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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: fohat.digs on Fri, 23 October 2015, 06:58:17

Title: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 23 October 2015, 06:58:17
The price is high but not all that bad, and only once before have I ever seen a new one turn up. 3 available.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ONE-MINT-IBM-TYPE-F-6110345-FL5-UNSAVER-CLICKY-KEYBOARD-3-AVAILABLE-P-/381446457014? (http://www.ebay.com/itm/ONE-MINT-IBM-TYPE-F-6110345-FL5-UNSAVER-CLICKY-KEYBOARD-3-AVAILABLE-P-/381446457014?)
Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: SamirD on Fri, 23 October 2015, 10:20:36
Interesting.  It doesn't specify in the auction, but do you think these would just plug up to a PC or would they definitely need the converter?
Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: engicoder on Fri, 23 October 2015, 10:53:29
Needs a converter
Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: jdcarpe on Fri, 23 October 2015, 10:59:27
The price is high but not all that bad, and only once before have I ever seen a new one turn up. 3 available.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ONE-MINT-IBM-TYPE-F-6110345-FL5-UNSAVER-CLICKY-KEYBOARD-3-AVAILABLE-P-/381446457014? (http://www.ebay.com/itm/ONE-MINT-IBM-TYPE-F-6110345-FL5-UNSAVER-CLICKY-KEYBOARD-3-AVAILABLE-P-/381446457014?)


That's about the same price I paid on Taobao for the busted up one that you repaired for me. I put that new capsense controller in there, and it works great!

(http://i.imgur.com/KQWdQIT.jpg)
Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: joc on Fri, 23 October 2015, 11:10:48
The F122 looks like it's in great condition although it's missing the keycap-top to the bottom left of the numeric Enter-key. Maybe they were used for a while and then stored away?
Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 23 October 2015, 11:16:22

the busted up one that you repaired for me. I put that new capsense controller in there, and it works great!


Excellent. Is that my dark gray Dupli-Color paint/dye job?
Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: jdcarpe on Fri, 23 October 2015, 11:18:02

the busted up one that you repaired for me. I put that new capsense controller in there, and it works great!


Excellent. Is that my dark gray Dupli-Color paint/dye job?


Yes, it is. It looks just a bit lighter in person, but the lighting in my room that day made it appear darker on camera.


The F122 looks like it's in great condition although it's missing the keycap-top to the bottom left of the numeric Enter-key. Maybe they were used for a while and then stored away?

It also looks like the label on one is peeled a bit on the bottom left corner...
Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: ander on Fri, 23 October 2015, 19:04:51
The price is high but not all that bad, and only once before have I ever seen a new one turn up. 3 available...

Yes, that's a reasonable price for what looks like an unused F-122... And gosh, how often do they turn up? I don't think I've ever seen one, actually.

Interesting.  It doesn't specify in the auction, but do you think these would just plug up to a PC or would they definitely need the converter?

These have a special 270-degree DIN connector (sort of like the large AT connector, but the pins are farther apart). You'd definitely need something like this (http://) to use it with a PC. You could also replace its internal controller with a Teensy, which has the advantages of being cheaper (only about $12 I think) and invisible. There are lots of posts about that here.

The F122 looks like it's in great condition although it's missing the keycap-top to the bottom left of the numeric Enter-key...

That's trivial.  Model M and F caps are interchangeable, and that particular one is just the standard " . Del" numpad key. You could use one from a Model M, or ask here on GH if anyone had an extra one they could spare.

Maybe they were used for a while and then stored away?

It says they've been stored "their entire lives", so I'd take that to mean there was no wear on them at all. It certainly looks that way from the photos.

Quote from: jdcarpe
It also looks like the label on one is peeled a bit on the bottom left corner...

Again, that looks easily fixable. Also, remember, there are three of these, so you could just ask for one of the others instead—with the understanding that it was otherwise in the same perfect condition.
Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 23 October 2015, 19:23:09

how often do they turn up?

I don't think I've ever seen one, actually.


In about 4 years of watching ebay, I think that there was 1 other new one, about a year or 2 ago.

One of our Canadian friends found a stash of about half a dozen "excellent" (but not new) ones some time before that, but that is all that I can remember.
Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 24 October 2015, 05:19:28
This is tempting *sigh*

But too expensive.  I'm still saving up to restore my M122.
Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: faycheung on Sat, 24 October 2015, 05:31:29

In about 4 years of watching ebay, I think that there was 1 other new one, about a year or 2 ago.

One of our Canadian friends found a stash of about half a dozen "excellent" (but not new) ones some time before that, but that is all that I can remember.

I managed to snag the last one from of the Canadian guy. The keyboard is excellent, but the caps melted a little bit. Not sure if it was in that condition when he found it or when during shipping.
Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: SamirD on Sat, 24 October 2015, 23:08:20

In about 4 years of watching ebay, I think that there was 1 other new one, about a year or 2 ago.

