APL Model F Unsaver, starting at $1 + shipping

[nubbinator]

You'll probably get some stupid bidding on this, but it could be a fun board for someone.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-104-key-Model-F-APL-Unsaver-keyboard-EXTREMELY-RARE-/251789001831?pt=US_Vintage_Computers_Mainframes&hash=item3a9fcb4467

[vivalarevolución]

OMG.

[jdcarpe]

That seller turned up out of nowhere with all this rare vintage IBM...

[berserkfan]

We need EzraHiliyer to make us some faux unsavers to meet demand.

[fanpeople]

Wow, I am going to bid stupidly on this 

[berserkfan]

That's why I consider it so important to solve the Model F production problem.

Model F feels the best and rare layouts get ridiculous bids.

I'm tempted to offer a bet on this. Rather than try to bid for something that will go for way more than I want to pay, I want to try and make money by betting on the insanity of geeks...

[Defect]

So how much should I expect to pay for this?  Over 300?

[jdcarpe]

So how much should I expect to pay for this?  Over 300?

Nah, $3.50 max

[Defect]

So how much should I expect to pay for this?  Over 300?

Nah, $3.50 max

$3.5k?

[fohat.digs]

$2K would not surprise me, but it might go for half that.

[The_Beast]

[MGH]

O.O drool...

[Touch_It]

$275 is my guess.  The look of these is growing on me.  Doubt I'll ever get one even though I thought the same about a 4704 107 key.

[AKIMbO]

Is this the model that can be converted to usb with Soarer's converter?

[The_Beast]

Is this the model that can be converted to usb with Soarer's converter?

It is. I have one and a converter, just need some time to tear it apart and get it installed. Not sure if I want to tho since it looks like it just came out of the box. But I said that about the M15 I have too....

[berserkfan]

Fohat, we need you! (Get some Model F122 and make a faux unsaver out of it, would you?)

[orihalcon]

Is this the model that can be converted to usb with Soarer's converter?

Hmm, I am pretty sure that this one can’t be used with a Soarer’s Converter.  Some Unsavers have the same plug as the F122, which probably would work, but the seller’s pictures definitely show the large serial connector type, suggesting a completely different protocol.  Kind of reminds me of the F Bigfoot versus the XT Model F.  They look the same other than the connector and case size, but the protocol is definitely different.  Here are some closeups of what the connectors look like: http://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/to-save-an-unsaver-t8957.html?hilit=unsaver

[Parak]

Yep, this requires a replacement controller - Soarer's will not work here.

[fohat.digs]

Fohat, we need you! (Get some Model F122 and make a faux unsaver out of it, would you?)

No way. I do not intend to cut any Model F internals, even though I have hacked away at the case more than once. That faux-SSK Model M was only partially successful, and I simply folded the unused part of the membranes underneath without cutting them.

It is my belief that you cannot cut or alter the internal assembly of a Model F.

That is why the XTant project is the most intriguing option to emerge so far.

[orihalcon]

I still think you can cut a model F and have it work fine assuming that you use an Xwhatsit controller or similar.  Original controllers may not work because they might look for resistance in addition to capacitance, and you can't change the current threshold like you can with the Xwhatsit.  The Xwhatsit works with any board that you can connect it to, so it clearly isn't affected by the length of the tracts going to each key, so cutting the PCB and reconnecting should work just fine. 

I have an extra F107 barrel plate assembly with PCB that did not come with a case which has some mild damage to a few footpads on the PCB that I would feel less guilty about cutting.  Not sure what to use to actually do the cutting since I'd want to make the cuts perfectly straight and without fraying the PCB...

[snoopy]

820$...

...

And now you can also buy a overpriced one with bin here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-104-key-Model-F-Space-Unsaver-keyboard-EXTREMELY-RARE/221666713846?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27673%26meid%3D78bb1b96458a4e82897005f6d57b111a%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D251789001831

lol

[Jotokun]

820$...

...

And now you can also buy a overpriced one with bin here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-104-key-Model-F-Space-Unsaver-keyboard-EXTREMELY-RARE/221666713846?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27673%26meid%3D78bb1b96458a4e82897005f6d57b111a%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D251789001831

lol

Why would someone consider paying that much for one when it's been butchered? From the photo it looks like they cut the plate below the arrows for some reason.

