Beam Spring

[E TwentyNine]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121729479042

[CPTBadAss]

Ugh wish you didn't post it here. GG price. Thanks for the heads up though

[XMIT]

Is anyone here bidding on it? I'm considering.

[CPTBadAss]

I was also considering it XMIT. Go for it though. I'm holding out for an IBM 3278

[alienman82]

removed.

[vivalarevolución]

Everybody step aside, I'm bidding for it.

[XMIT]

Eh, okay, I'll wait for a 3278 as well.

[jacobolus]

It didn’t need to be posted here for everyone paying attention to see it: it’s properly labeled and in the right section of ebay. There’s no way this goes for less than about $250. Might end up considerably higher, as there will surely be a bidding war.

[XMIT]

It didn’t need to be posted here for everyone paying attention to see it: it’s properly labeled and in the right section of ebay. There’s no way this goes for less than about $250. Might end up considerably higher, as there will surely be a bidding war.

Please, don't use this as justification to *not* post items to this forum. Between us and DT we probably represent a majority of the folks who might bid on this. This forum isn't just for sharing finds. It is also helpful to let potential buyers negotiate among each other to avoid /unnecessary/ bidding wars.

Nothing can prevent strangers or anyone really from bidding. If I know someone here is interested in an item I will often times let them have it. If I'm interested in something, and no one here is expressing interest, I may go for it.

I've both lost some great deals to other GH members for insufficient communication here (e.g. Xonar's haul), and obtained some really wonderful items when other GHers stood aside and let me win (e.g. TI 914 keyboard).

[jacobolus]

There’s no way you’re going to avoid a bidding war on this one, is what I’m saying, though it’s possible that posting here adds visibility and increases the chances of a bidding war. The great finds section of geekhack has a large population of lurkers.

I don’t at all mind people posting stuff like this though: we can all watch how high it goes while enjoying some popcorn from the sidelines.

Edit: for posterity, since ebay auctions end up disappearing, here’s the description text and some of the photos:

* * *

BM Operator Console Keyboard ?3727?  (not sure)

Identifying Numbers : 5640534
Other number:330x-23-14393 (label on back)
Dimensions overall: 4 in x 20 in x 10 in
Description
The object is a terminal keyboard (qwerty key arrangement):
15 pin serial connector
Cable numbers: PN 5640559, EC854949, 453460 (white band on the cable)
circa late 70's early 80's from what I can tell.

This one it very much like a 3727 operators console. Despite the '3727' moniker, that keyboard is the keyboard of the IBM 3101 terminal, which was a standard serial ANSI terminal that worked with things that weren't IBM systems.  The dip switches in front are something that isn't that common or at least I'm having trouble identifying the exact model that this goes with. There are probably some much more savvy computer people out there that know these models. (Please correct me if I'm wrong about the details)

There aren't a whole lot of these out here (I've seen one on ebay that is similar but without the dip switches and missing keys).  I've put a reserve on it. I'd like to keep it but I'm moving so I can't take everything.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

[XMIT]

$381.50. Did anyone here get it?

[jacobolus]

That’s even a slightly higher price than I was guessing it would get to. Pretty nice keyboard though. :-)

[XMIT]

I thought about bidding. But then I finally got one of my Displaywriters working on Friday so I didn't see much point. The finishing price is more than I would have bid and almost 2x what I paid for *two* Displaywriters. Sure maybe mine are not quite as collectible but they do have a surprisingly usable layout for day to day use.

[Eugene45]

It didn’t need to be posted here for everyone paying attention to see it: it’s properly labeled and in the right section of ebay. There’s no way this goes for less than about $250. Might end up considerably higher, as there will surely be a bidding war.

Please, don't use this as justification to *not* post items to this forum. Between us and DT we probably represent a majority of the folks who might bid on this. This forum isn't just for sharing finds. It is also helpful to let potential buyers negotiate among each other to avoid /unnecessary/ bidding wars.

Nothing can prevent strangers or anyone really from bidding. If I know someone here is interested in an item I will often times let them have it. If I'm interested in something, and no one here is expressing interest, I may go for it.

I've both lost some great deals to other GH members for insufficient communication here (e.g. Xonar's haul), and obtained some really wonderful items when other GHers stood aside and let me win (e.g. TI 914 keyboard).

I was wondering about my post about the NCR keyboard, so does this mean we found something interesting, we dont post it here ? Are there some special rule here ?

[XMIT]

I was wondering about my post about the NCR keyboard, so does this mean we found something interesting, we dont post it here ? Are there some special rule here ?

No special rule! If you found something - and that's awesome that you did! - please post it here.

[jacobolus]

It didn’t need to be posted here for everyone paying attention to see it: it’s properly labeled and in the right section of ebay. There’s no way this goes for less than about $250. Might end up considerably higher, as there will surely be a bidding war.

Please, don't use this as justification to *not* post items to this forum. Between us and DT we probably represent a majority of the folks who might bid on this. This forum isn't just for sharing finds. It is also helpful to let potential buyers negotiate among each other to avoid /unnecessary/ bidding wars. [...] Nothing can prevent strangers or anyone really from bidding.

I was wondering about my post about the NCR keyboard, so does this mean we found something interesting, we dont post it here ? Are there some special rule here ?

Note, the point of my comment wasn’t that people shouldn’t post things. Posting interesting looking stuff is great!

My points were that (1) everyone watching for beam spring keyboards on ebay is likely to have seen this auction and some of those people have deep pockets, so the price was going to inevitably go high, and therefore (2) that attempts to negotiate who would bid on this particular keyboard via geekhack were inevitably futile. (In the past some folks have posted bitter pouting complaints that after they announced their intention to bid on a particular keyboard it didn’t stop another geekhacker from bidding; such complaints are IMO negative for the community.)

Posting the NCR keyboard is great. This beam spring keyboard post was great.

[Spopepro]

Yep. Was properly labeled and popped up on my ebay watches, so this thread had little influence.  With exactly the layout I wanted and with all keys appearing to be in good shape, it was worth a small premium to me.  I will also be picking it up locally saving on the cost and fears of shipping. 

[vivalarevolución]

The going price of a beam spring has become a little *steep* these days.