSwhiZac7ii/s-l1600.jpg)


(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Pm8AAOSw8RZac7jL/s-l1600.jpg)


(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hxUAAOSwY7tac7jQ/s-l1600.jpg)


(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/WtUAAOSwlzRac7jc/s-l1600.jpg)


Description: "Up for sale is IBM 5576 keyboards, it used Alps plate spring switches, with dye sublimated keycaps. Orange and blue legend. Very rare."

They're not APL legends though, are they? Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks to me like dual kanji/katakana.

At a BIN of $800 + shipping from Hong Kong, I doubt most of you will consider snapping it up—but I'd never seen one, and thought you might enjoy same.

Title: Re: IBM Japanese 5576 keeb, dual sublegends
Post by: Deefenestrate on Fri, 02 February 2018, 08:38:11

Yep. Kanji, not APL.

Title: Re: IBM Japanese 5576 keeb, dual sublegends
Post by: hansichen on Fri, 02 February 2018, 15:00:56

That should be the chinese version, would make sense with shipping from Taiwan. But definetly way overpriced.

Title: Re: IBM Japanese 5576 keeb, dual sublegends
Post by: ander on Sat, 03 February 2018, 19:48:22

Quote from: hansichen on Fri, 02 February 2018, 15:00:56

That should be the chinese version, would make sense with shipping from Taiwan. But definetly way overpriced.

You can't blame them for trying. People in the PRC are seeing the wacky prices Westerners are willing to pay for stuff, so I suppose some of them get the idea there's no limit.

That's an odd design in the upper right, isn't it? At first I thought it was an unusually elongated (and located) touchpad—but if that were true, it'd need a double cable too. Anyway, it's interesting they decided to design it that way.

BTW, I asked the seller about the legends, and they replied:

> The orange legend is Mandarin Phonetic Symbols that is the major Chinese transliteration system for Taiwanese Mandarin (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bopomofo) The blue legend is Chinese (Traditional). This keyboard can’t be found in U.S. The keyboard is made in Japan and just use in Taiwan IBM 5576 computer.

So the simpler characters function somewhat the same in Chinese as kanji does in Japanese; that's interesting.

Title: Re: IBM Japanese 5576 keeb, dual sublegends
Post by: SneakyRobb on Tue, 06 February 2018, 06:41:27

Are plate spring switches able to fit into any alps mounting plate?

Title: Re: IBM Japanese 5576 keeb, dual sublegends
Post by: ander on Wed, 07 February 2018, 05:32:50

Well, no one's coughed up the $800 yet.

Title: Re: IBM Japanese 5576 keeb, dual sublegends
Post by: kevinhou on Thu, 08 February 2018, 18:51:50

Anyone know how much it's worth.

Title: Re: IBM Japanese 5576 keeb, dual sublegends
Post by: ander on Sat, 10 February 2018, 22:31:34

Reduced to $500.  :?)

Title: Re: IBM Japanese 5576 keeb, dual sublegends
Post by: ander on Sat, 24 February 2018, 03:07:15

Quote from: kevinhou on Thu, 08 February 2018, 18:51:50

Anyone know how much it's worth.

Something this seldom-seen? Whatever someone's willing to pay for it.

Title: Re: IBM Japanese 5576 keeb, dual sublegends
Post by: ander on Sat, 17 March 2018, 02:38:50

In case one of you guys with deep pockets wanders by and wonders about this, it's been relisted here (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-IBM-5576-keyboard-RARE-orange-legend-is-similar-to-APL-ATmega32U4-USB/152944286764). Still at $500 + shipping.

Title: Re: IBM Japanese 5576 keeb, dual sublegends
Post by: ander on Wed, 21 March 2018, 18:32:37

Nope, nobody bought it there, either. Stay tuned for further price-drops.

Title: Re: [ENDED] IBM Japanese 5576 keeb, dual sublegends
Post by: DJSwayde on Thu, 22 March 2018, 05:47:33

What profile are the caps?