deskthority

I am taking apart a PC Factory Inc branded NMB Hi-Tek black clicky space invader 725 Series RT-101+ keyboard and am noticing there is an oily substance around the key switches. Was this normal for NBM Hi-tek? While the key switches are glorious (I'm thinking this might go into my "daily driver" pool), the lube has caught dirt and hair and is in need of clean up. Just wondering if anyone has experienced this. it is squarely around the key switches so it looks like the lube was automated.

Here's a quick pick:
Another oddity is that it has two differently shaped black clicky switches (different "eye" size) and the space bar is a black switch with a yellow dot to mark the different harder spring within. I thought they used grey or another color?
Keyboard is from 1990.

There are different casings that can accommodate the grooves for wire stabilizers. I have seen them mixed almost at random.

If the switches are working properly, I would clean around them and leave them alone. Hi-Teks are fussy and fragile.

Interesting, I don't recall any of my NMB Hi-Tek keyboards showing any signs of lube anywhere. Yes there have been several instances of people reporting mixed NMB switch components on keyboards.

Yes this is common, but not ubiquitous. I believe the plates have a black oxide finish. Oil is often applied to the black oxide finish to improve corrosion protection. My theory is that the some board ended up with more oil than others.

The mix of "eyes" is quite common and has been documented several times. The space bar switch being the same color does occur. The dot on the switch marks it as a space bar switch when it is the same color as the others.

My ADDS 1010 has oil/lube on the plate too.