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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Ascaii on Fri, 31 December 2010, 02:55:33

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Ascaii on Fri, 31 December 2010, 02:55:33

My lurking of newspaper classifieds finally payed off and I found a source of junk, or "schrott" as we call it here. Out of this pile of schrott I pulled my first,second,third,fourth,..., ninth,tenth mechanical keyboards. Will be going back for more next week, if anyone is looking for german layout Cherry or Alps boards I might be able to grab some extras for a reasonable price. Im not 100% sure, but I think there was also one or two SDL-plug Model M boards and plenty other boards with mechanical switches I couldn't place due to my definitely lacking knowledge. What I know is primarily from my lurking here.
And for now I've found my new keyboard: the AT-102D, replacing my Dell Quietkey that I grabbed on a fleamarket for 1 €. I',m dreading going back to university next week with their icky, non-clicky membranes.

What I pulled on this first trip:

3 G80-1800 1AT/2ps2
1 g80-1851 USB
1 Dell AT-102D
3 G80-3000 LS Blues
1 G80-1000HFD Blue
1 Black Qtronix board with Cherry MX Blues AT-connector

Back to cleaning and testing for me, so far not a single busted one, hurrah.

(http://www.overclock.net/attachments/keyboards/187548d1293783489-lucky-day-warehouse-day1.jpg)

Title: My lucky day
Post by: sixty on Fri, 31 December 2010, 03:02:33

Congrats!

Really rare to stumble across so many good boards in one shot.
The G80-1000HFD with blues is really rare. I have gone through a total of maybe 200+ G80-1000s now and I only ever found a model with blue once.

I see you also got a bunch of those legendary Lauer&Fischer boards. The legendary source of g80-1800s in Germany. All of mine all say "Sternen Apotheke Berlin" too, so I guess their original source is in Berlin too.

What a start into a new year! Enjoy the boards and congrats again!

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Ascaii on Fri, 31 December 2010, 03:15:03

Quote from: sixty;271049

Congrats!

Really rare to stumble across so many good boards in one shot.
The G80-1000HFD with blues is really rare. I have gone through a total of maybe 200+ G80-1000s now and I only ever found a model with blue once.

I see you also got a bunch of those legendary Lauer&Fischer boards. The legendary source of g80-1800s in Germany. All of mine all say "Sternen Apotheke Berlin" too, so I guess their original source is in Berlin too.

What a start into a new year! Enjoy the boards and congrats again!

Thanks!

There are several thousand boards at the warehouse I was at, and there were a lot of Lauer+Fischer g1800s there, in working condition. But i don't really like the compact layout so I was only really looking at the full size boards. I think there was a second 1000hfb with blues there that i'll grab the next time im there. How well do mechs go here in germany anyways? Do you think there would be a point for me to grab a bunch and try to resell them? I could most likely get a great deal if i get 50-100 boards, but I'm not about to do that if I can't move them quickly. Plus cleaning and testing of 100 boards is something I don't have the time for at all.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: sixty on Fri, 31 December 2010, 03:22:11

Quote from: Ascaii;271054

Thanks!
could most likely get a great deal if i get 50-100 boards, but I'm not about to do that if I can't move them quickly. Plus cleaning and testing of 100 boards is something I don't have the time for at all.

Depends on the model. Model Ms go for about 30-50 Euro on eBay. G80s with MX Blue usually in the 30+ Euro range.

ALPS stuff, MX Blacks are pretty unpopular on eBay, but might make a few geekhackers happy.

When I get a huge surplus on good boards I usually put them up for sale here on geekhack to anyone in Europe for a fair price. Most of my sales I don't make more than a few Euros profit. Sharing is caring.

If you are in for massive profit, look out for these boards:

(http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7599/cherry_mx-5000_07.jpg)
G80-5000HXX - Sells for 300-500 Euro on eBay.

