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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: nubbinator on Sun, 31 May 2015, 00:09:28

Title: Fei Company Model M?
Post by: nubbinator on Sun, 31 May 2015, 00:09:28: I say this on eBay and was wondering if it's an IBM BS board. Fei Company has done stuff with IBM before and it looks like it could be BS, but I have no clue. Anyone seen something like this before?

(http://i.imgur.com/IfL7LBn.jpg)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FEI-Company-Control-Keyboard-100-12241-Rev-C1-23897-/281706941865?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41970acda9
Title: Re: Fei Company Model M?
Post by: chyros on Sun, 31 May 2015, 04:39:22: Wow. That is.... impressive. Impressive indeed.
Title: Re: Fei Company Model M?
Post by: E TwentyNine on Sun, 31 May 2015, 06:49:42: Certainly looks like an M in there.

Wonder why he doubled the price: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271880639569?rmvSB=true
Title: Re: Fei Company Model M?
Post by: nubbinator on Sun, 31 May 2015, 11:22:40: Quote from: E TwentyNine on Sun, 31 May 2015, 06:49:42
Certainly looks like an M in there.

Wonder why he doubled the price: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271880639569?rmvSB=true

I know there are similar looking Keytronic boards, just something about it looks like a Model M to me. If it is, it's by far the most unusual Model M I've ever seen.

And you never know with sellers on prices. I've seen more than a few people raise the price each time it goes unsold. I think some think that people aren't buying it because the price is too low...which does happen sometimes.
Title: Re: Fei Company Model M?
Post by: Touch_It on Sun, 31 May 2015, 12:41:16: Quote from: E TwentyNine on Sun, 31 May 2015, 06:49:42
Certainly looks like an M in there.

Wonder why he doubled the price: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271880639569?rmvSB=true

Ebay does not play by the laws of logic.

Also that thing would look amazing on someones desk.
Title: Re: Fei Company Model M?
Post by: chyros on Sun, 31 May 2015, 12:43:24: Quote from: Touch_It on Sun, 31 May 2015, 12:41:16
Quote from: E TwentyNine on Sun, 31 May 2015, 06:49:42
Certainly looks like an M in there.

Wonder why he doubled the price: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271880639569?rmvSB=true

Ebay does not play by the laws of logic.

Also that thing would look amazing on as someones desk.
phix'd 8)
Title: Re: Fei Company Model M?
Post by: hwood34 on Sun, 31 May 2015, 13:49:04: I just can't see how sellers actually think someone will buy stuff at crazy prices like this.
Title: Re: Fei Company Model M?
Post by: Snowdog993 on Sun, 31 May 2015, 15:26:05: It has a missing joystick knob and one joystick controller is broken. I would think that if they wanted such a premium price, it would be fully functional as well. I have no clue or idea what that thing is, but it does look interesting.

I don't even think it is compatible with a PC as it is. There are so many things about it that would make me look the other way.

With that said, I suppose it is a very rare thing. I've never seen anything like that before. It could be some sort of console combination controller and keyboard. It would make a distinct conversation piece, especially if you actually hooked it up to the computer and had all those gizmos functioning and doing something special.
Title: Re: Fei Company Model M?
Post by: Snarfangel on Sun, 31 May 2015, 19:37:09: Quote from: nubbinator on Sun, 31 May 2015, 00:09:28
I say this on eBay and was wondering if it's an IBM BS board. Fei Company has done stuff with IBM before and it looks like it could be BS, but I have no clue. Anyone seen something like this before?

