19 Nov
2025
19 Nov
'25
5:57 p.m.
I found a Depraz mouse the other day (Type D 83 / P) while going through moving boxes. I
used to - long time ago - make things out of broken or disassembled computer gear. There
was the most amazing store in Dover, NJ called Second Byte where I spent too much time and
money (according to my ex-wife). I purchased this mouse 30 years ago with no particular
project in mind, and it has just stayed packed away.
I'm looking to sell it but I admittedly don't know what it's worth. I see two
of them on eBay for $20-$30K, but don't see any Sold Items as a reference. Those sale
prices sound largely aspirational.
The mouse is in pretty amazing physical condition, with only basic scuffing on the red
surface. The larger spots you see are reflections. The cable has scuffs but no fraying at
all. The ball turns when the mouse is rolled. No pins are bent on the connector (RS-232 /
DB9?). The three buttons click.
Any insight - or offers - is welcomed.
Thanks.
20 Nov
20 Nov
3:09 a.m.
There is no picture attached or link leading to a picture..
And I don't think your allowed to use attachments on cctalk.
-Rik
-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
Van: microprint314--- via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Verzonden: donderdag 20 november 2025 02:58
Aan: cctalk(a)classiccmp.org
CC: microprint314(a)gmail.com
Onderwerp: [cctalk] Depraz Mouse, Type D 83 / P, Excellent Condition, Looking to Establish
Value and Sell
I found a Depraz mouse the other day (Type D 83 / P) while going through moving boxes. I
used to - long time ago - make things out of broken or disassembled computer gear. There
was the most amazing store in Dover, NJ called Second Byte where I spent too much time and
money (according to my ex-wife). I purchased this mouse 30 years ago with no particular
project in mind, and it has just stayed packed away.
I'm looking to sell it but I admittedly don't know what it's worth. I see two
of them on eBay for $20-$30K, but don't see any Sold Items as a reference. Those sale
prices sound largely aspirational.
The mouse is in pretty amazing physical condition, with only basic scuffing on the red
surface. The larger spots you see are reflections. The cable has scuffs but no fraying at
all. The ball turns when the mouse is rolled. No pins are bent on the connector (RS-232 /
DB9?). The three buttons click.
Any insight - or offers - is welcomed.
Thanks.
10:09 a.m.
The prices on ebay for the mouse are unrealistic prices. If you search
ebay for completed auctions where it actually sold, none have been sold
at all.
You can ask $100,000 for it but if no it is willing to pay for it then
it's not really worth $100,000.
If you want thousands of dollars for it, you might be disappointed. i'm
not being disrespectful, i'm just trying to limit your expectations.
On 11/19/2025 7:57 PM, microprint314--- via cctalk wrote:
I found a Depraz mouse the other day (Type D 83 / P)
while going through moving boxes. I used to - long time ago - make things out of broken or
disassembled computer gear. There was the most amazing store in Dover, NJ called Second
Byte where I spent too much time and money (according to my ex-wife). I purchased this
mouse 30 years ago with no particular project in mind, and it has just stayed packed away.
I'm looking to sell it but I admittedly don't know what it's worth. I see two
of them on eBay for $20-$30K, but don't see any Sold Items as a reference. Those sale
prices sound largely aspirational.
The mouse is in pretty amazing physical condition, with only basic scuffing on the red
surface. The larger spots you see are reflections. The cable has scuffs but no fraying at
all. The ball turns when the mouse is rolled. No pins are bent on the connector (RS-232 /
DB9?). The three buttons click.
Any insight - or offers - is welcomed.
Thanks.
11:54 a.m.
I'm not expecting thousands of $ for it. I found a cool, and possibly consequential
vintage computer accessory. Then I saw $20K-$30K listings for it online, so naturally I
want to learn more and try to establish a potential sale price.
12:13 p.m.
Hard to determine value of something like that.
You could ask an auction house, like Sothebys for an appraisal.
Or put it up for dale and see what the market says.
Sent from my iPhone
On Nov 20, 2025, at 11:55, microprint314--- via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
I'm not expecting thousands of $ for it. I found a cool, and possibly consequential
vintage computer accessory. Then I saw $20K-$30K listings for it online, so naturally I
want to learn more and try to establish a potential sale price.
5:08 p.m.
On 11/20/2025 2:54 PM, microprint314--- via cctalk wrote:
I'm not expecting thousands of $ for it. I found a
cool, and possibly consequential vintage computer accessory. Then I saw $20K-$30K listings
for it online, so naturally I want to learn more and try to establish a potential sale
price.
I have a couple old DC mice. The kind with DB9 not the kind with
the mini-din plug. I have offered them for sale a number of times
over the years. So far the highest offer I have ever got was $0.
Apparently these things are worthless. Mine are interesting mostly
because with all the years I have worked with DEC equipment I have
never learned what they might have been used on. They are still
in the basement in a box somewhere but once I am gone I am sure
my wife will now what to do with them. :-)
bill
5:10 p.m.
On 11/20/2025 8:08 PM, Bill Gunshannon via cctalk wrote:
On 11/20/2025 2:54 PM, microprint314--- via cctalk wrote:
Ooops.
^^
DEC
I'm not expecting thousands of $ for it. I
found a cool, and possibly
consequential vintage computer accessory. Then I saw $20K-$30K
listings for it online, so naturally I want to learn more and try to
establish a potential sale price.
I have a couple old DC mice. The kind with DB9 not the kind with the mini-din plug. I have offered them for sale a
number of times
over the years. So far the highest offer I have ever got was $0.
Apparently these things are worthless. Mine are interesting mostly
because with all the years I have worked with DEC equipment I have
never learned what they might have been used on. They are still
in the basement in a box somewhere but once I am gone I am sure
my wife will now what to do with them. :-)
bill
5:30 p.m.
Hi Bill,
I have a early 80's soap-bar mouse that uses the aluminized X/Y grid mouse
pad. I offered it here and ebay for $20 bucks with no interest.
On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 5:10 PM Bill Gunshannon via cctalk <
cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
On 11/20/2025 8:08 PM, Bill Gunshannon via cctalk wrote:
On 11/20/2025 2:54 PM, microprint314--- via cctalk wrote:
Ooops. ^^
DEC
I'm not expecting thousands of $ for it. I
found a cool, and possibly
consequential vintage computer accessory. Then I saw $20K-$30K
listings for it online, so naturally I want to learn more and try to
establish a potential sale price.
I have a couple old DC mice. The kind with DB9 not the kind with
the mini-din plug. I have offered them for sale
a number of times
over the years. So far the highest offer I have ever got was $0.
Apparently these things are worthless. Mine are interesting mostly
because with all the years I have worked with DEC equipment I have
never learned what they might have been used on. They are still
in the basement in a box somewhere but once I am gone I am sure
my wife will now what to do with them. :-)
bill
21 Nov
21 Nov
1:06 a.m.
Do you know the DEC order number or name?
Jim Davis via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> schrieb am Fr., 21. Nov. 2025,
07:50:
Hi Bill,
I have a early 80's soap-bar mouse that uses the aluminized X/Y grid mouse
pad. I offered it here and ebay for $20 bucks with no interest.
On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 5:10 PM Bill Gunshannon via cctalk <
cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
On 11/20/2025 8:08 PM, Bill Gunshannon via cctalk wrote:
On 11/20/2025 2:54 PM, microprint314--- via cctalk wrote:
Ooops. ^^
DEC
I'm not expecting thousands of $ for it. I
found a cool, and possibly
consequential vintage computer accessory. Then I saw $20K-$30K
listings for it online, so naturally I want to learn more and try to
establish a potential sale price.
I have a couple old DC mice. The kind with DB9 not the kind with
the mini-din plug. I have offered them for sale
a number of times
over the years. So far the highest offer I have ever got was $0.
Apparently these things are worthless. Mine are interesting mostly
because with all the years I have worked with DEC equipment I have
never learned what they might have been used on. They are still
in the basement in a box somewhere but once I am gone I am sure
my wife will now what to do with them. :-)
bill
8:11 a.m.
That sounds like the Xerox workstation mouse I remember. Early DEC mice had balls. :-)
paul
On Nov 21, 2025, at 4:06 AM, Hans-Ulrich Hölscher via
cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
Do you know the DEC order number or name?
Jim Davis via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> schrieb am Fr., 21. Nov. 2025,
07:50:
> Hi Bill,
> I have a early 80's soap-bar mouse that uses the aluminized X/Y grid mouse
> pad. I offered it here and ebay for $20 bucks with no interest.
>
> On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 5:10 PM Bill Gunshannon via cctalk <
> cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> On 11/20/2025 8:08 PM, Bill Gunshannon via cctalk wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> On 11/20/2025 2:54 PM, microprint314--- via cctalk wrote:
>>>> I'm not expecting thousands of $ for it. I found a cool, and possibly
>>>> consequential vintage computer accessory. Then I saw $20K-$30K
>>>> listings for it online, so naturally I want to learn more and try to
>>>> establish a potential sale price.
>>>
>>> I have a couple old DC mice. The kind with DB9 not the kind with
>> Ooops. ^^
>> DEC
>>> the mini-din plug. I have offered them for sale a number of times
>>> over the years. So far the highest offer I have ever got was $0.
