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geekhack Marketplace => Great Finds => Topic started by: orihalcon on Fri, 01 April 2016, 07:50:11

Title: IBM 5251 Beamspring $250 BIN or $185 Starting Bid
Post by: orihalcon on Fri, 01 April 2016, 07:50:11

http://m.ebay.com/itm/IBM-5251-Beam-Spring-Vintage-Mechanical-Keyboard-/281987878210?nav=SEARCH

Title: Re: IBM 5251 Beamspring $250 BIN or $185 Starting Bid
Post by: ed_avis on Fri, 01 April 2016, 08:40:09

...and it's gone.

Are these adaptable to modern PCs?

Title: Re: IBM 5251 Beamspring $250 BIN or $185 Starting Bid
Post by: orihalcon on Fri, 01 April 2016, 09:04:25

Very adaptable with an xwhatsit controller and even is NKRO with optional solenoid use for an extra click :)

I just refurbished my 5251 this weekend and will post some pics and maybe a video if anyone is interested in seeing it in action.

Title: Re: IBM 5251 Beamspring $250 BIN or $185 Starting Bid
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 01 April 2016, 09:06:10

Quote from: orihalcon on Fri, 01 April 2016, 09:04:25

I just refurbished my 5251 this weekend and will post some pics and maybe a video if anyone is interested in seeing it in action.

Yes please. :thumb:

Title: Re: IBM 5251 Beamspring $250 BIN or $185 Starting Bid
Post by: jerue on Fri, 01 April 2016, 10:09:25

I guess I should be glad it's gone...I was really tempted to get it  :))

Title: Re: IBM 5251 Beamspring $250 BIN or $185 Starting Bid
Post by: Touch_It on Fri, 01 April 2016, 11:11:10

Quote from: orihalcon on Fri, 01 April 2016, 09:04:25

Very adaptable with an xwhatsit controller and even is NKRO with optional solenoid use for an extra click :)

I just refurbished my 5251 this weekend and will post some pics and maybe a video if anyone is interested in seeing it in action.

Very interested.

Title: Re: IBM 5251 Beamspring $250 BIN or $185 Starting Bid
Post by: HighPlainsDrafter on Sun, 03 April 2016, 22:17:24

The same seller's listing another:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-5251-Beam-Spring-Vintage-Mechanical-Keyboard-/281991424889?hash=item41a7ffab79:g:dPIAAOSwAvJXAa9x

Title: Re: IBM 5251 Beamspring $250 BIN or $185 Starting Bid
Post by: alienman82 on Sun, 03 April 2016, 22:31:28

removed.

Title: Re: IBM 5251 Beamspring $250 BIN or $185 Starting Bid
Post by: pr0ximity on Mon, 04 April 2016, 11:57:33

Quote from: alienman82 on Sun, 03 April 2016, 22:31:28

are these very much better than a model F?

It's subjective. I like them both, the beamspring is a different feel, though it's not completely dissimilar. Model F has much more ping I think. The beamspring is an arc of metal flexing then snapping in the opposite direction, while the Model F is a spring bending and flicking to the side.

Quote from: HighPlainsDrafter on Sun, 03 April 2016, 22:17:24

The same seller's listing another:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-5251-Beam-Spring-Vintage-Mechanical-Keyboard-/281991424889?hash=item41a7ffab79:g:dPIAAOSwAvJXAa9x

Strange, didn't change the picture. That markup  :eek:

FWIW I purchased the first one and it was well packaged and is in extremely good condition. But the picture looks exactly like the one I recieved (the same grunge pattern on the case). Not sure I'd be comfortable paying $200+ for one with no picture at all.

Title: Re: IBM 5251 Beamspring $250 BIN or $185 Starting Bid
Post by: orihalcon on Mon, 04 April 2016, 15:14:52

I think this guy has 5 of them.  Probably is the one from this post:https://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/help-identifying-for-a-newbie-t13375.html

Their condition probably doesn't vary much so the seller probably didn't bother to take extra pictures.  They should clean up nicely though. Here's mine that I actually found locally in a basement of a bowling alley.  Apparently they had some use for it in scoring bowling games or something in the late 80's.

The thick brown residue was no doubt tobacco tar that bowling alleys are known for.  Interestingly enough, all keys sensed properly without needing to internally clean the capsense PCB.

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