geekhack

geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: jimmy919 on Mon, 20 December 2010, 20:59:35

Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: jimmy919 on Mon, 20 December 2010, 20:59:35: http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-CLICKY-KEYBOARD-MODEL-M-1391472-NEEDS-3-KEY-CAPS-VG-/270682570207?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f05f03ddf (http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-CLICKY-KEYBOARD-MODEL-M-1391472-NEEDS-3-KEY-CAPS-VG-/270682570207?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f05f03ddf)

Looks like it needs a good cleaning and some extra key caps.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Sam on Mon, 20 December 2010, 21:16:44: And a cable. Plus no guarantee it's in working condition, and coming after everyone's spent a lot on Christmas, I'd expect it to go for less than what others have been going for.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: msiegel on Mon, 20 December 2010, 21:19:13: that thing's outta Ctrl
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Sam on Mon, 20 December 2010, 21:30:52: Quote from: msiegel;266502
that thing's outta Ctrl

Hahaha!!! Not only that, it went out and got itself a tattoo.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: WhiteRice on Mon, 20 December 2010, 22:15:07: Clever boys...

Yea this could potentially be a great deal for anyone who wants to put the work in.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: HaaTa on Mon, 20 December 2010, 22:16:36: Interesting...
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Sam on Mon, 20 December 2010, 22:22:51: Any guesses on what it'll go for? I'm guessing $80, just because there's bound to be someone who really wants a SpaceSaver but isn't willing to pony up the cash for what the better ones have been going for.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: jimmy919 on Mon, 20 December 2010, 22:26:03: I'd say $60-$70. I'll ask the seller for confirmation on if it's working or not, and if they can include some larger resolution pictures.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: WhiteRice on Mon, 20 December 2010, 22:40:19: $43, are we playing by the price is right rules?
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: theferenc on Mon, 20 December 2010, 22:43:41: I think I'll bid on this one. I've got the extra caps, and it would be nice to have one. Anyone else? I don't want to get into a bidding war with anyone here.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Sam on Mon, 20 December 2010, 22:46:06: If the price stays low enough, I'll be bidding on it. I'm certainly in at $50. $60-$70, I'd have to think about it. $80 and up, no way.

But if you or someone else really wants it we can talk about it via PM to avoid stomping over each other's bids.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: EverythingIBM on Tue, 21 December 2010, 02:37:10: That's very interesting.

I wouldn't mind having a handy nice small keyboard. Although an industrial mini would be a lot better *awaits Ripster's fanfare*.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: MissileMike on Tue, 21 December 2010, 10:59:37: I had an ezsnipe at this set at 102$ max bid. I am going to pull it- I already have plenty. Good luck, guys.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: wanabe on Tue, 21 December 2010, 11:36:51: sounds like this one may end up going for more than we first thought considering the amount of interested people on this thread
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: jimmy919 on Tue, 21 December 2010, 15:03:36: Contacted the seller and they said the keyboard works fine, keycaps were pulled to restore other keyboards. They will send some pics my way and I'll post them up.

BTW, I'm not bidding on this auction. Keyboard's too dirty for my tastes. Thought I'd just help out a fellow GHer.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: wanabe on Tue, 21 December 2010, 17:34:53: too rich for me already
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Sam on Wed, 22 December 2010, 04:27:00: Already up to $66 with over 5 days to go. It'll almost certainly go for more than what it's worth to me, so I'm out of it. Not to mention I saw something else pop up which I've been waiting for a long time and would much rather have than another SpaceSaver.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: ricercar on Wed, 22 December 2010, 13:03:26: It'l be less work and more payoff to make my own by cutting down a regular M.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Sam on Mon, 27 December 2010, 10:50:27: Sold for $83.78. One of the cheapest I've seen a SpaceSaver go for recently. Guess not many wanted that out of ctrl, tattoo-ridden, cable-less son of an M.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: wanabe on Mon, 27 December 2010, 11:18:49: not terrible though if youve got the parts laying around
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: MissileMike on Mon, 27 December 2010, 12:51:23: Great price IMO... The work it needs is trivial. I sure hope someone here got it, because that's the only reason I didn't bid.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: jimmy919 on Tue, 28 December 2010, 01:05:20: Looks like another Space Saver, also in need of some fixing-up, popped up on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-CLICKY-KEYBOARD-MODEL-M-1391472-NEEDS-KEYS-AND-CAPS-/270685045439?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f061602bf (http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-CLICKY-KEYBOARD-MODEL-M-1391472-NEEDS-KEYS-AND-CAPS-/270685045439?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f061602bf)
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Sam on Tue, 28 December 2010, 01:34:34: Well this one is not only out of control, it's left with no alternatives, has a severe functionality disorder, ran up it's tab to help another keyboard in need, has a grave problem with it's accent, is unable to make a connection, and needs some help in getting up. Not to mention after just getting a bath it still looks filthy dirty.