>>> Apparently these things are worthless. Mine are interesting mostly
>>> because with all the years I have worked with DEC equipment I have
>>> never learned what they might have been used on. They are still
>>> in the basement in a box somewhere but once I am gone I am sure
>>> my wife will now what to do with them. :-)
>>>
>>> bill
>>
>
12:17 p.m.
I sold a Xerox Star 810 keyboard and steel-ball mouse for $180 at the most
recent VCF swap meet in Wall, NJ. Felt nice to hand it to someone who knew
what it was.
--
Anders Nelson
www.andersknelson.com
On Fri, Nov 21, 2025 at 11:11 AM Paul Koning via cctalk <
cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
That sounds like the Xerox workstation mouse I
remember. Early DEC mice
had balls. :-)
paul
On Nov 21, 2025, at 4:06 AM, Hans-Ulrich Hölscher
via cctalk <
cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
Do you know the DEC order number or name?
Jim Davis via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> schrieb am Fr., 21. Nov.
2025,
07:50:
> Hi Bill,
> I have a early 80's soap-bar mouse that uses the aluminized X/Y grid
mouse
> pad. I offered it here and ebay for $20 bucks
with no interest.
>
> On Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 5:10 PM Bill Gunshannon via cctalk <
> cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> On 11/20/2025 8:08 PM, Bill Gunshannon via cctalk wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> On 11/20/2025 2:54 PM, microprint314--- via cctalk wrote:
>>>> I'm not expecting thousands of $ for it. I found a cool, and possibly
>>>> consequential vintage computer accessory. Then I saw $20K-$30K
>>>> listings for it online, so naturally I want to learn more and try to
>>>> establish a potential sale price.
>>>
>>> I have a couple old DC mice. The kind with DB9 not the kind with
>> Ooops. ^^
>> DEC
>>> the mini-din plug. I have offered them for sale a number of times
>>> over the years. So far the highest offer I have ever got was $0.
>>> Apparently these things are worthless. Mine are interesting mostly
>>> because with all the years I have worked with DEC equipment I have
>>> never learned what they might have been used on. They are still
>>> in the basement in a box somewhere but once I am gone I am sure
>>> my wife will now what to do with them. :-)
>>>
>>> bill
>>
>
3:38 p.m.
> >>>> On 11/20/2025 2:54 PM,
microprint314--- via cctalk wrote:
> >>>>> I'm not expecting thousands of $ for it. I found a cool,
and possibly
> >>>>> consequential vintage computer accessory. Then I saw $20K-$30K
> >>>>> listings for it online, so naturally I want to learn more and
try to
> >>>>> establish a potential sale price.
I dug through my archives. Ten years ago I sold a clean, working,
tested Depraz mouse (no original box) to a fellow enthusiast of my
acquaintance (i.e., not a rando on eBay) for $75. (tested on a real
AT&T terminal).
So there's one data point.
-ethan
3:40 p.m.
Somebody having the actual AT&T terminal is far rarer.
________________________________
From: Ethan Dicks via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2025 3:38 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Cc: Ethan Dicks <ethan.dicks(a)gmail.com>
Subject: [cctalk] Re: Depraz Mouse, Type D 83 / P, Excellent Condition, Looking to
Establish Value and Sell
> >>>> On 11/20/2025 2:54 PM,
microprint314--- via cctalk wrote:
> >>>>> I'm not expecting thousands of $ for it. I found a cool,
and possibly
> >>>>> consequential vintage computer accessory. Then I saw $20K-$30K
> >>>>> listings for it online, so naturally I want to learn more and
try to
> >>>>> establish a potential sale price.
I dug through my archives. Ten years ago I sold a clean, working,
tested Depraz mouse (no original box) to a fellow enthusiast of my
acquaintance (i.e., not a rando on eBay) for $75. (tested on a real
AT&T terminal).
So there's one data point.
-ethan
20 Nov
20 Nov
6:50 p.m.
On Nov 20, 2025, at 11:54 AM, microprint314--- via
cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
I'm not expecting thousands of $ for it. I found a cool, and possibly consequential
vintage computer accessory. Then I saw $20K-$30K listings for it online, so naturally I
want to learn more and try to establish a potential sale price.
I grudgingly paid $200 for one, because I needed it for a Lilith restoration project. The
people listing them on eBay >$10k are delusional.
ok
bear.
2
days inactive
3
days old
14 comments
13 participants
participants (13)
-
Ali -
Anders Nelson -
Ben Huntsman -
Bill Gunshannon -
Ethan Dicks -
Hans-Ulrich Hölscher -
hp-fix＠xs4all.nl -
Jim Davis -
microprint314＠gmail.com -
Mike Katz -
Paul Koning -
r.stricklin -
Wayne S