"Accurate" color of TOS Comm. antenna?

[thegreatgalling]

Hey guys,

I tried to search this issue and got DIZZY reviewing HUNDREDS of TOS Comm. threads. I am curious to find out some more about the accurate color of the TOS comm. antenna.

What I know: Obv. there were many versions of the screenused pieces, and while some were machined, others were handmade. I know the color or at least material used to describe the antenna is "brass."

I have seen Communicators that have had dull brass finishes, to SHINY golden colors. Just wanted to know if there was some sort of existing debate I can tap into and guage what people think.

What sparked my interest was learning that the Entertainment Earth edition Comms came in the shiny gold version, as opposed to the dull DST version.

I have seen pics of some of the screenused comms, particularly on John Long's beautiful site. I just wasn't sure if that color changed over time.

I will be looking into expanding my comm. collection (I have one EE and one DST toy for now) and I will hopefully be taking your comments into consideration.

Cheers,
Joe

 

[robn1]

The original comm antennas were all made from brass. They started out fairly shiny, but became dull over time. For all the comm info you could possibly need, check out Herocomm.com.

 

[thegreatgalling]

Thanks for the info!

I had been there in the past and forgot what an amazing resource it is! (Although I have read it has stirred up some controversy, not too sure why-maybe somepeople disagree with their assessments.)

 

[deck5]

The various toy replicas have different 'brass-ish' colored lids, not actually being made of brass. Real brass polishes up incredibly bright, but rapidly tarnishes, reaching a kind of medium brownish after awhile (and not getting much darker after that).

 

[thegreatgalling]

Awesome.

Based on your comments, I assume then an "accurate" color would be any of the array of spectral colors from polished brass to its duller form? That certainly makes sense and is a relief considering that no two comms appear exactly the same!

Joe

 

[phase pistol]

I second the motion to check out Herocomm.com. It's a wealth of information, from screencaps to closeups of props in their current condition.

In the earliest Star Trek episodes ("Mudd's Women" particularly) the communicator has a very shiny appearance, as though the brass is polished.

Very quickly though the lids appear dulled down. One comm develops a dark discolored area which identifies it easily. (in this scene from "This Side of Paradise", Spock and Kirk are seen talking to each other on the same communicator! :lol )

So it all boils down to the same old issue... do you want it "like how it looked in the show", or "how it ought to have been". In the show, kinda dingy, not too bright but definitely brass. Idealized, bright shiny brass looking almost gold-plated.

k

 

[Luke Skyvader]

In the earliest Star Trek episodes ("Mudd's Women" particularly) the communicator has a very shiny appearance, as though the brass is polished.

If I recall correctly Everything shined in that episode....until the women got ugly.



Pete

 

[phase pistol]

You mean the shiny comms were just a Venus drug hallucination?! :cry

It's not real... :confused Now I'm too bummed to prop. I'll be out in my hut playing Fizzbin with the round cards and letting the sand blast my pans clean. :cry

 

[thegreatgalling]

Those pics were really helpful! Thanks a bunch Phase Pistol!