Author Topic: IBM 5251 Beam Spring Keyboard for - are you kidding me?  (Read 9648 times)

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Offline OldIsNew

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IBM 5251 Beam Spring Keyboard for - are you kidding me?
« on: Wed, 07 November 2018, 22:28:09 »
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-IBM-5251-Beam-Spring-Keyboard/163359403561

Don't do it. These are, in fact, really nice boards - but not that nice. Wow.

Offline LightningXI

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Re: IBM 5251 Beam Spring Keyboard for - are you kidding me?
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 07 November 2018, 22:33:02 »
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-IBM-5251-Beam-Spring-Keyboard/163359403561

Don't do it. These are, in fact, really nice boards - but not that nice. Wow.
Love beamers. But it's gotten ridiculous.

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Offline JP

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Re: IBM 5251 Beam Spring Keyboard for - are you kidding me?
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 07 November 2018, 22:43:16 »
Why you show us this?  :(
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Offline SneakyRobb

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Re: IBM 5251 Beam Spring Keyboard for - are you kidding me?
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 08 November 2018, 14:55:44 »
This is an insane amount of money to spend to experience the transcendence that is realizing the Model F is the better design

Offline ander

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Re: IBM 5251 Beam Spring Keyboard for - are you kidding me?
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 08 November 2018, 15:53:52 »
Stuff's "worth" as much as people are willing to pay for it. Sorry, but that's how it works.
We are not chasing wildly after beauty with fear at our backs. – Natalie Goldberg

Offline OldIsNew

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Re: IBM 5251 Beam Spring Keyboard for - are you kidding me?
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 08 November 2018, 17:38:25 »
Stuff's "worth" as much as people are willing to pay for it. Sorry, but that's how it works.

Hey, I''m all about the free market. As Austin Powers said: 'Yea Capitalism!"  I have a 5251 and it is a great board - just because $1700 seems ridiculous to me doesn't mean that someone else won't pay it.  Personally I'd advise against it, but If you want one and can afford it,  then  pay whatever you want - there's nothing wrong with that. I do, however,  get the feeling that the recent beam spring craze is along the line of  the Dutch tulip bulb bubble - or the late 90's Beanie Baby craze.  I wouldn't look at it as an investment -  I will not be at all surprised if the fad wears off and these boards are again going for a few hundred dollars in 5 years. But hey if you can sell your board for $1700 now there's nothing wrong with that!

Hmmmm ... anyone interested in a IBM 5251 beam spring keyboard - completely rebuilt and converted with an Xwhatsit board - including a new contamination shield! -  for only $1875?

« Last Edit: Thu, 08 November 2018, 17:40:42 by OldIsNew »

Offline LightningXI

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Re: IBM 5251 Beam Spring Keyboard for - are you kidding me?
« Reply #7 on: Fri, 09 November 2018, 02:26:40 »
Stuff's "worth" as much as people are willing to pay for it. Sorry, but that's how it works.

Hey, I''m all about the free market. As Austin Powers said: 'Yea Capitalism!"  I have a 5251 and it is a great board - just because $1700 seems ridiculous to me doesn't mean that someone else won't pay it.  Personally I'd advise against it, but If you want one and can afford it,  then  pay whatever you want - there's nothing wrong with that. I do, however,  get the feeling that the recent beam spring craze is along the line of  the Dutch tulip bulb bubble - or the late 90's Beanie Baby craze.  I wouldn't look at it as an investment -  I will not be at all surprised if the fad wears off and these boards are again going for a few hundred dollars in 5 years. But hey if you can sell your board for $1700 now there's nothing wrong with that!

Hmmmm ... anyone interested in a IBM 5251 beam spring keyboard - completely rebuilt and converted with an Xwhatsit board - including a new contamination shield! -  for only $1875?
I'll offer you a few hundred ;)

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Offline HotRoderX

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Re: IBM 5251 Beam Spring Keyboard for - are you kidding me?
« Reply #8 on: Fri, 09 November 2018, 16:39:23 »
I remember about 10 years back I had something I had bought and put on layaway. I bought it for 650 and was paying it off. A guy comes into the shop and offers me 3500 cash for it, when he seen me picking it up. What it came down to was supply in demand. There there a hell of demand but zero supply

Offline matt-taco

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Re: IBM 5251 Beam Spring Keyboard for - are you kidding me?
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 09 November 2018, 16:46:47 »
Considering I only paid 140 for mine less than a year ago.

Offline ander

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Re: IBM 5251 Beam Spring Keyboard for - are you kidding me?
« Reply #10 on: Sun, 02 December 2018, 23:02:41 »
One of my friends here at GH sold me my beam spring for around $100 a few years ago... I just hope he doesn't hate me now.  :?|
We are not chasing wildly after beauty with fear at our backs. – Natalie Goldberg

Offline JP

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Re: IBM 5251 Beam Spring Keyboard for - are you kidding me?
« Reply #11 on: Mon, 03 December 2018, 10:58:52 »
One of my friends here at GH sold me my beam spring for around $100 a few years ago... I just hope he doesn't hate me now.  :?|

In that case if you sell it back to me for $200 I won't hate you anymore  ;)
« Last Edit: Tue, 04 December 2018, 08:45:40 by JP »
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Offline ander

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Re: IBM 5251 Beam Spring Keyboard for - are you kidding me?
« Reply #12 on: Tue, 04 December 2018, 23:35:04 »
In that case if you sell it back to me for $200 I won't hate you anymore  ;)

Well, dude, if it's any consolation, I'll never sell it, as:

• I'll always want one (whereas I'm guessing you already had a couple, right?)

• There's no way I'll ever be able to buy another one (being married, etc.)

So, imaginary unanticipated air-profits aside, it looks like everyone's a winner here, doesn't it? Keeb-wise? I'm just saying.
We are not chasing wildly after beauty with fear at our backs. – Natalie Goldberg