Author Topic: Fei Company Model M?  (Read 3743 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline nubbinator

  • Dabbler Supreme
  • * Maker
  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 8658
  • Location: Orange County, CA
  • Model M "connoisseur"
Fei Company Model M?
« on: Sun, 31 May 2015, 00:09:28 »
I say this on eBay and was wondering if it's an IBM BS board.  Fei Company has done stuff with IBM before and it looks like it could be BS, but I have no clue.  Anyone seen something like this before?




http://www.ebay.com/itm/FEI-Company-Control-Keyboard-100-12241-Rev-C1-23897-/281706941865?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41970acda9

Offline chyros

  • a.k.a. Thomas
  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 3499
  • Location: The Netherlands
  • Hello and welcome.
Re: Fei Company Model M?
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 31 May 2015, 04:39:22 »
Wow. That is.... impressive. Impressive indeed.
Check my keyboard video reviews:


Offline E TwentyNine

  • Posts: 884
    • Some of My Keyboards
Re: Fei Company Model M?
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 31 May 2015, 06:49:42 »
Certainly looks like an M in there.

Wonder why he doubled the price: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271880639569?rmvSB=true
Daily driver: SSK or Tenkeyless IBM AT
1984 Model M Industrial Prototype ⌨ 1992 Black Oval Industrial SSK ⌨ 1982 5251 Beam Spring ⌨ 89 Key "SSK" ⌨ M13 triplets

Offline nubbinator

  • Dabbler Supreme
  • * Maker
  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 8658
  • Location: Orange County, CA
  • Model M "connoisseur"
Re: Fei Company Model M?
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 31 May 2015, 11:22:40 »
Certainly looks like an M in there.

Wonder why he doubled the price: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271880639569?rmvSB=true

I know there are similar looking Keytronic boards, just something about it looks like a Model M to me.  If it is, it's by far the most unusual Model M I've ever seen.

And you never know with sellers on prices.  I've seen more than a few people raise the price each time it goes unsold.  I think some think that people aren't buying it because the price is too low...which does happen sometimes.

Offline Touch_It

  • Posts: 715
Re: Fei Company Model M?
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 31 May 2015, 12:41:16 »
Certainly looks like an M in there.

Wonder why he doubled the price: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271880639569?rmvSB=true

Ebay does not play by the laws of logic.

Also that thing would look amazing on someones desk.


Visit the Typing Test and try!

Offline chyros

  • a.k.a. Thomas
  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 3499
  • Location: The Netherlands
  • Hello and welcome.
Re: Fei Company Model M?
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 31 May 2015, 12:43:24 »
Certainly looks like an M in there.

Wonder why he doubled the price: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271880639569?rmvSB=true

Ebay does not play by the laws of logic.

Also that thing would look amazing on as someones desk.
phix'd 8)
Check my keyboard video reviews:


Offline hwood34

  • underwater squad
  • * Exalted Elder
  • Posts: 5917
  • Location: USA
  • #1 CL stan
    • Keyboard Illuminati
Re: Fei Company Model M?
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 31 May 2015, 13:49:04 »
I just can't see how sellers actually think someone will buy stuff at crazy prices like this.
IV KWK Info Thread & KBK Info Thread IV (out of date)

Old GBs: Gateron Switches (2015) | CF-LX R1 (2015) | CF-LX R2 (2017) | CF-LXXX (2017) | Gen.s Gem Caps (2015)

"Under no pretext should arms and ammunition be surrendered; any attempt to disarm the workers must be frustrated, by force if necessary"

Offline Snowdog993

  • Grace Under Pressure
  • Posts: 1587
  • Location: Over There! (Pointing)
  • Justifiably Clueless.
Re: Fei Company Model M?
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 31 May 2015, 15:26:05 »
It has a missing joystick knob and one joystick controller is broken.  I would think that if they wanted such a premium price, it would be fully functional as well.  I have no clue or idea what that thing is, but it does look interesting.

I don't even think it is compatible with a PC as it is.  There are so many things about it that would make me look the other way.

With that said, I suppose it is a very rare thing.  I've never seen anything like that before.  It could be some sort of console combination controller and keyboard.  It would make a distinct conversation piece, especially if you actually hooked it up to the computer and had all those gizmos functioning and doing something special.

 

Offline Snarfangel

  • Posts: 288
Re: Fei Company Model M?
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 31 May 2015, 19:37:09 »
I say this on eBay and was wondering if it's an IBM BS board.  Fei Company has done stuff with IBM before and it looks like it could be BS, but I have no clue.  Anyone seen something like this before?

Show Image



http://www.ebay.com/itm/FEI-Company-Control-Keyboard-100-12241-Rev-C1-23897-/281706941865?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41970acda9

Doing some Googling, it looks like it may be involved in "Focused Ion Beam Systems" (REPLACEMENT SPAREPARTS FOR MICRION FIB REPAIR). Here is a link to a place that sells repair parts, including this keyboard:
http://www.freudlabs.com/spare_parts_for_micrion_fib

And some interesting pics:

(really not sure what kind of switch this is)^





Still not sure what switch it uses.
« Last Edit: Sun, 31 May 2015, 19:50:55 by Snarfangel »

Offline Snarfangel

  • Posts: 288
Re: Fei Company Model M?
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 31 May 2015, 19:41:06 »
Oh, and here it is in its natural habitat:

Offline E TwentyNine

  • Posts: 884
    • Some of My Keyboards
Re: Fei Company Model M?
« Reply #10 on: Sun, 31 May 2015, 19:48:36 »
Great info, nice find.
Daily driver: SSK or Tenkeyless IBM AT
1984 Model M Industrial Prototype ⌨ 1992 Black Oval Industrial SSK ⌨ 1982 5251 Beam Spring ⌨ 89 Key "SSK" ⌨ M13 triplets

Offline Snowdog993

  • Grace Under Pressure
  • Posts: 1587
  • Location: Over There! (Pointing)
  • Justifiably Clueless.
Re: Fei Company Model M?
« Reply #11 on: Sun, 31 May 2015, 20:00:21 »
It makes you wonder, what in the world are they producing there?

The assembly looks like a regular buckling spring assembly.  If it isn't, I am sure you can just drop one in!
That's pretty cool.


Offline Xonar

  • Posts: 100
  • Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Cathode Ray Tubes
    • DPS
Re: Fei Company Model M?
« Reply #12 on: Sun, 31 May 2015, 23:13:34 »
Also that thing would look amazing on someones desk.

That thing could almost be a desk on its own. :D
IBM Model F XT 5291 Bigfoot x2 | Unicomp UN4KPHA JP Spacesaver M | IBM Model M 3270 APL 122-Key | SHARP X68000 | SGI AT-101 | Samsung TH-5539 FAME Blue Alps | IBM Japanese Pingmaster | HHKB Type-S | IBM Model M 1392595, 6/4/1990 | IBM Model M 1391401, 2/2/1988 | Lexmark-branded 1398601 Model M, 8/18/1995 | Unicomp UB40T5A 122-Key, 5/20/2011 | Sun Type 4 | Sun Type 5c | DEC LK-401AA

Offline chyros

  • a.k.a. Thomas
  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 3499
  • Location: The Netherlands
  • Hello and welcome.
Re: Fei Company Model M?
« Reply #13 on: Mon, 01 June 2015, 04:26:20 »
It makes you wonder, what in the world are they producing there?

The assembly looks like a regular buckling spring assembly.  If it isn't, I am sure you can just drop one in!
That's pretty cool.

Show Image

It's either that or Peerlesses, which use a similar system, but the barrel plate, specifically at the bottom, looks much more like that in the Model M. I'd definitely bet on BS here.
Check my keyboard video reviews:


Offline ander

  • * Esteemed Elder
  • Posts: 1187
  • Location: Vancouver, BC
  • I type, therefore I am
Re: Fei Company Model M?
« Reply #14 on: Tue, 02 June 2015, 02:18:34 »
Oh man, you could dominate the world with a KB like that! (Although my wife manages to do it without a KB.)
We are not chasing wildly after beauty with fear at our backs. – Natalie Goldberg

Offline BrewCaps

  • Posts: 114
Re: Fei Company Model M?
« Reply #15 on: Tue, 02 June 2015, 09:50:28 »
I say this on eBay and was wondering if it's an IBM BS board.  Fei Company has done stuff with IBM before and it looks like it could be BS, but I have no clue.  Anyone seen something like this before?

Show Image



http://www.ebay.com/itm/FEI-Company-Control-Keyboard-100-12241-Rev-C1-23897-/281706941865?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41970acda9

Doing some Googling, it looks like it may be involved in "Focused Ion Beam Systems" (REPLACEMENT SPAREPARTS FOR MICRION FIB REPAIR). Here is a link to a place that sells repair parts, including this keyboard:
http://www.freudlabs.com/spare_parts_for_micrion_fib

And some interesting pics:
Show Image

(really not sure what kind of switch this is)^
Show Image

Show Image

Show Image

Show Image


Still not sure what switch it uses.

Sure looks like a IBM!