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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: ander on Mon, 01 February 2016, 18:47:54
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Here's an interesting thing:
Vintage Very Rare Wooden Computer Case Body-Cherry Keyboard UB8-01AA Digital (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Very-Rare-Wooden-Computer-Case-Body-Cherry-Keyboard-UB8-01AA-Digital-See/121882472495)
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/w40AAOSwX~dWr72y/s-l1600.jpg)
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ufsAAOSwpzdWr72s/s-l1600.jpg)
I haven't posted it in Great Finds, as they're asking $12K (though it may very well be worth that much, for all I know.) Seller doesn't know more about it—any theories?
Notice the "Bill" sticker at lower L... Maybe a '70s Bill Gates original? :?)
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Pretty unique - but not $12K unique.
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It is a hand made shell for this : https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45470.0;nowap
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It's incredibly easy to bend the metal pieces inside the switches and break the switch completely
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$12,001!
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It is a hand made shell for this : https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45470.0;nowap
You're right! How did you remember something like that? I'm impressed.
Why do you think they went to all that trouble? To raise and angle the KB the way they wanted it, and have a platform for their monitor? Or maybe because it looked a bit more tasteful as a home furnishing? I guess that would've looked pretty chic in the '80s.
Pretty unique - but not $12K unique.
Nope! It's an even funnier thing to consider, now that we know what it actually is.
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My guess is that it came from a terminal + printer DECwriter; and that someone wanted to re-use the board with a CRT based terminal instead of the printer. Hence the new case, that the CRT could be placed on top of.
rootwyrm would probably like to see this.
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My guess is that it is a custom-case that was originally intended to fit an Apple 1 board. Apple 1's were just the PCB's and you needed your own case / kb / display (tv back then). Looks like it would fit those dimensions.
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I'm pretty sure its a DECwriter custom "case".
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My guess is that it came from a terminal + printer DECwriter; and that someone wanted to re-use the board with a CRT based terminal instead of the printer. Hence the new case, that the CRT could be placed on top of.
rootwyrm would probably like to see this.
Little late to the party but indeed, me likey.
Also, you are correct - that's a DECwriter board in a housing to rest a CRT on top of. Note the wiring inside - that's power and a DB25 direct to the board. No room for any other PCBs. And you see that sub-controller? I'm betting that's a code translator board, because this thing appears to be wired for a VT100-series (first models without an integrated keyboard.) My guess is somebody liked the DECwriter feel enough to do this.
The white and gold part there in the center is what makes it rare and unique - that's likely a Zilog Z80 or Intel 8080 doing duty as the code translating processor. So yeah, custom keyboard controller in a custom housing back around I'd say mid 80's possibly. (I don't see a UVEEPROM tho, so not sure how they're doing code storage.)
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My guess is that it is a custom-case that was originally intended to fit an Apple 1 board. Apple 1's were just the PCB's and you needed your own case / kb / display (tv back then). Looks like it would fit those dimensions.
I think you nailed it. I had a Franklin Ace 1000 and the setup looked very similar to that when I had to break it open to mod it. (Added an 80 column card, a sound card, and a speech processor)
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My guess is that it is a custom-case that was originally intended to fit an Apple 1 board. Apple 1's were just the PCB's and you needed your own case / kb / display (tv back then). Looks like it would fit those dimensions.
I think you nailed it. I had a Franklin Ace 1000 and the setup looked very similar to that when I had to break it open to mod it. (Added an 80 column card, a sound card, and a speech processor)
(http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m650qwKne51r7cs8z.gif)