Hardware

Dinosaur Sightings: First Russian computer mouse

By // September 14, 2006, 6:38 AM PST // billdetwiler

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  • First Russian computer mouse

    The first Russian computer mouse was used with the EC-1841 (IBM PC/XT compatible computer).

    Sergei Frolov, a programmer and engineer from Saint-Petersburg, Russia, has compiled an extensive collection of Soviet calculators and computer accessories. He has graciously allowed us to reprint these photos of early Russian computer mice. You can see more of Sergei's collection on his Soviet Calculators Collection Web site.

  • Metal track ball

    The early variant has a metal ball.

    According to the blog English Russia, the words printed on the bottom tranlate into "The Manipulator For Graphical Information".

  • Another old Russian mouse

    This is the second old mouse in Sergei's collection.

  • "The mouse"

    This classic input device has "The mouse" written on the top.

  • Russian mouse underside

    This version no longer has a metal ball.

  • Inside the second mouse

    This photo shows the mouse's innerworkings.

  • Old (DVK-3 or DVK-4) Russian mouse - bottom

    The underside of another old Russian mouse.

    According to the blog English Russia, the red digits are a Soviet inventory number, that was used by govermental companies for better control of the equipment. There is a word "Price ____ (blank)" embossed into the plastic, that's a post Soviet phenomena. During the Soviet era the price was embossed into plastic parts of practically every item being sold in the shop, because the goverment set up the price for each item.

  • Old (DVK-3 or DVK-4) Russian mouse - top

    The left and right buttons on this mouse were labeled with and L and R.

  • Genius mouse clone - top

    The last old mouse in Sergei's collection, this is a clone of a Genius mouse.

  • Genius mouse clone and original

    The original mouse and the clone

  • Genius mouse clone - bottom

    The bottom of the Genius clone

First Russian computer mouse

The first Russian computer mouse was used with the EC-1841 (IBM PC/XT compatible computer).

Sergei Frolov, a programmer and engineer from Saint-Petersburg, Russia, has compiled an extensive collection of Soviet calculators and computer accessories. He has graciously allowed us to reprint these photos of early Russian computer mice. You can see more of Sergei's collection on his Soviet Calculators Collection Web site.

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By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop supp...