Author Topic: What is your most rare keyboard? (Read 19677 times)

Pixel_Outlaw · « **on:** Sat, 19 June 2010, 13:33:53 »

Just looking foreward to the most rare keyboards from peoples' collections.
I guess mine would be that crazy AT&T with Model M style switches that I showed some time back.

kishy · « **Reply #1 on:** Sat, 19 June 2010, 13:35:13 »

Probably my Focus FK-5001. I'm not entirely sure. If not that, IBM M5-2?

ch_123 · « **Reply #2 on:** Sat, 19 June 2010, 13:38:06 »

My Dolch keyboards?

Pixel_Outlaw · « **Reply #3 on:** Sat, 19 June 2010, 13:39:36 »

Might I have photos?

In Stereo! · « **Reply #4 on:** Sat, 19 June 2010, 13:54:06 »

A board with clears from a local manufacturer called Tipro.

mr_a500 · « **Reply #5 on:** Sat, 19 June 2010, 14:01:13 »

My rarest keyboard is probably my non-ADB NeXTstation keyboard - 2nd version (sadly, not the first version). I read that there were only 50,000 NeXT computers made and of those there were 3 or 4 different versions of keyboard. I'm sure there were plenty of spares made, but you'd have to divide it among the different versions and subtract the destroyed ones - including the one Ripster "raped and threw in the trash".

spolia optima · « **Reply #6 on:** Sat, 19 June 2010, 14:36:44 »

it's tough to say...
My buckling spring ALPS board maybe? I have yet to see another one of those on GH.

TexasFlood · « **Reply #7 on:** Sat, 19 June 2010, 14:41:13 »

Quote from: spolia optima;194739

it's tough to say...
My buckling spring ALPS board maybe? I have yet to see another one of those on GH.

Maybe my Northgate? Not sure.

Phaedrus2129 · « **Reply #8 on:** Sat, 19 June 2010, 14:57:37 »

Mine are all about as common as mechanicals come. Maybe the G80-8200, but those still pop up on ebay fairly frequently.

InSanCen · « **Reply #9 on:** Sat, 19 June 2010, 15:08:10 »

Argh!!! "what is your most rare keyboard?" No! I have no idea if it's gramatically correct, but that just sounds all kinds of wrong.

"What is your rarest keyboard?"

Mine, probably my M13, not that rare, but you can pry it out of my cold dead hands. I love it. Any rare keyboard would be largely wasted on me, as I would just use it if I liked it.

imsto · « **Reply #10 on:** Sat, 19 June 2010, 20:14:46 »

I need a new one.

ricercar · « **Reply #11 on:** Mon, 21 June 2010, 15:47:53 »

I prefer my keyboards medium-well. My rarest has to be one of these:

Alaris-label model M
Commodore SX-64 (not C-64) mechanical
ZX81 membrane (not Timex Sinclair) now used as a bookmark

No, wait, my rarest keyboard is my well-soldered Scorpius M10.

undergoing full bolt mod.

microsoft windows · « **Reply #12 on:** Mon, 21 June 2010, 16:15:36 »

I'd have to say my rarest keyboard is an old rubber dome from NEC with sliders. Or my M5-2. Or my Focus FK-9000.

HaaTa · « **Reply #13 on:** Mon, 21 June 2010, 16:37:21 »

Probably my uTRON.
I'm not really a collector of rare boards.
I do have a G80-3600 with MX Reds though.

sethstorm · « **Reply #14 on:** Mon, 21 June 2010, 16:43:59 »

Since nobody said anything about how they're rare, here is my Terminal F. Probably the only single-row one (documented) on GH.

At the very least it's the rarest keyboard I have, M13's counted.

platon · « **Reply #15 on:** Mon, 21 June 2010, 17:26:37 »

A German KPT-102 with clicky alps like sliders.

TexasFlood · « **Reply #16 on:** Mon, 21 June 2010, 17:29:07 »

Quote from: ricercar;195254

I prefer my keyboards medium-well. My rarest has to be one of these:
...
Commodore SX-64 (not C-64) mechanical
...

