Rare NMB Keyboard or Junk? - Model: NMB RT6856TW with Erase-Eaze

[JP]

First post and a newbie to vintage mechanical keyboards.

So I was recycling a bunch of old computer equipment for a shop I work for when I stumbled across this old keyboard. Nothing appeared particularly interesting about this dirty, yellowed, vintage rubber-domed keyboard. l nearly scrapped this keyboard, that is until I noticed the odd space-bar configuration.

I am not able to find much online about these Erase-Eaze keyboards. When I search for this exact model online, I have not found any examples which have this feature. Perhaps this feature was unique to keyboards which NMB produced for Midwest Micro, a now defunct computer OEM?

Deskauthority for example has no reference to this model:  RT6856TW with an Erase-Eaze feature.
https://deskthority.net/wiki/NMB_keyboards

Any thoughts on this keyboard? I may try to clean it up and whiten it if anyone here thinks it would be worthwhile. It is rather nice to type on considering that it is not a mechanical.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Several keyboards on that Deskthority wiki page have Erase-Eaze.

Yours is covered by this page:

https://deskthority.net/wiki/NMB_RT6856T

(I've put in the missing links to that page.)

It's alleged that RT685B (B instead of 5 or 6) means backspace next to space, but in most cases, Erase-Eaze is denoted by "E"; the meaning of "B" is not confirmed, but appears to be merely conjectured from a single example.

Yours is again anomalous in that neither "B" nor "E" is present in the model number, but it's basically the same as Compaq NMB RT685BTW. It appears that NMB made a number of mistakes with their model numbers and yours is one of those mistakes.

Note that the Deskthority wiki's coverage is only as complete as people are willing to make it — if everyone added the keyboards from their collection, the coverage could go up a thousand percent overnight. Information on NMB Right Touch keyboards is still fairly limited.

Eraze-Ease doesn't seem to be that common, so far as I am aware, but I only follow the Keyboards section of Geekhack, and many things are mentioned that I never see.

[tp4tissue]

why are you guys collecting these ?

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Why is who collecting what?

[tp4tissue]

Why is who collecting what?

These older rubber dome boards.  they're not really historically significant and a distant tie to anything model-m.. 

[Daniel Beardsmore]

JP has already answered your question before you asked it, and I'm not collecting anything, so who on earth are you talking to?

[tp4tissue]

JP has already answered your question before you asked it, and I'm not collecting anything, so who on earth are you talking to?

you guys just assume Tp4 reads the stuff you write..

hahahahahaha.. nawh. just kidding. went to read op, k, i guess / thread right ?

[JP]

Daniel,

Thank you for your response and for that missing link.

[Zarigueya]

I have two NMB Right Touch Mechanical Keyboards, Model RT-8200, circa 2004, compatible with WIN95 (but not WIN10).

I've heard these alled "vintage," and it seems difficult to find the NMB in general, NMB Technologies no longer have a Keyboard Division, so most of those you can find on eBay or its ilk are "pre-owned." I cannot use mine--Win10 doesn't recognize it--nor can I find a suitable driver.

These keyboards are beloved by those who do a lot of typing (writers, gamers), because their touch is consistent, responsive, w/audible feedback i.e., perfect.

The attachment is a PDF of the NMB Specs for the RT-8200 archived in the Internet Archives

[frydaja]

You made me want to pull out my RT101 again, thanks.  ) Mine has a similar case, but the keys are all white, it doesn't have Windows keys and Ease Erase and the logo above the lock lights is a Compaq logo.

Also, what switches are in there? I suppose it's a rubber dome, but is it a bare rubber dome, or a dome with slider?

[JP]

I have two NMB Right Touch Mechanical Keyboards, Model RT-8200, circa 2004, compatible with WIN95 (but not WIN10).

I've heard these alled "vintage," and it seems difficult to find the NMB in general, NMB Technologies no longer have a Keyboard Division, so most of those you can find on eBay or its ilk are "pre-owned." I cannot use mine--Win10 doesn't recognize it--nor can I find a suitable driver.

These keyboards are beloved by those who do a lot of typing (writers, gamers), because their touch is consistent, responsive, w/audible feedback i.e., perfect.

The attachment is a PDF of the NMB Specs for the RT-8200 archived in the Internet Archives

Wait not supported? What adapter are you using? I use an NMB RT8255CW+ currently as a daily driver on Windows 10 and all of my NMB I've owned have worked fine.

[JP]

You made me want to pull out my RT101 again, thanks.  ) Mine has a similar case, but the keys are all white, it doesn't have Windows keys and Ease Erase and the logo above the lock lights is a Compaq logo.

Also, what switches are in there? I suppose it's a rubber dome, but is it a bare rubber dome, or a dome with slider?

I do still have my NMB RT6856TW but it is rubber dome and I don't use it. My 8255 on the other hand uses clicky tactile black space invader switches.