What the heck? Is this dude manufacturing Space Savers?

[WhiteRice]

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-Model-M-Space-Saver-Clicky-Keyboard-NIB-/180554404839?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2a09e193e7#ht_1340wt_1137

This is like the third week in a row one of these have gone up.

Starting Bid: $19.99

[snerd]

I have always wanted one of these... what price do you expect this to get to?

[audioave10]

A 91' silver label is probably $200 when the auction is complete.
Too much for me right now...darnit.

[ironman31]

The last one went for a little over 150 USD if I remember correctly

[snerd]

Yeah, that's a little rich for me right now. Ah well...

[J888www]

OP "What the heck? Is this guy manufacturing Space Savers?"

Why do people naturally assume the seller is a male ?

Maybe this man likes to use a woman's name ?

[D-EJ915]

does it say anything to indicate it is a woman selling in the auction? no...

[J888www]

does it say anything to indicate it is a woman selling in the auction? no...

.....does it say anything to indicate it is a man selling in the auction? no...

:fencing:

[WhiteRice]

I forget which one of you is 7**7, but gg.

[snerd]

So much action this early... gonna be ugly in 6 days.

[Rajagra]

Why do people naturally assume the seller is a male ?

Gender-neutral pronoun

Traditionally, the masculine form has been taken to be the markless  form, that is the form to be used unless it is known to be inappropriate. This has dictated the masculine pronoun in cases such as

    * reference to an indefinite person, for example: "If anybody comes, tell him"

This concept was fine until the PC brigade came along and took exception for the sake of it.

[TexasFlood]

So much action this early... gonna be ugly in 6 days.

No kidding, like 6 1/2 days to go and already sailed up above $150.  I'm sure they're nice, but too rich for my blood.

[Shawn Stanford]

They're nice, but unless you're a collector or have space issues, they're a nice-to-have. I snagged mine for about $75 from a fellow GeekHacker when I needed a smaller keyboard so that the keyboard and mouse would fit in the keyboard drawer of my desk. Really, it's not any different than my other Model Ms.

[MissileMike]

6 days left and it's already 150$.  I never understand why people even bother to bid so early...

[phototristan]

People are sorta stupid. The last one sold for  $172.50. This one has already been bid up to like $182.50 and will likely go for higher. What gives?

[kriminal]

heh 7***7 bid... GG

[J888www]

Higher the price the better, I like to be reassured that my stock is of value.

[didjamatic]

The price drop to $172 on the last auction caught my eye, it was the first downward trend in a while and I actually considered getting one.

Oh, FYI it was a WHITE label, not SILVER label.  They never made a Mini with a Silver Label.


Silver


White (black or I suppose Gray could be correct as well)

[phototristan]

These two labels look exactly the same to me in terms of color.

The price drop to $172 on the last auction caught my eye, it was the first downward trend in a while and I actually considered getting one.

Oh, FYI it was a WHITE label, not SILVER label.  They never made a Mini with a Silver Label.


Silver

Show Image

White

Show Image

[didjamatic]

Technically they would be a black label if you're going by the ink.  Or is that a Dark Gray ink? (Updated description above for white/gray/black label, but they definitely aren't silver.

EDIT - Actually Clicky does say "White"

[didjamatic]

These two labels look exactly the same to me in terms of color.

It's the background that is different.

Silver Labels - SQUARE METAL label with black print
White Label - oval white background with black print
Blue Label - oval gray background with blue print
Black Label - oval black background with silver print (Industrials and M13) or square metal background with silver print.  (Industrials only)

Did I miss anything?  Note, this is only for Model M's.

[didjamatic]

Holy smokes, I never noticed until now that all blue labels have gray backgrounds.  I thought some were white but they're not.

[didjamatic]

I was thinking of standard Model M's with blue labels, I thought they were white backgrounds but they are gray.  I removed gray in the list above, I can't believe I always thought they were 2 different blue labels.  And the fact that it doesn't match either regular or industrial model M's is puzzling.

[EverythingIBM]

I was thinking of standard Model M's with blue labels, I thought they were white backgrounds but they are gray.  I removed gray in the list above, I can't believe I always thought they were 2 different blue labels.  And the fact that it doesn't match either regular or industrial model M's is puzzling.

I think it's to contrast from the plastic surrounding (although this theory is neglected on black M13s).