(http://i.imgur.com/xnkX2.jpg)
Anything Cherry with Cyrillic keycaps - Sells for 100-200 Euro to Korean collectors, unless keycaps are not MX compatible.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Ascaii on Fri, 31 December 2010, 03:28:03

Great, i'll keep my eyes peeled when going through the piles. The girlfriend sure is going to be unhappy when she returns from vacation to find me sitting on boxes of vintage keyboards.

I wouldn't mind grabbing 1800 blacks for anyone willing to spend a few euros+shipping. Germany layouts, some dirty. Also, anyone looking for replacement keys I can grab those as well.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: godly_music on Fri, 31 December 2010, 04:32:53

Wow, nice find. I'm in the market for a cheap, used G80-3000 with MX Blues if you're looking to sell these here.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: lowpoly on Fri, 31 December 2010, 04:52:19

Ascaii,

good finds!

Quote from: sixty;271059

Show Image

(http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7599/cherry_mx-5000_07.jpg)

G80-5000HXX - Sells for 300-500 Euro on eBay.

I'm keeping that one only to refurbish and sell it. Is that the going price on ebay Germany right now? Or for ANSI models on ebay.com?

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Ascaii on Fri, 31 December 2010, 04:56:55

Quote from: godly_music;271085

Wow, nice find. I'm in the market for a cheap, used G80-3000 with MX Blues if you're looking to sell these here.

I will be putting some up for sale in the classifieds.
Currently I can spare one G80-3000 Blue, though I still need to figure out an appropriate asking price. I might also be putting the Black Qtronix up for sale here, once I decide if i'd rather use it or the Dell-102D. Seems there is a market for these Blues, since I already have someone asking for one in my classified for the 1800s. I'll make sure to pick up more when I go back next week. So far, all the boards I got are fully functional, only one of the 1800s had a stuck key, and that was due to a paperclip that had gotten into the casing. I'll be glad to discuss a price, either by pm, or you can write me in the classified I posted.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: woody on Fri, 31 December 2010, 05:34:42

Quote from: sixty;271059

Anything Cherry with Cyrillic keycaps - Sells for 100-200 Euro to Korean collectors, unless keycaps are not MX compatible.

Weird people.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: sixty on Fri, 31 December 2010, 05:56:54

Quote from: lowpoly;271091

Ascaii,

good finds!


I'm keeping that one only to refurbish and sell it. Is that the going price on ebay Germany right now? Or for ANSI models on ebay.com?

The last few ones even in ISO layout went for over 300 Euros on eBay Germany. One kept being relisted though. Price depends a lot of condition and accessories. I'm pretty sure anything with the numpad will easily end over 300. NIB probably much more.

A few years back Koreans made a batch of PCB-clones of the ANSI layout, so even ISO ones are worth a lot now since they can just easily replace the  PCB.

The prototype V80-5000 sold for 900(?) Euro.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Ekaros on Fri, 31 December 2010, 06:08:59

Once I get bit more money and someplace with resonable shipping, clears would be cool...

Maybe I need to start hunting around too, not too many specials around here though :(

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Swede on Fri, 31 December 2010, 09:08:14

Keep this thread updated :D
I'm interested in some cherry blues, and maybe some white/blue alps.

Good luck in finding more keyboards! :D

On another note... I need to hunt around too... wishing that I found this interest a few years earlier, most companies have already thrown away their Model Ms and other mechs here :(

Title: My lucky day
Post by: theferenc on Fri, 31 December 2010, 09:13:01

I would gladly pay for a few SDL cables, if you can find them (and they work). In fact, I'll send you a PM about this.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Ascaii on Fri, 31 December 2010, 10:07:10

Quote from: Swede;271148

Keep this thread updated :D
I'm interested in some cherry blues, and maybe some white/blue alps.

Good luck in finding more keyboards! :D

On another note... I need to hunt around too... wishing that I found this interest a few years earlier, most companies have already thrown away their Model Ms and other mechs here :(

Will do!