One of our Canadian friends found a stash of about half a dozen "excellent" (but not new) ones some time before that, but that is all that I can remember.

I managed to snag the last one from of the Canadian guy. The keyboard is excellent, but the caps melted a little bit. Not sure if it was in that condition when he found it or when during shipping.
It would take A LOT to melt the keycaps coming from Canada--they've almost got snow now.  It must have happened before, but when?  How could storage get that hot?

Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: Bucake on Mon, 26 October 2015, 06:23:29
The price is high but not all that bad, and only once before have I ever seen a new one turn up. 3 available.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ONE-MINT-IBM-TYPE-F-6110345-FL5-UNSAVER-CLICKY-KEYBOARD-3-AVAILABLE-P-/381446457014? (http://www.ebay.com/itm/ONE-MINT-IBM-TYPE-F-6110345-FL5-UNSAVER-CLICKY-KEYBOARD-3-AVAILABLE-P-/381446457014?)


That's about the same price I paid on Taobao for the busted up one that you repaired for me. I put that new capsense controller in there, and it works great!

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


ohhh my god. that is beautiful

( showoff )
Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: 1391406 on Mon, 26 October 2015, 20:29:45
$95 for a NEW 122-key Model F?! Yes, that's WAY more than reasonable. Look at the sold listings for 122-key Model F's and you'll see this is priced near the bottom compared to others that are practically dilapidated. I swear I'm really, really tempted, namely because these are so rare. I mean, come on. An unblemished case and internal mat that's likely in great condition! I'm astonished these haven't sold. How is this not a fantastic deal?
Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: faycheung on Mon, 26 October 2015, 20:36:07
It would take A LOT to melt the keycaps coming from Canada--they've almost got snow now.  It must have happened before, but when?  How could storage get that hot?

It was sent back in May or so, took about 3 months because of the huge string of typhoons travelling across the Pacific, so the keyboard must've been trapped in a hot sizzling container for a long long time (surface mail). Mind you they weren't completely melted or deformed, it's just that a small amount of thicker plastic seemed to have accumulated near the lower surface of each keycap.
Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 26 October 2015, 20:54:26
It would take A LOT to melt the keycaps coming from Canada--they've almost got snow now.  It must have happened before, but when?  How could storage get that hot?

It was sent back in May or so, took about 3 months because of the huge string of typhoons travelling across the Pacific, so the keyboard must've been trapped in a hot sizzling container for a long long time (surface mail). Mind you they weren't completely melted or deformed, it's just that a small amount of thicker plastic seemed to have accumulated near the lower surface of each keycap.

I have dyed IBM M/F keycaps by boiling them for half an hour with no problem at all.

The case would be damaged before the key caps would.
Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: ander on Sat, 31 October 2015, 07:17:02
In about 4 years of watching ebay, I think that there was 1 other new one, about a year or 2 ago...

And now two more have appeared—"new old stock", $125+shipping—which I posted about here (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=76569.0). And they look really cherry.

Quote from: jdcarpe
That's about the same price I paid on Taobao for the busted up one that you repaired for me...

Quote from: Bucake
ohhh my god. that is beautiful

I'll second that!  :thumb:

$95 for a NEW 122-key Model F?! Yes, that's WAY more than reasonable. Look at the sold listings for 122-key Model F's and you'll see this is priced near the bottom compared to others that are practically dilapidated. I swear I'm really, really tempted, namely because these are so rare. I mean, come on. An unblemished case and internal mat that's likely in great condition! I'm astonished these haven't sold. How is this not a fantastic deal?

Gee, maybe this makes up for the decidedly un-great "Great Deal" I had the misfortune to post recently (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=76449.0).
Title: Re: New IBM Model F 122-key terminals on ebay
Post by: SamirD on Sat, 31 October 2015, 11:51:21
In about 4 years of watching ebay, I think that there was 1 other new one, about a year or 2 ago...

And now two more have appeared—"new old stock", $125+shipping—which I posted about here (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=76569.0). And they look really cherry.

Quote from: jdcarpe
That's about the same price I paid on Taobao for the busted up one that you repaired for me...

Quote from: Bucake
ohhh my god. that is beautiful

I'll second that!  :thumb:

$95 for a NEW 122-key Model F?! Yes, that's WAY more than reasonable. Look at the sold listings for 122-key Model F's and you'll see this is priced near the bottom compared to others that are practically dilapidated. I swear I'm really, really tempted, namely because these are so rare. I mean, come on. An unblemished case and internal mat that's likely in great condition! I'm astonished these haven't sold. How is this not a fantastic deal?

Gee, maybe this makes up for the decidedly un-great "Great Deal" I had the misfortune to post recently (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=76449.0).

I think that was still a good deal, keycap colors or not.  You said it yourself--new that's a $100 and you found it for $70.  That's a deal in my book.  :thumb: