Surely the manufacturing process and materials/spacing/stitching of Velcro has changed since the 60’s. Is there a way to tell if the Velcro is authentic 1960’s Velcro?
I am not as certain as I used to be that manufacturing of Velcro was all that different in the 1960’s, vs. today. I now think that it’s a matter of the particular type and brand of Velcro used on the show.
The Velcro used on the show is very unique with a very dense pattern and extremely low profile Velcro “hooks” on the bristle side of the Velcro that was glued onto the props.
Here are some examples of the
Velcro found on a couple of verified original midgrade phasers and a communicator.
In the past, I have used a modern “sewing” Velcro on my builds since it’s “closer” than industrial sticky-back Velcro but still, unfortunately, is not a match for TOS Velcro. The “hooks” on modern sewing Velcro are too tall and less dense than TOS Velcro with the “hooks” on the bristle side of the Velcro forming into neat columns along the longitudinal axis of the phaser. Many builders use the same stuff, right now.
Here is the modern sewing Velcro on one of my builds:
After a lot of research, I have come across some modern equivalents that look closer to the type of Velcro used on the series. So, I think the type of Velcro used still exists, but it’s just not found at your local Joann’s Fabrics, ACE Hardware, Hobby Lobby, etc.
Here is a modern equivalent, that I have recently located, below. The modern equivalent is on the left and the original 1960’s Velcro on a communicator is on the right: