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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: SCTony on Mon, 12 October 2009, 15:47:44

Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: SCTony on Mon, 12 October 2009, 15:47:44
Looks like a model F - ad doesn't say; lists number on back as 262128224 and says it is an AT model. Starting bid: $30 + $15 shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200393500017&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200393500017&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123)
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: maxlugar on Mon, 12 October 2009, 15:53:51
Quote from: SCTony;124748
Looks like a model F - ad doesn't say; lists number on back as 262128224 and says it is an AT model. Starting bid: $30 + $15 shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200393500017&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200393500017&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123)


That is indeed an original IBM 84-key PC AT (Model F if you will) keyboard.

Why would anyone care about the stupid smoked dust cover?  It's not like it was custom made, it's just a piece of plastic laying over the key area.

At any rate, let's see how high the the bidding goes.
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 12 October 2009, 15:54:21
Looks pretty nice, but that guy's seller rating blows.
 
EDIT: It looks like his rating is low, but I think it's due to the low amount of transactions he's had.  Still, though...
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: SCTony on Mon, 12 October 2009, 15:57:42
Oh- I didn't notice that. Thanks for pointing that out.  11 positive, 1 neg.
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 12 October 2009, 16:02:51
He actually has a couple of more negatives over his total lifetime, but he still doesn't have a lot of transactions.
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: maxlugar on Mon, 12 October 2009, 16:10:14
Quote from: ripster;124765
OOooooooo.  

I like the dust cover.


What would you do with it?  Something obscene related to Legos no doubt.

Brian at EliteKeyboards.com will sell you a nice keyboard roof for 26 bucks.  You'll have to add the smoke colour yourself.
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: AndrewZorn on Mon, 12 October 2009, 16:30:49
you can be more creative than this

personally think taking a block of wood, routing out a cavity, and sanding it all nicely and staining it would be awesome.

/more practical for HHKB's smallness
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: maxlugar on Mon, 12 October 2009, 16:33:18
Quote from: ripster;124779
The Elite ones have openings on the sides that let the dust in.

I consider that a design defect for a dust cover.

Now THIS one probably traps all those noxious gasses from the disintegrating foam.


Ah ha! Now it makes perfect sense.  The dust cover was clear when it was new, but years of exposure to those toxic gasses produced by disintegrating foam changed the colour from clear to opaque.
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: maxlugar on Mon, 12 October 2009, 17:26:12
Quote from: ripster;124798
The venetian blind keyboard cover patent.


I like!  Has the patent expired yet?
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: quadibloc on Mon, 12 October 2009, 18:50:15
Quote from: maxlugar;124810
I like!  Has the patent expired yet?


Amazingly, no; the patent was filed on May 13, 1999 so it still has about 11 years to run.

Cutting off the URL of the image at the first & worked:

http://www.google.com/patents?id=8lsDAAAAEBAJ
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: ch_123 on Fri, 16 October 2009, 17:22:35
Number on the back = Serial number.

I wonder if someone's going to snipe it...
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: maxlugar on Sat, 17 October 2009, 01:15:59
Quote from: ch_123;126186
Number on the back = Serial number.

I wonder if someone's going to snipe it...


Go for it pal.  I have enough.  Besides, I've temporarily "jumped ship" to blue Cherry and Topre key switch keyboards.

I even got me a nifty NIB TVS gold keyboard yesteday which is much improved over the one used a few years ago.  It was a gift from one of my Indian subcontractors so I had no cash outlay.  The equivalent cost in USD would be less than $30, a 1/4 of the cost of my Filcos.  Yes, it's rather cheap overall, but at least I can use it without worrying about the key cap coating wearing off!

I'll return to the King of Keyboards at some point.
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: maxlugar on Sun, 18 October 2009, 23:43:57
Quote from: ripster;126343
Congrats!  Much better than them giving you a T-shirt.  Interesting that they have improved it.


Yes, and better than an IBM mug too!

The more I type on the TVS Gold, the more I like it.  It's kind of hard to describe, but although it's extremely light weight (1,100 grams) it feels solid and holds up remarkably well under my punishingly harsh typing style.  ( I pound away like there's no tomorrow)

I guess I should post my own review.  I promise it won't be a Welly photo fest.  One of those is enough  :)
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: msiegel on Sun, 18 October 2009, 23:48:35
Quote from: maxlugar;126796
Yes, and better than an IBM mug too!

The more I type on the TVS Gold, the more I like it.  It's kind of hard to describe, but although it's extremely light weight (1,100 grams) it feels solid and holds up remarkably well under my punishingly harsh typing style.  ( I pound away like there's no tomorrow)

I guess I should post my own review.  I promise it won't be a Welly photo fest.  One of those is enough  :)


where'd *you* come up with a tvs gold? :)

it can't be from another drunk cousin??
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 19 October 2009, 11:57:24
How are those things so cheap anyway?
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: maxlugar on Mon, 19 October 2009, 11:57:50
Quote from: msiegel;126797
where'd *you* come up with a tvs gold? :)

it can't be from another drunk cousin??


I don't have any cousins, drunk or sober, who would remotely consider traveling to India.  Most of my cousins are in jail  :)

I asked a manager from our Indian development organization to bring a TVS Gold keyboard back to the US on his next visit.  He brought me back a NIB model last week and would not accept any money for it, saying it was a gift.

The Filco is still preferred for it's better build quality.   But for the equivalent of $30 USD, the much improved TVS Gold is hard to beat.
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 19 October 2009, 12:00:48
We have quite a few Indian contractors working for us.  I need to see if I can have one procure me a TVS Gold.  It shoudn't be too hard.
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: J888www on Mon, 19 October 2009, 12:44:37
Quote from: maxlugar;126796
    Yes, and better than an IBM mug too!

I still prefer the IBM mug, I can go toilet with IBM mug and guaranteed it'll still reusable, but with the Keyboard, it might just go to Keyboard paradise.
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: JBert on Mon, 19 October 2009, 13:53:10
Sold for $41... Not a bad deal for an AT keyboard.
Title: Model F with dustcover?
Post by: maxlugar on Mon, 19 October 2009, 14:19:55
Quote from: JBert;126961
Sold for $41... Not a bad deal for an AT keyboard.


An excellent price indeed if it was in decent condition.

I've never found one that I considered in good working condition for less than $100.  The 84-key AT keyboards I've seen for less than $100 were either stored outside or had other signs of gross negligence like cracked cases.

I wonder if anyone here snagged it?  I'm not sure if that smoked dust cover increased the value or detracted from the value  :)