I know for a fact that there was two boards with white ALPS. I left them because I only had cash for 10 boards that day, I had expected a maximum of one of two useable boards and boy, was I wrong.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Lanx on Sat, 01 January 2011, 11:42:28

please use this
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_bnyCNUkhrbo/TKTJGTB676I/AAAAAAAAC1A/KF3csXN6sQw/s320/6a00e552792fa288330120a5aeb909970b-pi.jpg)
or the german equivalent, i'm not planning on buying, but i'm fearing for your personal germ safety of all those thousands of boards!
(i carry a bottle of purell whenever i go shopping and have to "touch" anything i'm not a germophobe by any means i just know ppl are nasty)
(http://www.tune-in-tokyo.com/wp-content/uploads/purell_2oz.jpg)

Title: My lucky day
Post by: krstf on Sun, 02 January 2011, 10:44:08

Nice find, congrats.

I'd be interested in an blue and/or white ALPS board if you can grab some.

Happy hunting next week.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Ascaii on Mon, 03 January 2011, 11:48:29

Day2:

My Brother and I got through the first Pallet. Many Blues+Buckling Springs. Plus something secret I will post once I find more information.

(http://www.overclock.net/attachments/keyboards/188107d1294098418-lucky-day-warehouse-auto.jpg)
(http://www.overclock.net/attachments/keyboards/188108d1294098418-lucky-day-warehouse-keller2.jpg)
(http://www.overclock.net/attachments/keyboards/188109d1294098418-lucky-day-warehouse-keller.jpg)

Title: My lucky day
Post by: ktkr on Mon, 03 January 2011, 12:00:54

Sweet haul.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: dec.net on Mon, 03 January 2011, 12:03:23

Very very nice indeed! :)

Chris

Title: My lucky day
Post by: sixty on Mon, 03 January 2011, 12:30:50

Those Model Ms alone probably bring in quite some money. I see some M2s... hope any of them work still.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Ascaii on Mon, 03 January 2011, 12:33:17

Quote from: sixty;272385

Those Model Ms alone probably bring in quite some money. I see some M2s... hope any of them work still.

So far I have yet to find a single IBM switch that didn't "Click".
Is the M2 the slim one?
I ended up with 2 donor boards with a few keys missing. If you don't mind, I could use some help identifying some of the other keyboards.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 03 January 2011, 12:34:56

Quote from: Ascaii;272387

So far I have yet to find a single IBM switch that didn't "Click".

Neither have the eBay sellers.  In fact, they haven't been able to find a keyboard, in general, that didn't "click."

Nice haul.  You have some good stuff there.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: sixty on Mon, 03 January 2011, 12:35:55

Quote from: Ascaii;272387

So far I have yet to find a single IBM switch that didn't "Click".
Is the M2 the slim one?
I ended up with 2 donor boards with a few keys missing. If you don't mind, I could use some help identifying some of the other keyboards.

Yeah M2 is the slim one. They have a high failure rate due to bad parts. I would guess there is a 80% chance a used one you pick up turns out broken.

Just post pics along, I'll try to identify when possible. I'm sure other geekhackers will too.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Ascaii on Mon, 03 January 2011, 12:44:23

Quote from: sixty;272389

Yeah M2 is the slim one. They have a high failure rate due to bad parts. I would guess there is a 80% chance a used one you pick up turns out broken.

Just post pics along, I'll try to identify when possible. I'm sure other geekhackers will too.

I took one updstairs to try, i will hook it up now and try the keys, you have me interested!

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Findecanor on Mon, 03 January 2011, 14:14:22

With the IBM M2, it is most often the controller card that fails, usually because of a capacitor that has dried out for not having been used enough.