[SpAmRaY]

820$...

...

And now you can also buy a overpriced one with bin here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-104-key-Model-F-Space-Unsaver-keyboard-EXTREMELY-RARE/221666713846?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27673%26meid%3D78bb1b96458a4e82897005f6d57b111a%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D251789001831

lol

Why would someone consider paying that much for one when it's been butchered? From the photo it looks like they cut the plate below the arrows for some reason.

it's not butchered it is modded from iso to ansi and has usb

[nubbinator]

I think that still qualifies as butchered.

[SpAmRaY]

I think that still qualifies as butchered.

You mean most people wouldn't do that mod anyways?

[snoopy]

But what happened with the down arrow?

[FrostyToast]

But what happened with the down arrow?

It looks as though the centre key was turned into the down arrow to make for a more familiar layout.
Although I don't know why he removed the bottom key entirely.

[Parak]

In my book, it's only butchered from a museum type sample if the mod performed is not fully reversible. In that case, this is quite reversible. The usb cable on the other hand looks kinda sloppy, and unless it's stress reinforced internally I would expect it to rip out of the controller, usb jack included.

[Jotokun]

In my book, it's only butchered from a museum type sample if the mod performed is not fully reversible. In that case, this is quite reversible. The usb cable on the other hand looks kinda sloppy, and unless it's stress reinforced internally I would expect it to rip out of the controller, usb jack included.

If it were only ISO to ANSI, sure. But there's no hole below the bottom arrow anymore. The plate was in some way modified, you can't put a barrel there. That's not reversible.

[SpAmRaY]

In my book, it's only butchered from a museum type sample if the mod performed is not fully reversible. In that case, this is quite reversible. The usb cable on the other hand looks kinda sloppy, and unless it's stress reinforced internally I would expect it to rip out of the controller, usb jack included.

If it were only ISO to ANSI, sure. But there's no hole below the bottom arrow anymore. The plate was in some way modified, you can't put a barrel there. That's not reversible.

That's just something to cover it up, you could still put something there see the photo of the back.

[jdcarpe]

In my book, it's only butchered from a museum type sample if the mod performed is not fully reversible. In that case, this is quite reversible. The usb cable on the other hand looks kinda sloppy, and unless it's stress reinforced internally I would expect it to rip out of the controller, usb jack included.

If it were only ISO to ANSI, sure. But there's no hole below the bottom arrow anymore. The plate was in some way modified, you can't put a barrel there. That's not reversible.

That's just something to cover it up, you could still put something there see the photo of the back.

(Attachment Link)

Still, looks like crap. And for a keyboard he's asking $800 for...

[SpAmRaY]

In my book, it's only butchered from a museum type sample if the mod performed is not fully reversible. In that case, this is quite reversible. The usb cable on the other hand looks kinda sloppy, and unless it's stress reinforced internally I would expect it to rip out of the controller, usb jack included.

If it were only ISO to ANSI, sure. But there's no hole below the bottom arrow anymore. The plate was in some way modified, you can't put a barrel there. That's not reversible.

That's just something to cover it up, you could still put something there see the photo of the back.

(Attachment Link)

Still, looks like crap. And for a keyboard he's asking $800 for...

Definitely for the price it could have been modded with much more care.

[E TwentyNine]

But what happened with the down arrow?

It looks as though the centre key was turned into the down arrow to make for a more familiar layout.
Although I don't know why he removed the bottom key entirely.

Gives it a closer feel to the more common inverted-T cursor key layout.  Same reason the ANSI mod was done.

Fully reversible, barrel was removed and the hole covered up.

That USB cable setup though looks potentially problematic.

[fohat.digs]

I map both center arrow and down arrow to down arrow, to keep my finger memory retraining to a minimum.

[Ellipse]

I'm the seller of the BIN listing.

Yep the mod is fully reversible.   That bottom cursor key spot is just covered with electrical tape.   Remove the tape,  open the plate sandwich,  put the barrel and pivot plate/spring back in,  done.

I can make adjustments to the current modified layout or even restore it to the original state for the buyer. It comes with the original keys and even the original controller for the sake of completeness.

Again the layout mod is fully reversible.

The USB cable is tied to the sandwich plate inside for strain relief.   Any other mod ideas on how it can be further strengthened?