It does have a couple of positive traits though. It has a lot of character and seems to be good with numbers.

The listing originally had no picture, just the model number and no mention of it being a SpaceSaver. I was hoping it stayed like that and nobody noticed, but with the updated listing, the cat's out of the bag. If this board "cleaned up very nicely" according to the seller, I hate to see it's condition prior to being cleaned. That has to be one of the worst jobs in cleaning I've seen. What do you think this one will go for, maybe $60?
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: jaynoon on Tue, 28 December 2010, 04:05:42: Yeah it looks like hell, but there is nothing apparent that couldn't be fixed with a $5 special Model M as a parts board.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Tue, 28 December 2010, 06:32:22: If nobody else is in hot on this, I'm going to bid on it...
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: theferenc on Tue, 28 December 2010, 08:19:14: So, either I can't count, they can't count, or the board pictured is not the actual board. It says it needs 3 keys, but there are 4 missing in the picture. Plus, 13 missing blanks (not including the 4 missing keys), rather than 14.

Also, does it look like the springs are missing in the empty sockets as well?
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Tue, 28 December 2010, 09:37:51: Definitely looks that way. I have the necessary parts...
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: theferenc on Tue, 28 December 2010, 10:25:31: I do too, but I'm not interested. I actually prefer the full keyboards, rather than the SSKs. At least, at the prices these things go for.

Besides, I have enough that I can even try to make one myself. If I destroy it, whatever.

I wish you luck, Shawn.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: jaynoon on Tue, 28 December 2010, 20:24:51: I'm interested in it (and have the parts to make it whole), but after reading about your trials and tribulations with your cut down Model M mod, I'll defer to you Shawn.

Let me know if you change your mind.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Sam on Tue, 28 December 2010, 22:26:45: The problem with a fellow GHer going for something and others holding off is that we don't know who the fellow GHer is on eBay, how much is his maximum bid, etc. For example, if I wanted to bid on this but held off to let Shawn get it, but someone else, a non-GHer outbid him, maybe I'd be willing to go even higher and still get it, but not take it away from Shawn being he was already out of it. That's fine if this all takes place early on and we're notified of it, but if it happens in the final seconds of the auction, there's no way to know what's going on and what's going to happen before it finishes.

Take the first one mentioned in this thread. MissleMike would have liked it, but didn't bid in hopes of letting someone here get it. But nobody spoke up to say they won it. It still sold for considerably less than MissleMike was prepared to go. So it appears MissleMike lost out for nothing. The same thing could happen on this one.