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/IfL7LBn.jpg)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FEI-Company-Control-Keyboard-100-12241-Rev-C1-23897-/281706941865?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41970acda9

Doing some Googling, it looks like it may be involved in "Focused Ion Beam Systems" (REPLACEMENT SPAREPARTS FOR MICRION FIB REPAIR). Here is a link to a place that sells repair parts, including this keyboard:
http://www.freudlabs.com/spare_parts_for_micrion_fib (http://www.freudlabs.com/spare_parts_for_micrion_fib)

And some interesting pics:
(http://www.freudlabs.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/IMGP3983.99173342_large.JPG)
(really not sure what kind of switch this is)^
(http://www.freudlabs.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/IMGP3354.99181436_large.JPG)
(http://www.freudlabs.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/IMGP3234.99181954_large.JPG)
(http://www.freudlabs.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/DSCN0284.169180634_large.jpg)
(http://www.freudlabs.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/DSCN0287.169181001_large.jpg)

Still not sure what switch it uses.
Title: Re: Fei Company Model M?
Post by: Snarfangel on Sun, 31 May 2015, 19:41:06: Oh, and here it is in its natural habitat:
(http://www.freudlabs.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/DSCN0786.18490016_large.JPG)
Title: Re: Fei Company Model M?
Post by: E TwentyNine on Sun, 31 May 2015, 19:48:36: Great info, nice find.
Title: Re: Fei Company Model M?
Post by: Snowdog993 on Sun, 31 May 2015, 20:00:21: It makes you wonder, what in the world are they producing there?

The assembly looks like a regular buckling spring assembly. If it isn't, I am sure you can just drop one in!
That's pretty cool.

(http://i.imgur.com/zfP7HQv.jpg)
Title: Re: Fei Company Model M?
Post by: Xonar on Sun, 31 May 2015, 23:13:34: Quote from: Touch_It on Sun, 31 May 2015, 12:41:16
Also that thing would look amazing on someones desk.

That thing could almost be a desk on its own. :D
Title: Re: Fei Company Model M?
Post by: chyros on Mon, 01 June 2015, 04:26:20: Quote from: Snowdog993 on Sun, 31 May 2015, 20:00:21
It makes you wonder, what in the world are they producing there?

The assembly looks like a regular buckling spring assembly. If it isn't, I am sure you can just drop one in!
That's pretty cool.

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/zfP7HQv.jpg)

It's either that or Peerlesses, which use a similar system, but the barrel plate, specifically at the bottom, looks much more like that in the Model M. I'd definitely bet on BS here.
Title: Re: Fei Company Model M?
Post by: ander on Tue, 02 June 2015, 02:18:34: Oh man, you could dominate the world with a KB like that! (Although my wife manages to do it without a KB.)
Title: Re: Fei Company Model M?
Post by: BrewCaps on Tue, 02 June 2015, 09:50:28: Quote from: Snarfangel on Sun, 31 May 2015, 19:37:09
Quote from: nubbinator on Sun, 31 May 2015, 00:09:28
I say this on eBay and was wondering if it's an IBM BS board. Fei Company has done stuff with IBM before and it looks like it could be BS, but I have no clue. Anyone seen something like this before?

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/IfL7LBn.jpg)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FEI-Company-Control-Keyboard-100-12241-Rev-C1-23897-/281706941865?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41970acda9

Doing some Googling, it looks like it may be involved in "Focused Ion Beam Systems" (REPLACEMENT SPAREPARTS FOR MICRION FIB REPAIR). Here is a link to a place that sells repair parts, including this keyboard:
http://www.freudlabs.com/spare_parts_for_micrion_fib (http://www.freudlabs.com/spare_parts_for_micrion_fib)

And some interesting pics:
Show Image
(http://www.freudlabs.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/IMGP3983.99173342_large.JPG)

(really not sure what kind of switch this is)^
Show Image
(http://www.freudlabs.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/IMGP3354.99181436_large.JPG)

Show Image
(http://www.freudlabs.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/IMGP3234.99181954_large.JPG)

Show Image
(http://www.freudlabs.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/DSCN0284.169180634_large.jpg)

Show Image
(http://www.freudlabs.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/DSCN0287.169181001_large.jpg)

Still not sure what switch it uses.

Sure looks like a IBM!