The G70 has a dark grey model M oval badge with lavender blue (and the IBM sticking out rather than flat print).

[didjamatic]

What, Whaaaat?  Square silver labels are not metal?  Are they at least metal plated?  I've never physically removed one from a case.

[WhiteRice]

20 Minutes to go, any last minute predictions...

[ironman31]

242.50

[ironman31]

aw, a little off... 207.53

[microsoft windows]

I remember back when $100 for a Model M Mini was a rip-off. It's not like the supply's gone down...

[ch_123]

And then people wonder how the yanks keep driving the world's economy into the ground...

[wellington1869]

I remember back when $100 for a Model M Mini was a rip-off. It's not like the supply's gone down...

i was seriously thinking of buying one when they were $90 to $100. That was only like early last year I think.  Basically I'd have doubled my money.

[Shawn Stanford]

There's nothing special about the technology, the materials or the layout, but Space Saving keyboards have moved from a piece of equipment to a 'collectible'. That's why Unicomp won't consider making them: they'd take a bath because folks who want to just use the damn things won't pay enough to make it worth their while, and a Unicomp version won't attract collectors.

It's the same stupid **** that drove Rolex prices into the stratosphere. They used to be a decent tool watch. Now that every fat-wallet small-**** who has a desperate need to impress wears one, they're unreachable by the guy who needs a reliable, well-built and good-looking mechanical watch.

That and Seiko totally kicked their ass in terms of value-for-price, so Rolex had to move upmarket and trade on their name to survive...

[EverythingIBM]

There's nothing special about the technology, the materials or the layout, but Space Saving keyboards have moved from a piece of equipment to a 'collectible'. That's why Unicomp won't consider making them: they'd take a bath because folks who want to just use the damn things won't pay enough to make it worth their while, and a Unicomp version won't attract collectors.

It's the same stupid **** that drove Rolex prices into the stratosphere. They used to be a decent tool watch. Now that every fat-wallet small-**** who has a desperate need to impress wears one, they're unreachable by the guy who needs a reliable, well-built and good-looking mechanical watch.

That and Seiko totally kicked their ass in terms of value-for-price, so Rolex had to move upmarket and trade on their name to survive...

Rolex isn't the best watch maker actually, it's an old company called "Patek," they designed much of what constitutes a modern watch today, like the crown.
Contrary to the common opinion, most Rolex watches on the market are just typical junk made anywhere else. I did see an awesome mechanical Rolex once, it was surprising; and also extremely expensive, my friend got a deal on it however: only $700 if I recall.
The watch I have is a Mondaine incabloc. Man, it's older than my 5150. I don't use it though, it keeps amazingly good accurate time though, 17 jewel swiss.

[ch_123]

That's why Unicomp won't consider making them: they'd take a bath because folks who want to just use the damn things won't pay enough to make it worth their while, and a Unicomp version won't attract collectors.

I think it's just the case that it would be too expensive to resurrect a design that doesn't really add anything to their product lineup.

[EverythingIBM]

I paid like $10 for my Rolex in China.  I shoulda asked the guy about IBM Minis.

Show Image

The other day I took the Chairman Mao watch in to the watch repairman only to find it's a wind up watch!  We both cracked up about that one.  I had dug it out of the drawer since my kid wanted it for school.  The TinTin watch is an authentic one though.

Correction: you paid $10 for a fake Rolex watch made in china; I'd like to ask the Chinese how they got a watch made in Switzerland and sell it to silly American tourists for $10. Do you even know how to tell the real ones from the fake ones? The real Rolex watches have a special "key" which only certain Rolex vendors carry. Chinese ones should have some typical standard thing. They haven't figured out the Rolex key.

Is the Mao one 17 jewel swiss? That's a bit wishful, I know. Some are automatic (best to have 22 rubies I believe in those ones). Sorry, there's automatic and super automatic, sadly both are mostly lumped under "automatic," so you'll have to tell by how many jewels used.

I let a XAAX watch slip away on ebay for something like 10 pounds. Darn it! It was a 22 ruby super automatic.

[Rusty Rat]

The real Rolex watches have a special "key" which only certain Rolex vendors carry. Chinese ones should have some typical standard thing. They haven't figured out the Rolex key.

What a load of bs and I don't mean buckling springs. A special key? what! unless you are talking about the Bergeon case openers and there are even Chinese made copies of those selling on EBay. Replicas range from $10 rubbish to $1,000 copies containing Swiss ETA movements and some of those copies are 99.99% exact.

Sorry, there's automatic and super automatic, sadly both are mostly lumped under "automatic," so you'll have to tell by how many jewels used.

As a collector of mechanical watches and a member of some of the specialised watch collecting forums what you are writing is tripe. A hyped up number of jewels is a selling point for the uninitiated.  Only the really limited production Swiss movements actually make use of the large number of jewels.

[ch_123]

what you are writing is tripe.

And not only about watches

[EverythingIBM]

So THAT'S why the hand goes jerka jerka jerka around the dial! I shoulda bought the $20 one.

I have no idea about rubies in the Mao one but the waving arm amuses me immensely.

Or you could have just dug around locally.

What a load of bs and I don't mean buckling springs. A special key? what! unless you are talking about the Bergeon case openers and there are even Chinese made copies of those selling on EBay. Replicas range from $10 rubbish to $1,000 copies containing Swiss ETA movements and some of those copies are 99.99% exact.

As a collector of mechanical watches and a member of some of the specialised watch collecting forums what you are writing is tripe. A hyped up number of jewels is a selling point for the uninitiated.  Only the really limited production Swiss movements actually make use of the large number of jewels.

It's not a load of a BS, you can't just pluck of a Rolex backplate with ordinary tools. Well the one I seen anyway (which was a very high-end one).
Chinese copies are not nearly good as the swiss ones, grow up and learn something about good patek watches.

What I'm saying is not tripe. The number of Jewels is a way to tell between automatic and super automatic (EXCLUDING manual windup); and the *reason* why my mondaine watch was 17 jewel swiss was because it is NOT automatic. OBVIOUSLY automatic watches are going to take more jewels, and super-automatic even more.

[JBert]

Jewels for bearings sure can be an improvement for precision, but they aren't exactly mandatory nor can they help an otherwise shoddy construction.

Also, what is a "super automatic"? Isn't that just some marketing lingo?

[didjamatic]

How funny, I've been considering a vintage Swiss movement watch recently and just read a great article about watch jewels this weekend.  Must be something in the air.

[Rusty Rat]

It's not a load of a BS, you can't just pluck of a Rolex backplate with ordinary tools. Well the one I seen anyway (which was a very high-end one).
Chinese copies are not nearly good as the swiss ones, grow up and learn something about good patek watches.

So you have seen ONE Rolex watch and that makes you an authority? I have seen an IBM mainframe – so I must be a default expert on them? Apart from press down case backs all screw back watches (Rolex, Seiko, Omega etc) need a special tool. The Rolex serrated screw back style are also used by some other manufacturers. Rolex screw back removal tools are as common as your silly posts. If you read my post I was actually writing about the range of replicas, and by the way no one in Switzerland makes Rolex replicas.

What I'm saying is not tripe. The number of Jewels is a way to tell between automatic and super automatic (EXCLUDING manual windup); and the *reason* why my mondaine watch was 17 jewel swiss was because it is NOT automatic. OBVIOUSLY automatic watches are going to take more jewels, and super-automatic even more.

Total unmitigated TRIPE. The number of jewels relates to bearing surfaces – not the movements features. Automatic and Super Automatic – total bs. There are Chinese Automatic movements with 7 jewels, by your reasoning they cannot exist. By your reasoning one of my early Omega’s automatic winding 17 jewels movement cannot exist. Obviously some of my automatics should be called super duper automatics because they have more than 30 jewels.

In the Watch World 'Pateks' are like rubber domes - nothing special.

[EverythingIBM]

Jewels for bearings sure can be an improvement for precision, but they aren't exactly mandatory nor can they help an otherwise shoddy construction.

Also, what is a "super automatic"? Isn't that just some marketing lingo?

Super automatic is generally unknown and SOMETIMES hidden under "automatic"; and this only applies to older watches usually. Patek was one of the first to make them I believe (insanely expensive watches though! And often the older ones are very rare).
As these watches are just old items, there are really no major manufacturers interested in marketing super-automatic.

