Fixer-upper lot; any worth salvaging?

[Voixdelion]

Looks like all are missing at least a couple keys.  Just wondered if there was anything interesting in the group:

http://cgi.ebay.com/9-VINTAGE-Packard-Bell-ALR-IBM-5-Pin-Keyboards-/200472157525

[vhaarr]

Seems to be some ALPS-type switches and assorted keys there if you want to do some experimenting.

That's a lot to ship overseas though, so I won't touch it.

[kishy]

There is a Model M in there, but nothing exceptionally special I don't think.

[Voixdelion]

Seems to be some ALPS-type switches and assorted keys there if you want to do some experimenting.
.

 I'm curious about some different switches since all I know first hand  is my M collection ...What might we find in these that would be worth checking out?

Auction  Includes:

• Packard Bell Keyboard
• Expert Government Micro Resources Inc. - Model # - RT-6251T,  Part # - 118614-001
• Chicony Electronics  Co.
• Mouse Systems 1-0-4 - Model # - KWD-203, Part # - 404256-001  (AT/PS2
• TUV Keyboard
• ALR Keyboard - Model # - RT101+, Part # -  120103-001
• Dell Keyboard - Model # -  AT101R, Part # - 26756
• ALR Keyboard - Model # -  RT-101+, Part # - CMA-65689

[kishy]

There's a Model M in the photo...

If you wanna try simplified white Alps I have one listed for $10 plus shipping. Less keyboard per dollar compared to that listing but if you try them one at a time you don't need to worry about storing a crapload of keyboards in the meantime.

[vhaarr]

There's at least 3 ALPS-type keyboards in that auction that I can spot, but some of them are nearly impossible to identify, like the Chicony. I'm sure there's someone on geekhack who can, but I don't know who.

The only reason to buy this lot would be if you were going to rip out the ALPS switches from those 3 keyboards and use them for experiments, or needed the keys themselves for some kind of paint job experiments.

Or perhaps you want to play with the controllers and how to mod them for USB cables or whatever. Or you need the keyboard housings for paint jobs or to practice sawing off the numpad to make fake tenkeyless boards.

Don't buy this lot to "test switches", since there's really only one kind in there for you to try; the white ALPS (and even that's not guaranteed, they could be fakes on some).

[Voixdelion]

Thanks guys -

Really only have a hankering to try out anything tactile AND clicky.  The audio feedback is a huge help for me since I pretty much process the world through my ears. Iching to try just about anything with a click to it.  Mx blues?   What else falls into this category?   I've ended up with a Dell which was advertised as "clicky" but the ad also said it had Black Alps switches which I understand are NOT clicky, so I guess I'll just have to wait and see what arrives to find out which part is wrong before I complain =D  I wonder if tactile feedback alone will be appealing to me...

I'm curious as heck about the white Alps (Kishy already knows the tune of my FK-3001 blues - there's one on the bay for 114.00 or so, but kinda afraid to go out on that limb without a clue as to what I"d be in for )

Just might take you up on the offer, Kishy  - Are we talking full size with numpad board?  If so, hows the damage for shipping to 90043?

[kishy]

This is the classifieds thread. [strike]Sixty asked first so availability depends on that first...[/strike] Keyboard is available if wanted.

Shipping to you is looking like 20 bucks, give or take a dollar (including tracking and insurance by default)