Being this is a common item, and lots and lots of non-GHer will also likely be interested in it, I don't really see the need to let someone here go for it. Odds are just as good that someone outside of GH will get it. If it's a rare item though and a few different GHers want it, I can see them discussing it via PM and talking about what their maximum bid would be and let whoever is willing to put in the highest bid go for it, to avoid making them pay more than they have to. For common items, I'd say it's probably better to just let the market due it's thing.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: wanabe on Tue, 28 December 2010, 22:59:43: agreed..i know the GH community is large, but I dont know if one or two of us holding back on an auction like this will be enough to manipulate the price.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: ynih on Tue, 28 December 2010, 23:37:54: This one is HIDEOUS! looks like in worse condition than the 1st. Is that rust I see? Or just poop?
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Wed, 29 December 2010, 05:23:07: I'm not going to bid a lot. If it's worth north of $50 to you, go ahead...
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Sam on Wed, 29 December 2010, 07:52:24: I think I'd be willing to pay $50 for this board, though I seriously doubt it will go for that low. In spite of it's shape, as mentioned it ought to be easily restored to working condition by anyone with the spare parts. If nothing else, some opportunist will buy it, fix it up and resell it.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Wed, 29 December 2010, 08:02:55: Resell? If the board goes for around $100 (based on what that last board went for), throw in some keycaps, shipping and a $20 cable and the most you're going to make on a resale $25-$50. Hardly worth it...
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Sam on Wed, 29 December 2010, 08:10:37: I personally wouldn't consider buying it to resell. My time is worth much more than that. But there are some people who apparently make a business (maybe only a part-time business) out of selling refurbished keyboards. I'm thinking of rarekeyboardstore and clickykeyboards. I wouldn't think it would be worth their time based on what they sell standard M's for, but obviously it is or they wouldn't be doing it. The thing is they already have the spare parts and don't need to go out and buy them. If someone had to buy the spare parts to fix this up, then I agree it's totally not worth it to pay $50 or more.

If I bought it, I'd fix it up and give it to someone who I already donated a full-size M to, but would like a smaller keyboard.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: theferenc on Wed, 29 December 2010, 11:49:26: I've always been interested in these, but I just can't justify the price. It's less expensive to make one yourself.

What I'd really like to see is a "navigation-less" keyboard. Basically, 10 key is present, but in the place of the navigation black.

Now I wonder if there's enough room to sort of fold up the membrane in an M and do that...
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Sam on Wed, 29 December 2010, 14:31:07: Quote from: theferenc;270323
What I'd really like to see is a "navigation-less" keyboard. Basically, 10 key is present, but in the place of the navigation black.

Exactly what I'd like as well. A cursor/navigation-less SpaceSaver would be the perfect solution for a keyboard of that size.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: jaynoon on Wed, 29 December 2010, 15:59:44: Quote from: Sam;270381
Exactly what I'd like as well. A cursor/navigation-less SpaceSaver would be the perfect solution for a keyboard of that size.

Sounds like the old terminal-style layouts, such as my Chicony below.. Too bad there is so much wasted horizontal space on the F-keys, and the bezel.

(http://i.imgur.com/w1rni.jpg)
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Sam on Wed, 29 December 2010, 16:08:58: Quote from: jaynoon;270419
Sounds like the old terminal-style layouts, such as my Chicony below.. Too bad there is so much wasted horizontal space on the F-keys, and the bezel.

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/w1rni.jpg)

Once again, exactly my thoughts. I use an IBM AT board as my primary keyboard. I love the feel and the layout in general. My only complaints are that it's much bigger than it needs to be (as you say, put the F keys up top and get rid of so much space there), and the lack of a right Alt/Ctrl. The Alt/Ctrl issue can be easily solved doing the mod fellow GHer Daniel Beaver did. No simple solution though to the F key / size issue.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: theferenc on Wed, 29 December 2010, 16:21:10: I've got enough spare Ms laying around I might just give it a try to create one myself. I'm pretty sure I even know how to fold/roll the membrane/mylar sheets in order to do it, as well.

We'll see how it goes, I suppose.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: MissileMike on Mon, 03 January 2011, 20:02:57: Did anyone here get that last one? It just ended for 77$
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: theferenc on Tue, 04 January 2011, 08:38:23: I bid, but didn't win. Wasn't willing to pay more than $60 for something like that.
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Tue, 04 January 2011, 09:04:54: Not me. I checked in about 5 minutes before the end and it was already well over my max. I paid $75 for a like-new Space Saving a year ago. Prices on those have really gotten crazy...
Title: eBay IBM Space Saver in need of some lovin'
Post by: jpc on Tue, 04 January 2011, 09:14:37: This was a good deal for whoever got it.

The only things it was missing were non-SSK-specific keys and key caps that you could steal from any junky Model M.

The SSK-specific parts are the case, membranes, and metal plate. With those you could build an ersatz SSK, taking all other parts from a full size Model M and cutting the rubber mat and barrel plate down to size. (It would lack an embedded numpad, unless the controller was from a real SSK.)

This one had a lot more than that minimum pile of parts.