The yellowed keyboard behind the boxes looks like it could be a WYSE terminal board. in AT layout. You can read about a similar board (with slightly different layout) on Sixty's page (http://keyboardporn.com/mx-switch/wyse-wy60-terminal/).
Otherwise, it can be hard to see from the side. If you post full frontal pictures of the keyboards that you can not identify, it would be easier for us to help you.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: elef on Mon, 03 January 2011, 14:21:06

Not a single black keyboard in sight... that's a shame, I was hoping to snag a black Cherry G80-3000 from this lot. I can see most of thes are IBMs though, so maybe there is hope.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 03 January 2011, 14:22:11

Quote from: Findecanor;272454

With the IBM M2, it is most often the controller card that fails, usually because of a capacitor that has dried out for not having been used enough.

If you have an M2 with this problem, there are instructions on how to fix it in the mods forum.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Ascaii on Mon, 03 January 2011, 14:34:49

Quote from: elef;272464

Not a single black keyboard in sight... that's a shame, I was hoping to snag a black Cherry G80-3000 from this lot. I can see most of thes are IBMs though, so maybe there is hope.

I have a black Qtronix branded board with Cherry Blues and an AT-plug from the first day

Yes, that is one of three WYSE terminal boards, which I will most likely be selling to sixty. Webwit already pointed me in the way of fixing the M2 as well. Thanks for all the great help and feedback, Im glad to be part of this here community now.

Teaser:
(http://www1.picturepush.com/photo/a/4794079/640/4794079.jpg)

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Brodie337 on Tue, 04 January 2011, 03:08:35

My F5 key is getting worn out here I think.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Ascaii on Tue, 04 January 2011, 03:34:31

^^

Sixty was so kind to post pics on OTD, here is the link: http://www.otd.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=album&wr_id=49210

Here is the rest of the prototype for now:
(http://usera.ImageCave.com/ascaii/Prototype/protoserial.jpg)
(http://usera.ImageCave.com/ascaii/Prototype/protofront2.jpg)
(http://usera.ImageCave.com/ascaii/Prototype/protokey.jpg)
(http://usera.ImageCave.com/ascaii/Prototype/protoconnect.jpg)

Title: My lucky day
Post by: theferenc on Tue, 04 January 2011, 08:33:45

Wow, is that one of the early smart card reading keyboards? I have always wanted one of those (but in USB).

Title: My lucky day
Post by: dec.net on Tue, 04 January 2011, 12:31:04

An official cherry prototype with a label saying so? Really, a great find! Any word from the experts yet on how rare these things actually are?

Chris

Title: My lucky day
Post by: sixty on Tue, 04 January 2011, 12:41:25

Of course prototypes are very rare. The unlucky part here is that its a G81 boards and seems identical to the retail model :(

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Half-Saint on Sat, 08 January 2011, 14:52:27

Any Lauer&Fischer boards for sale? :)

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Ascaii on Sat, 08 January 2011, 14:56:37

Quote from: Half-Saint;275297

Any Lauer&Fischer boards for sale? :)

read this thread:  http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=14059

if you are specifically looking for lauer and fisher branded boards, I currently only have 1 cherry g80-3000 with blacks which is branded "Fischer". Also have a neat lauer +fischer keyboard sticker, one of those neat rubber 3dish ones.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: keyb_gr on Sat, 08 January 2011, 15:13:50

Quote from: elef;272464

Not a single black keyboard in sight... that's a shame, I was hoping to snag a black Cherry G80-3000 from this lot. I can see most of thes are IBMs though, so maybe there is hope.

Black colored vintage Cherry boards are pretty uncommon over here, so good luck.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: elef on Sat, 08 January 2011, 15:36:11

Yes, Ascaii also let me know in the meantime that the odds of a black one popping up are pretty slim. I guess I will pick one up from Amazon, they are not that expensive new.

Title: My lucky day
Post by: Ascaii on Sat, 08 January 2011, 15:41:35

yep, the only black mech I found is a qtronix OEM board using cherry blacks, which I still need to make the keep/sell decision on. I might keep a Model M instead and sell it, thats what im leaning towards at the moment anyways.