Hey, I've got one of those! Didn't even consider it earlier though. So I'm not the only one, can't be many of us though, :wink:

Oqsy · « **Reply #17 on:** Mon, 21 June 2010, 18:05:36 »

I suppose one of my funky NMB boards is probably the rarest... I've never sought boards for their rarity, just for their quality, so I suck at this thread. My Model M is a 42H1292 which isn't that rare, but it did come with some interesting custom keycaps. (It was stored in a closet at work (a hospital) and given up for dead. Taking it apart and putting it back together fixed all the dead keys, etc.

My others are all well known boards around here, MX11900, MX11800, Northgate Omnikey 102, a Rocketfish Bluetooth KB/Mouse, and a pile of rubber domes that I can't bear to trash even though I'll most likely never use them.

So to answer the question... none of them.

aegrotatio · « **Reply #18 on:** Mon, 21 June 2010, 22:40:09 »

Is NMB still around? They used to OEM for everybody and their brother about 8 years ago but I haven't paid attention enough to know what they're doing now, if anything.

itlnstln · « **Reply #19 on:** Tue, 22 June 2010, 09:28:34 »

Mine is probably my G80-1863 HUMUS-2. It's rare in the US, anyway. The only other one I had was the Northgate Evolution. Now some ******* in the Netherlands' Post Office is banging away on it. I typically don't like rare keyboards since it's unnecessarily difficult to get another if it breaks.

Harry_Y · « **Reply #20 on:** Tue, 22 June 2010, 09:55:50 »

Quote from: TexasFlood;194742

Maybe my Northgate? Not sure.
Show Image

That is my all time favorite keyboard

itlnstln · « **Reply #21 on:** Tue, 22 June 2010, 10:07:06 »

Northgate made some beastly keyboards back in the day.

Coolzrock · « **Reply #22 on:** Tue, 22 June 2010, 14:34:55 »

We're all talking about Model M's here, don't we?

I have a regular IBM Model M from March '88 with round IBM sign on the left.

didjamatic · « **Reply #23 on:** Tue, 22 June 2010, 15:53:39 »

Oqsy · « **Reply #24 on:** Tue, 22 June 2010, 18:43:22 »

Texas, how did you get both sets of F keys? So jealous.

TexasFlood · « **Reply #25 on:** Tue, 22 June 2010, 18:55:05 »

Quote from: Oqsy;195579

Texas, how did you get both sets of F keys? So jealous.

Got lucky on that one I guess, at least in terms of layout if not size. It's a relatively large mother.

Oqsy · « **Reply #26 on:** Tue, 22 June 2010, 20:11:07 »

I've got that exact board, just missing the top row of F keys... it has the spots for them though, like the pic posted by didja above. Mine is also in serious need of a retrobrite sunning session.

Voixdelion · « **Reply #27 on:** Tue, 29 June 2010, 01:06:49 »

I heart my M5-1... Dunno if its "rare" but everybody here gave me the impression it wouldn't be easy to come by.

Barney · « **Reply #28 on:** Tue, 26 April 2011, 08:37:05 »

My rarest keyboard would have to be my IBM "soft Touch" keyboard, model 8184692. It's just like the typical model m but with grease globbed on ever spring....very nice feel. Does anybody here have this model?

Magna224 · « **Reply #29 on:** Tue, 26 April 2011, 09:02:55 »

My focus

The Solutor · « **Reply #30 on:** Tue, 26 April 2011, 10:07:40 »

Quote from: ripster;337457

Shouldn't we be posting ones that work with PCs?

I have a Berlin & Co, vertical concert piano, circa 1925.

