geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Liquid Cool on Sat, 26 May 2012, 17:04:08
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:plane:
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Leading Edge DC - 3014 (not sure which one is that, if its mechanical I believe blue alps depending on condition will go here for 40-70 bucks)
IBM Model M - 1391401 (around 40-50 bucks depending on condition)
IBM Model KB-8923 - IBM Blue Sticker (rubber membrane, worthless)
KeyTronic M/N: E03601QLCMT-C D/M: J9747 (rubber membrane, worthless)
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1391401 is a very popular Model M, sadly don't command super high prices but if it is truly pristine you might be able to get $40-50 for it if you can show no busted rivets.
Against my better judgement, PM me if you want to sell that one... (need another keyboard like a hole in my head, but I do miss the 1391401 that got lost when I moved...)
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Thanks for the reply's!
I lent my camera to my sister, I'll probably be needing that back...seems like I've always got it lent out when I need it most.
If the keyboards are worthless...to worth only $50 a piece, I think I'll probably just keep them. Not worth the hassle. I've got a few dozen more, but they don't seem to be mechanical, so I doubt they're worth the trouble either. I thought this Leading Edge keyboard might be worth something though...It has the best feel/touch of any keyboard I've ever used and I can't find any information on it. Think I might throw this one on E-Bay and see what happens. I need to put a dent in the price of a new keyboard some way...these new boards aren't cheap!
Leading Edge DC-3014 (http://curio.egloos.com/m/343195)
Thanks for the help,
LC
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That LE looks like an Alps board, though I can't tell for sure until a cap comes off. I had a LE board that was Futaba switches I think, and it was awful. I agree with the above assessment of price. You can probably get about $50 for it.
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Quarzac...
Thanks. Don't know how to get the keys off this LE...they seem like they're on there good. My model M, thankfully they just pop off. I figured out the IBM KB-8923 they kind of pop off with a little help...Afraid I'll break something.
At any rate, I guess these older keyboards are going back in the closet for another 20 years...I'll have to find something else to help fund my keyboard purchase. I guess I could start yanking out video cards? Smile.
Again, Thanks for the help fellas.
Best,
Liquid Cool
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ALPS keycaps are notoriously difficult to remove!
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Daniel...I tried pulling on one of the keys...then wedging a flat blade screwdriver under a key and....then I just stopped. I don't want to break something. After playing with this keyboard for a few minutes. Man these Leading Edge boards feel great to type on.
When I did a Google search on the board, it pretty much brought me back to here. Not much info, just a few old posts about someone selling them on E-Bay for too much.
I might do a .99 auction instead of a fixed price, I can't find anyone that has sold one lately.
Best,
LC
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You don't have a proper keypuller then?
Yeah maybe you should keep that one ;-)
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Daniel,
I know absolutely nothing about keyboards...that's why I'm here asking you guys. :wave:
I just built a small ITX pc in a Wesena ITX 5 chassis and I want a small mechanical keyboard(black) to go with it that's as good as my full size Model M...so I thought I'd start hunting around for what's the best one to get, and I found this site. AND...if you have any suggestions on keyboards to look at that fit my bill, I'm a willing listener!
Best,
Liquid Cool
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Ripster, thanks for the links. I'll take a look.
LC
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Ok. I got the K key off this thing by following ripster's advice...rock back and forth, pulled lightly. There is a dull blue colored rectangle spring mechanism underneath and the blue rectangle is going into a shiny black box...and the box is sitting a dull black plate that is underneath.
LC
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What do I win Monte...er, Ripster. These are decent mechanism's? I've only dealt with buckling springs on my Model M, these are definitely different.
At any rate, I do appreciate the help in getting this key cap off. I was scared something was going to break because it didn't come off without a fight...wiggling definitely did the trick.
The key I took off was the 'K' key....the inside of this key cap is lined with a black plastic insert that has raised handwritten numbers...it say's 12. On the black box around the blue rectangle it has a Big X on it inside of a circle in one corner and the other corner says 8J, and there is an underline, although it is OVER the 8, not under it. The other two corners, nothing.
I'm not seeing ALPS anywhere here.
Best,
LC
P.S. 57000 posts since 2009? Wow.
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After doing a night of research...I can't find another one of these LE DC-3014's for sale anywhere on the planet, so I have no market comparisons to find a value for this board. Since this has to be the best keyboard I've ever typed on...I think I'm going to keep it. I've been offered a G80 in exchange or $50 from someone else. I just tested it out this morning and I think I'm going to throw my Model M in the closet and keep this as my main board. I don't know how to explain it, but the typing is fantastic on it. The keys rock.
