Space Invasion

Here is the other keyboard I picked up from the Keypocalypse sale.  This is an NMB RT101+ with black clicky “space invader” keyswitches.  It was fairly filthy.  I’m in the first phase of cleaning it.

My initial impressions were that the keyswitches are too stiff for my liking, but I’m going to give it some TLC and give it another shot.  I think it could be fun once I get used to it a little.

The keycaps are a little strange; they’re held on by two little plastic clips on either side of the switch, and care must be taken to “roll them off” by prying up one side with a butter knife or some such, while holding the key down.  Failure to do this correctly can result in the top cover of the switch being pulled off and the spring flying into somewhere you’ll probably never find again.

This somehow reminds me of the Soviet Union.  Some of the keys have lost some of their click in comparison to the others (it’s not as pronounced).  One keyswitch (under the period on the numeric keypad) has lost its click entirely.

The bottom of the PCB was actually very clean.

Date code is 9230- 30th week (late July) of 1992.  I’m definitely in a better place in every way imaginable from where I was in 1992.The case is quite yellowed, and while it’s apart I think I’m going to take the opportunity to pull the plug on some ingredients for re-whitening them, in addition to the case for the K-260.  I’ve been curious about the process (called Retr0bright), and this is an ideal time to test it out.

Update 11/1/2015: space bar keyswitch pic.