There's no trace of this company on the wikipedia's list of piano makers, i presume its keyboard is rare enough..

squarebox · « **Reply #31 on:** Tue, 26 April 2011, 10:47:00 »

Here's mine

Sam · « **Reply #32 on:** Tue, 26 April 2011, 18:13:12 »

I've got a dozen rare old IBM Beam Spring boards, and yes, some of them do work with my PC (I jury rigged up a converter). Out of them, I'd guess the rarest would be this IBM 5100: (pic not mine)

What I love most about this is that not only does it have APL keycaps, but the computer works and has the APL module whereby you can actually program the beast in APL. A wonderful old toy to play with in my spare time.

Trying to buy one of these will likely set you back about $2000. I've never seen just a keyboard available.

xwhatsit · « **Reply #33 on:** Tue, 26 April 2011, 19:08:12 »

Quote from: Sam;337753

I've got a dozen rare old IBM Beam Spring boards

Bastard! A dozen! And you wouldn't even part with one

Sam · « **Reply #34 on:** Tue, 26 April 2011, 19:15:52 »

Actually, I'd probably buy all I could, if I could only locate more. Especially some 3278 keyboards. I've yet to acquire one of them. I do have some spare Displaywriter keyboards, and suppose I'd be willing to part with one or two of them if someone really needed one, but I wouldn't want to sell them for very cheap, and there are other beam spring boards out there which are available, which would be the way to go for someone wanting one.

Jim66 · « **Reply #35 on:** Tue, 26 April 2011, 19:28:42 »

An Apple M0118. Not as common as the M0116 but I wouldn't really call it rare.

They are not IBM M15 or Cherry MX-5000 'rare'....

False_Dmitry_II · « **Reply #36 on:** Tue, 26 April 2011, 20:39:30 »

Yeah, I thought the point of this thread was just to show the super exotic stuff. Then it's people going, well my model m is my most rare. Which doesn't count.

xwhatsit · « **Reply #37 on:** Tue, 26 April 2011, 20:44:21 »

Quote from: Sam;337781

Actually, I'd probably buy all I could, if I could only locate more. Especially some 3278 keyboards. I've yet to acquire one of them. I do have some spare Displaywriter keyboards, and suppose I'd be willing to part with one or two of them if someone really needed one, but I wouldn't want to sell them for very cheap, and there are other beam spring boards out there which are available, which would be the way to go for someone wanting one.

Yes of course, I was just poking fun. I did find a line on a couple, but the shipping quotes I got were just ridiculous (in the order of $US200+), so I'm playing the long game trying to find something locally.

OT, my rarest board? Probably my every-day Unicomp 122 terminal emulator -- so not very rare then! Well, it does have a red geekhack escape key

I don't think the horrible no-name Taiwanese Blue ALPS board I have counts.

Sam · « **Reply #38 on:** Tue, 26 April 2011, 20:47:31 »

Quote from: False_Dmitry_II;337801

Yeah, I thought the point of this thread was just to show the super exotic stuff. Then it's people going, well my model m is my most rare. Which doesn't count.

Well, the OP was about a Model M, albeit the AT&T variety, so my opinion is that the purpose of this thread was to post rare, not necessarily exotic keyboards. Not that it really matters though, I enjoy seeing whatever people have.

elbowglue · « **Reply #39 on:** Tue, 26 April 2011, 21:13:21 »

I think my desko brown cherry is probably my most rare board..

Sam · « **Reply #40 on:** Tue, 26 April 2011, 21:17:34 »

Quote from: xwhatsit;337806

Yes of course, I was just poking fun. I did find a line on a couple, but the shipping quotes I got were just ridiculous (in the order of $US200+), so I'm playing the long game trying to find something locally.

OT, my rarest board? Probably my every-day Unicomp 122 terminal emulator -- so not very rare then! Well, it does have a red geekhack escape key I don't think the horrible no-name Taiwanese Blue ALPS board I have counts.

Well if you don't find one before my next trip to your neck of the woods (not at all sure when that might be though), I'll bring along a Displaywriter board if that's acceptable.