I've read(Ripster) the ALPS labelling is on the bottom of these switches on some of the older boards, please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm not going to de-solder a switch just to check. I will have pictures up later...I'm running over to pick up my camera this afternoon.
I wanted to buy a Filco 10 keyless black keyboard...but I think this one fits the bill better.
Best,
LC
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does it feel like the tactile/actuation point is really close to the top of the key travel? that's the main difference (to me at least) between Alps switches and Cherry MX. That, and the Alps switches don't age gracefully; they tend to feel really frictiony after they've been used and abused. That said, I used an AT101 for years not knowing any better, still preferring it to the newer crap that my then-employer attempted to foist off on me every time I got a new PC. (If I hadn't left that job, I might still be using that keyboard and never have found GH.) But if yours are in good shape, enjoy them, they're not bad switches at all.
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LOL...Ripster, I literally read dozens of your threads last night...I enjoy your comments. I'm a picture ****, just let me get my camera and I'll post detailed pics.
The keyboard is literally new, so the key travel is firm, but giving. Again, this isn't like my model M that I'm used to so I just don't know how to explain it properly, but damn...it's nice.
Best,
LC
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They're blue ALPS in an ANSI layout with big backspace key. There are only a few blue ALPS boards like that. Early Northgates also did but they're also tough to find.
That's a bad ass keyboard and it's definitely worth over $50 if it's not too yellow and in good working condition.
EDIT, just read your last reply. Sometimes you have to type on them for a bit to wear them in when they've been sitting for a long time. ALPS are susceptible to this more than others it seems. If you don't want it or want to trade for something else, I might be interested.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]51620[/ATTACH]
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didjamatic...
That's the 'exact' board there. I have the little lady running over to my sisters to get my camera right now, so pics within the half-hour. It's never been cleaned/touched although I did use some oops on a small spot last night to get off a small sticker and it's residue. Came right off. At any rate, I'm not into keyboards all that much, I just wanted a Filco. This Filco here.
Click Here (http://www.amazon.com/Filco-Majestouch-2-Tenkeyless-FKBN87ML-EB2/dp/B0053U3YA0)
The reason I want it is this. I just built a nice little mini-itx system in a Wesena ITX-5 case(It's dead silent and runs at 28w), I'm running dual P2412H Dell's, and I thought that the old Model M looked a little clunky with my new smaller setup. So, I wanted a keyboard that would be of decent quality that could replace my Model M and match my little computer system. So...I went through my closet and started looking at my old stuff. I have many old keyboards...thought I'd sell a few to get the Filco because these things are so damn expensive and I'm about tapped out...but it looks like my old boards maybe aren't worth much.
My only goal here is to get me a nice little black keyboard.
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Have you considered a Poker? It's a small black keyboard and I have one mint in box. If interested, PM me your other keyboards and maybe we can work out a trade.
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:plane:
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Not so fast... there were Compaq's with Cherry MX switches and Zeniths wth Yellow, Green, Blue and other colors of ALPS that were very nice mechanicals. Pop the caps and look for alps or cherries and if they have them, post em up. There are some rare Dells with early logos and pink ALPS that go for big cash once in a while, the Asian crowd appreciates that model more than the Westerners do.
I'll PM you about a possible trade.
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:plane:
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There are some rare Dells with early logos and pink ALPS that go for big cash once in a while, the Asian crowd appreciates that model more than the Westerners do.
Those things still worth something? I've got one that's partially disassembled with all of the switches open and gathering dust.
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Not trying to hijack the thread but on the Dells with pink ALPS, I've seen them go as low as $75 or as high as $400. You never know.
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Compaqs? Longshot, but do you have Compaq 185367-001 (G80-1838HPU)... I would be highly interested.
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Lysol...
Give me a day or three to assess what I have. I've decided(with help) I've spent too much time on this over the weekend and the little lady is upset. The toys are going back in the closet and I'll just buy a little black keyboard somewhere. I'm a busy guy...don't have time to play with keyboards like I'd like to right now. The house is full and I've got a mile long to do list.
If I get a chance, over the next week or two I'll put a full list together.
Best,
LC
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Compaqs? Longshot, but do you have Compaq 185367-001 (G80-1838HPU)... I would be highly interested.
I have 2, but not for sale. :)
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What are "pink" Alps and "orange" Alps?
I have had a few early Apple keyboards with Alps that my daughter called "salmon" that were somewhere between pink and orange.
Are we talking about those, or truly orange switches? I liked them pretty well, but I never thought that they were superior to whites.
Classic whites, that is. Those dampened whites ("creams") on the AEK2 were not to my liking at all.
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Model F superior to Model M's?
Stay tuned.
LC
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Pinks found mostly on very early Dell AT101's, Apple M0116 and the occasional WYSE.