Here's a website that actually lists "super-automatic:"
http://www.afinewatch.com/Swiss4.html

And a picture of this nice watch (this one does say super-automatic):

So you have seen ONE Rolex watch and that makes you an authority? I have seen an IBM mainframe – so I must be a default expert on them? Apart from press down case backs all screw back watches (Rolex, Seiko, Omega etc) need a special tool. The Rolex serrated screw back style are also used by some other manufacturers. Rolex screw back removal tools are as common as your silly posts. If you read my post I was actually writing about the range of replicas, and by the way no one in Switzerland makes Rolex replicas.

Total unmitigated TRIPE. The number of jewels relates to bearing surfaces – not the movements features. Automatic and Super Automatic – total bs. There are Chinese Automatic movements with 7 jewels, by your reasoning they cannot exist. By your reasoning one of my early Omega’s automatic winding 17 jewels movement cannot exist. Obviously some of my automatics should be called super duper automatics because they have more than 30 jewels.

In the Watch World 'Pateks' are like rubber domes - nothing special.

[Rusty Rat]

Super automatic is generally unknown and SOMETIMES hidden under "automatic"; and this only applies to older watches usually. Patek was one of the first to make them I believe (insanely expensive watches though! And often the older ones are very rare).
As these watches are just old items, there are really no major manufacturers interested in marketing super-automatic.

Because they won't get away with silly marketing hype anymore.

That picture for a Super Automatic only has a 17 jewel movement - sort of contradicts your nonsense. Gee EIBM don’t you understand marketing hype? Why make silly posts about things you obviously know nothing about. A wise man once said “Better to be thought an idiot than say or write something that removes all doubt”. At least now you are researching watches, alas only to try to find some sort of backup to your TRIPE statements.

Rusty Rat - Owner of a Valjoux 37 jewel movement - super turbo charged super duper super automatic – which is less accurate than an old Citizen 17 jewel Automatic movement.

[EverythingIBM]

Because they won't get away with silly marketing hype anymore.

That picture for a Super Automatic only has a 17 jewel movement - sort of contradicts your nonsense. Gee EIBM don’t you understand marketing hype? Why make silly posts about things you obviously know nothing about. A wise man once said “Better to be thought an idiot than say or write something that removes all doubt”. At least now you are researching watches, alas only to try to find some sort of backup to your TRIPE statements.

Rusty Rat - Owner of a Valjoux 37 jewel movement - super turbo charged super duper super automatic – which is less accurate than an old Citizen 17 jewel Automatic movement.

I really shouldn't be responding to this... but, some amusement may be down the road:

#1 I never said the amount of jewels was the ONLY way, but "a way", inferring an indication for super-automatic. It's like you're haranguing me for nothing I'm imposing as one way...

#2 yes, Patek is one of the best watch manufacturers. They were comissioned to make the most complicated wrist watch.

[Oqsy]

Ripster, you have no idea what laughs I've gotten from this thread because of your Chinese Rolex and the following debate.  

+10 points thread derailment awarded to Ripster.

[Shawn Stanford]

Piss on all this...

Straight up fact #1: There isn't a mechanical watch in existence - regardless of who commissioned it, how many jewels it has to how many Swiss gnomes toiled over it - that can beat a $35 Casio or Timex quartz for accuracy and reliability.

Straight up fact #2: Once you pass about the $500 mark on mechanical watches, they're all the same except for the name on the dial and the flashy gewgaws that impress the natives. You want a mechanical watch with 47 functions? Knock yourself out. But there isn't a Rolex, Patek or Breitling made that can take more of a beating or keep better time than a Seiko or Citizen.

Now, I'm not knocking Rollies or Pateks (although I do think Brietlings are pieces of 'look at me!' fanboy crap), but their technology, accuracy, reliability and materials don't justify the prices...

[TheSoundofTyping]

So, those Spacesavers are pretty cool eh...

[Shawn Stanford]

And I'm wearing one of my Seiko automatic divers. I bought this one from a pawn shop in Singapore on eBay several years ago for $25. I spent another $75 to have it lightly serviced and relumed and it has been rock-steady and startlingly accurate since.

I don't hesitate to wear it (or my others) when I work in the yard, go for a run, take a shower or go to war. First, I'm absolutely confident that it will take pretty much anything I can dish out; second, if anything does go wrong, it's a Seiko - I can replace it for the cost of a decent dinner.

[didjamatic]

If you guys are interested, here's a watch thread.

[Shawn Stanford]

In there like swimwear...