What is X? · « **Reply #41 on:** Wed, 27 April 2011, 00:49:35 »

terminal model M, 1397000

False_Dmitry_II · « **Reply #42 on:** Wed, 27 April 2011, 01:19:23 »

Quote from: Sam;337808

Well, the OP was about a Model M, albeit the AT&T variety, so my opinion is that the purpose of this thread was to post rare, not necessarily exotic keyboards. Not that it really matters though, I enjoy seeing whatever people have.

In that case, my most rare is a vivanco that I bought from missilemike, I have never seen anything about them besides us talking about it, his sig, and ebay listing. It's my only board without a keypad because I use it with my laptop.

xwhatsit · « **Reply #43 on:** Wed, 27 April 2011, 04:52:35 »

Quote from: Sam;337823

Well if you don't find one before my next trip to your neck of the woods (not at all sure when that might be though), I'll bring along a Displaywriter board if that's acceptable.

Well! That would be brilliant! Of course a beamspring would probably be half of one's luggage allowance these days

Thanks for the offer, if you end up downunder before I've found one locally I'll definitely be keen on that.

By the way, are you based in the US or did I get the wrong end of the stick and you're in Korea? Work might be sending me to Incheon at some point this year. Could do the inverse of what you suggested.

Sam · « **Reply #44 on:** Wed, 27 April 2011, 05:33:51 »

No problem with my luggage allowance - I'm super duper platinum premier whatever with all the airlines I fly (I fly a couple 100K miles per year). But if you're heading to Incheon, even if it's only transferring, definitely send me a PM well in advance and I can meet you there if I'm in Korea at that time. We can chow down on some Kimchi while we're at it.

I live in Korea but travel an awful lot so may or may not be around when you come.

The Solutor · « **Reply #45 on:** Wed, 27 April 2011, 05:48:22 »

Quote from: Pixel_Outlaw;194725

Just looking foreward to the most rare keyboards from peoples' collections.
I guess mine would be that crazy AT&T with Model M style switches that I showed some time back.

Show Image

Could be an Olivetti keyboard, afaik AT&T PC were rebranded Italian ones.

Usually they were on par or better with the IBM ones.

bonheur · « **Reply #46 on:** Wed, 27 April 2011, 06:35:31 »

Quote from: The Solutor;337931

Could be an Olivetti keyboard, afaik AT&T PC were rebranded Italian ones.

Usually they were on par or better with the IBM ones.

I hope I'm not spoiling this thread, but is this Italian manufacturer of keyboards still in business?

The Solutor · « **Reply #47 on:** Wed, 27 April 2011, 07:15:20 »

They went out the PC business in 96 or so after the commercial failure of the Envision, which was likely the very first HTPC (more than ten years before the term HTPC was pronounced for the first time).

They remained active as supplier of machines and services for manks, mail services, railways companies and so on, more or less just like IBM.

The company and the brand is now controlled by Telecom Italia (which ironically is for Italy what AT&T is for US) which recently has restarted to use the Olivetti brand for some consumer devices, built in cina.

Nothing like the golden era when Olivetti used to fight IBM on the mainframe and typewriter market, and used to produce some first, like the very first personal computer, the very first subnotebook, the very first HTPC.
All of them sold more than ten years before any other company in the world.

Oqsy · « **Reply #48 on:** Thu, 28 April 2011, 02:55:07 »

New acquisitions means I can now post here again. GE Fanuc / Contron industrial (steel case), Dolch blue cherry, German g80-3000 with MX clears, 122 Terminal Model F from 1985, and a Filco Majestouch 2 Tenkeyless with MX reds.

All are "unique" in some way, but none are THAT rare. The hardest to replace would be the Dolch or the Terminal F from 85.

Findecanor · « **Reply #49 on:** Thu, 28 April 2011, 06:07:04 »

Having a Dolch and a keyboard with MX Clears seems almost compulsory on Geekhack these days... ;-)

I think that my "waterproof" keyboard with fake Cherry MX white might be my rarest. Not very interesting, but rare.

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Author Topic: What is your most rare keyboard? (Read 19677 times)