Orange found mostly on Apple M0115. Very underrated keyboard but not pursued often because of ADB connection, you need an ADB to USB adapter to use it.
Yes, Model F is superior to Model M... if it's a Model F AT (Personal Computer AT) not the XT version. The XT switches are fine but layout is bad and incompatible.
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didjamatic.
AT type stuff is what I primarily have. I've been building/fixing computers since '89 and at the office we've gone through upgrades every two-three years since then. Small brokerage. I grabbed the wrong kind on Thursday(too new).
pic (http://www.4shared.com/photo/NgJTw_5F/DSC05434.html)
Whatever board came with the 8088 to the 80286, maybe some 80386 is what I would have the most of. As well as all of the clones around that time.
You never got back to me.
Best,
LC
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I'm gonna dip in here real quick...
If someone could pm me a list of the top 20 keyboards to look for, just name and part # is fine. I'll have a real good look this week. I have access to a nice stash of old equipment, never know what I can come up with...although, frankly I don't know 'exactly' what to look for. It seems I saw a Northgate keyboard this week, but I thought it said NorthGate Systems, Inc. on it in the top left corner, or I could just have a touch of ol's timers. I punched on the keys, seemed like junk to me.
Also, do you guys collect the original mouse that goes with these? or don't care? I know with the Compaq keyboards they have the original block two-button MUS2J mouse with them, looks like a rectangle block of wood...smile. I'm pretty sure I have a box of them...and the old IBM two and three separate button mouse etc.
Best,
Liquid Cool
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Ripster...
If nobody shoots me over a list, I'm going to take a butter knife to work with me and just start popping off keys and looking for pretty colors.
:eek:
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I simply could not be happy with the odd, old-fashioned layouts of my Model F XTs and ATs.
Get a 122-key terminal, take it apart, move a few springs and barrels around, and you get something very closely resembling a standard ANSI layout, with Function keys both top and left. Now THAT is the Mac Daddy.
Sometimes, in an emergency, such as at a yard sale, I have to use my house key to remove a keycap, but you can bend a very serviceable key puller from a large paper clip in a matter of seconds, and a pretty nice one in a couple of minutes.
I keep losing the links, but several people have posted photos here of their creations. The simplest is to bend the entire paper clip into a "U" shape, with the diameter of the curve to fit your finger, then add tiny "J" hooks at the ends (pointing toward the inside, of course) with only about 2-3mm of opening, so that they just wrap into the underside of the shell of the cap.
The price is right, don't screw around with screwdrivers and butter knives.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]51642[/ATTACH]
Here is a particularly nice one. I made one of these and use it often.
PS - that IBM KB-8923 is pretty good for a rubber dome, if it is reasonably fresh.
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LC, you have a PM.
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I think everyones top 20 would be different. Depends if they are model M, Alps, Cherry, or obscure switch collector. Me, I'm a Cherry guy, so if you want to look out for any Cherry G80. I have been looking for the 1838 for a little while and have found some Compaq server reseller that apparently has a few pallets of them in their warehouse. Still hoping to get one a little cheaper than the $140 they want, though reasonable for nib I suppose.
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I can see how everyone's opinion might be a little different and this might be expressed in their list. I was just looking for a general guide...and I think Ripster nailed that just fine. I'm going to print out his list and take it with me to the office. I'll see what I come up with, might be nothing...might be a little paydirt. I have no idea. It's the thrill of the hunt I suppose. Smile.
I do appreciate everyone speaking up.
Didjamatic, a PM will be incoming within a 1/2 hour. Going to take a couple of photos first.
Best,
LC
P.S. fohat.digs...thank you very much for the photos, I can craft that tool in 5 minutes in my workshop. I put that KB-8923 on the little lady's desk for the weekend and told her to use it and tell me what she thought. She's one helluva typist. 110wpm on a bad day. She likes it, but say's her finger tire quickly. She's more into the Model M's too. I think she likes the feedback(click) to her typing...and it's music to my ears. Smile.
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More of those Leading Edge boards, of course.
Blue ALPS have pretty much the best clicky sound of anything on the planet, but they're typically condemned to useless layouts such as small backspace and big-ass enter. Mine has \ instead of LWin and # instead of RWin/Menu.
You've managed to find blue ALPS in Model M layout, which is just awesome. Being British, nothing you find is of any interest to me personally (not worth the shipping expense to have something that still has the keys in the wrong place) but blue ALPS is rare and worth saving.
Basically you can tell from both the feel and the sound whether a keyboard is mechanical: the keys aren't squishy and you get a nice clang sound from the metal parts. Grab everything you can find, someone will have it off you :-) (Except possibly Acer … Acer switches suck, despite being nothing remotely like what anyone here describes. The one in a million person who likes XM ALPS will like Acer; they're very similar.)
