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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: nubbinator on Tue, 15 July 2014, 20:29:16

Title: IBM Displaywriter $250 +shipping OBO
Post by: nubbinator on Tue, 15 July 2014, 20:29:16

I believe this is a beamspring keyboard.  You don't see them come up very often and this one looks pretty clean.  It's still kind of pricey, but considering how some others have fetched in worse shape, it's not necessarily a bad buy.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-Displaywriter-Keyboard-/321463421031?pt=US_Vintage_Computers_Mainframes&hash=item4ad8b68867

Title: Re: IBM Displaywriter $250 +shipping OBO
Post by: awong on Tue, 15 July 2014, 20:58:18

Is beam spring like buckling spring?

Title: Re: IBM Displaywriter $250 +shipping OBO
Post by: Daspartic on Wed, 16 July 2014, 01:27:05

He just accepted my offer, thank you for the link Nubbinator!!!!

Title: Re: IBM Displaywriter $250 +shipping OBO
Post by: Daspartic on Wed, 16 July 2014, 01:29:01

Quote from: awong on Tue, 15 July 2014, 20:58:18

Is beam spring like buckling spring?

They are the predecessor to the buckling spring.  Someone else can probably explain how they differ a lot better than I could.

Title: Re: IBM Displaywriter $250 +shipping OBO
Post by: nubbinator on Wed, 16 July 2014, 01:35:00

Quote from: Daspartic on Wed, 16 July 2014, 01:27:05

He just accepted my offer, thank you for the link Nubbinator!!!!

If it's not too crass to ask, how much did it go for?  Doing some research on them on here, they appear to have gone for anywhere from $130 to well over $200 in the past 5 years or so.  Hopefully you got them under $200 shipped.

Anyways, congrats on the get and I look forward to a review on it.  They're not all that common to see and that one appears to be in good shape.

Title: Re: IBM Displaywriter $250 +shipping OBO
Post by: Daspartic on Wed, 16 July 2014, 02:08:59

Thanks Nubbinator,  I went a little crazy and offered him 225 + shipping, cause it was ANSI and I didn't want anyone to BIN while he was getting back to me, but he ended up responding in 10 seconds lol.  Maybe it was a little pricey, but it looked like it was in really good condition so I went for it. 
Hopefully I can get into xwhatsit's second group buy for the beamspring USB controller, and after I get it running, I'll write a review for it.  Thanks again for the link!

Title: Re: IBM Displaywriter $250 +shipping OBO
Post by: dorkvader on Wed, 16 July 2014, 18:49:19

yeah the version with the L enter and unsplit shift is much less common. This particular example is of note as it appears to be in excellent condition.

The Displaywriter controller process was a bit different for me than the 3278 one, but it works great once I have it calibrated. Feel free to PM me if you run into trouble.

Title: Re: IBM Displaywriter $250 +shipping OBO
Post by: Daspartic on Thu, 17 July 2014, 02:43:16

Awesome, thanks Dorkvader!  I'm really new to this whole installing your own controller thing, so I really appreciate it.

Title: Re: IBM Displaywriter $250 +shipping OBO
Post by: MTManiac on Thu, 17 July 2014, 17:08:12

Nice pickup!
There have been a few beam springs picked up by GHers lately.
Very exciting!~

Title: Re: IBM Displaywriter $250 +shipping OBO
Post by: nubbinator on Thu, 17 July 2014, 17:29:36

The seller put up one more (his last), but it's $400+ shipping.  It's a cool little get though.

Title: Re: IBM Displaywriter $250 +shipping OBO
Post by: Daspartic on Thu, 17 July 2014, 23:11:09

Quote from: MTManiac on Thu, 17 July 2014, 17:08:12

Nice pickup!
There have been a few beam springs picked up by GHers lately.
Very exciting!~

Thanks MTManiac!

Quote from: nubbinator on Thu, 17 July 2014, 17:29:36

The seller put up one more (his last), but it's $400+ shipping.  It's a cool little get though.

Yeah I saw this today as well.  It seems to be in pristine condition.  Good for someone who wants a near perfect specimen for their collection.