Vintage MXR micro amp

Vintage, I looked up the definition. Enduring appeal appealed to me. So I walk into Ricks Gun and Pawn in Foley. There's a guy playing an ovation. He's got some pretty good chops. He wears a woven rope headband slightly off center. He might be 25, hair braided in a bunch of those small braids like you can get when you're on a cruise stopped at the last "private" island, with beads. I pick up an Epiphone bass made in Korea, $119.00. We talk. His friend girl stares at me. I put the bass up and go talk to Christina. She and her brother Bryan shoot pool as a team. I see behind her several stomp boxes. I ask to see them and the very last one I check out is a well worn mxr micro amp. I don't know what it does. I take it over to an amp and try it out. Seems to be a clean boost with some comp and a little twinkle on the highs. I like. The price says $14.95. "What's your best price on this?" $12 out the door. "It doesn't have a light and no way to plug it in. You have to use a battery. I'll give you $10." Christina grins. She loves to play this game. She knows she's going to win because she knows I'm going to buy the thing. "I'll split the difference, $11." I take it home and clean it and love it. Yesterday on Ebay a guy sold a 1978 MXR Micro Amp for $282. I asked him how to date one. He told me. Mines a 1979. He worked for MXR in 1978 - 79. In September 1979, he told me, MXR began building prototypes with lights and power input. So there you go. Pawn shop gold: Eureka!