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I'm wanting to purchase a new keyboard. I like these Filco small type black keyboards and I'm not even sure I want a Filco, I guess...I just mean I want a small black mechanical keyboard that goes with my new rig. :) I've been around pc's for a long time and if you've perused [H], PcPer, XS, or TechPowerUp! you've probably seen me posting on there...
The deal is, I'm on a tight budget so I'm going to try to sell a few of my spare keyboards out of my 'parts stash' that I have. Although, I don't want to sell something that I should keep and I'd like to ask a fair price. I have no idea what any of these are worth.
I will mention, all of these keyboards are in mint condition. Stored in bags and aren't yellowed. No keys missing etc.
IBM Model M - 1391401 - 25AUG87 <--detachable cable - IBM Silver or Grey sticker
IBM Model KB-8923 - IBM Blue Sticker
KeyTronic M/N: E03601QLCMT-C D/M: J9747 <---Looks like a Model M knock off AT style connector.
Leading Edge DC - 3014 <---I have no idea where this one came from, but the key pressure is better than my Model M. I think I like this one. AT Style.
Any help appreciated.
Best,
Liquid Cool
If you have a IBM M without the numpad I'd be willing to trade this: http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?31645-Filco-Black-TKL-Black-Switch-NEW
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I'm pretty sure I don't have one, although wanted to comment that that's a pretty nice looking keyboard.
GLWS,
LC
P.S. Didjamatic...PM sent.
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If you love the alps board you found so much, why are you determined to make it someone elses, so that you can get a new one that you've never typed on?
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I'm not getting your point Davek. Can you be more specific?
Best,
LC
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I'm not getting your point Davek. Can you be more specific?
Best,
LC
You wanted a new keyboard.
You went through your keyboards to find one to sell to finance this acquisition.
You found what seems to be a gem, that you seem to like a lot.
Why not just use it, instead of selling it? Why not have a new-old kb?
It sounds like you may not get something as nice as it, even if you pay several times what you could sell it for.
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I thought he said he was keeping that one?
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Maybe I'm just slow.....
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Whoever PM'd the OP with something he considered disturbing... Congrats, you chased off a new GH member. He's disabled accepting PMs and said he is done here. Hope you feel powerful and awesome.
Maybe some mods can use their authoritah to figure out who PM'd him and what is going on. I already messaged Imav about it.
I had a trade negotiated for the Leading Edge board in this thread and was ready to ship. Now he's cut me off along with this forum.
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Whoever PM'd the OP with something he considered disturbing... Congrats, you chased off a new GH member. He's disabled accepting PMs and said he is done here. Hope you feel powerful and awesome.
Maybe some mods can use their authoritah to figure out who PM'd him and what is going on. I already messaged Imav about it.
I had a trade negotiated for the Leading Edge board in this thread and was ready to ship. Now he's cut me off along with this forum.
It will be investigated.
Liquid Cool: If you see this post, please PM me, thank you.
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If you still need me to contact him (Liquid Cool) for you, I can do that. I've personally dealt with LC several times on another forum. He's one of the nicest and genuine person on a forum. didjamatic, I can pass long any message you want me to.
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Whoever PM'd the OP with something he considered disturbing... Congrats, you chased off a new GH member. He's disabled accepting PMs and said he is done here. Hope you feel powerful and awesome.
Maybe some mods can use their authoritah to figure out who PM'd him and what is going on. I already messaged Imav about it.
I had a trade negotiated for the Leading Edge board in this thread and was ready to ship. Now he's cut me off along with this forum.
That's awful. I talked to him a bit, offered a couple things, and gave him some advice on keyboards as well as I could. He seemed like a very nice guy. Scumbag PMer, rest assured that if I find out who I am, you're getting put on my shipping blacklist.
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If you still need me to contact him (Liquid Cool) for you, I can do that. I've personally dealt with LC several times on another forum. He's one of the nicest and genuine person on a forum. didjamatic, I can pass long any message you want me to.
Thanks for that. He should have my email address, I sent it to him before he took off. If he still wants to trade I'm sure he'll reach out to me.
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Whoever PM'd the OP with something he considered disturbing... Congrats, you chased off a new GH member. He's disabled accepting PMs and said he is done here. Hope you feel powerful and awesome.
Maybe some mods can use their authoritah to figure out who PM'd him and what is going on. I already messaged Imav about it.
I had a trade negotiated for the Leading Edge board in this thread and was ready to ship. Now he's cut me off along with this forum.
Wow, that's a shame, I considered going to that board, but looked like you were already after it so I passed.
Maybe somebody else REALLY wanted it and didn't gracefully let go? :sad: