1963-64: Englebart's first mouse
1966: Orbit X-Y Ball Tracker
1968: Englebart's NLS mouse
1970s ??: Mystery wheel mouse
1973: Alto I [2]
1975: Hawley Laboratories
1981: Xerox 8010 Star [2]
1982: VisiOn GUI; Mouse Systems; KoalaPad
1983: Hawley Mark II X063X; Lisa; Microsoft bus mouse
1984: Macintosh; Microsoft serial mouse
1985: NeXT Computer
1986: Hawley DEC mouse; GEOS; Atari ST mouse; Commodore 1350 Mouse
1987: IBM PS/2; Microsoft 'dove bar' mouse
1996: USB (Universal Serial Bus)
1997: Microsoft PC 97 standard

oldmouse.com

Mystery Wheel Mouse

A mysterious mouse in private ownership operates with perpendicular wheels like the original Engelbart mouses. The mouse looks like it has aged from beige to golden. Three square black buttons set closely on the finger edge of the rounded plastic case. The underside structure is metal. Two white wheels track the X-Y coordinates.

A rounded nut provides the third point of contact for gliding. The flat cable comes out of the right side at the button edge, leading to a DB15(?) plug. One of the pins in the plug is longer than the others and several pin positions are empty.

The owner writes that the mouse came with "a very peculiar Z-80 based computer from Product Associates Inc. (PAI). The serial number on it (100) leads me to believe it is either a prototype of some sort or one of a limited run." Thank you for the info and the use of the photos, Gary.

The original Engelbart mouse was constructed of wood with metal wheels and one button [photos: Bootstrap Institute]. Subsequent versions were plastic models with three small round buttons [photo: Bootstrap Institute].

According to an interview with Ron Cude by the Digibarn publisher Bruce Damer, this mouse was made by Jack Hawley before he went on to invent the ball mouse. The owner solicits any information about it and purchase inquiry—send to input@oldmouse.com.

Related story:: Engelbart's mouses; Hawley's mouses