Alleged Screen Used Hero TOS Phaser up for auction (now the aftermath)

[Gregatron]

This phaser puzzles me. Never mind the excellent condition--the acrylic meter cover is yellowed with age, but not the emitter? Why? If it's real, how does that happen? If it's fake, how did the forger miss that obvious detail?

It's not real.

As for the discrepancy:

I should reiterate (without getting into specifics) that, back during the "hero" auction debacle, I was made privy to several inside documents from the auction. There were a number of big red flags in the provenance, and one key bit of info seemed like it was included as an in-joke by someone with a massive ego, who wanted to "sign" their fraudulent work. They clearly thought that no one but a hard-core STAR TREK fan would catch this reference, so they snuck it in to be "clever".

I have absolutely no doubt that the same parties are also responsible for THIS forgery. We all knew they'd strike again after the last auction was successful, and now they have. And I'm sure that the YouTube video of the late Ms. Nichols showing off "her" fake props was removed to help hide the trail leading back to the guilty parties.

But there are still enough dots out there for people to connect, even if I personally can't do it publicly. Believe me, guys, I'd LOVE to tell you the whole story. You wouldn't believe it. But I gave my word to several independent sources that I wouldn't. And it burns me.

Anyway, Ms. Nichols was suffering from cognitive issues near the end of her life, and she was roped into more than one dubious fan-made project designed to make money from her endorsement, like that crowdfunder to rebuild the TMP Enterprise FX model. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that she was taken advantage of, here.

Again, I can't go into detail, but the "hero" phaser auction made use of an elderly (and possibly cognitively-impaired) TOS guest-star to establish "provenance". But the signature on the Letter of Authenticity looked falsified to both myself and one of my sources. Like someone found a copy of the person's signature online and digitally pasted it in. There was visible artifacting around it. The guest-star in question may not even have been involved at all, with merely their stolen signature used to falsify the provenance.

That's the level of what we're dealing with, here, people. As well as bribery and corruption within the auction house, in the case of the "hero" auction.

Everything is rotten in Denmark, and it sickens me.

 

[feek61]

^^^
Indeed!

At the prices that these things go for, you can bet we will be seeing others come along.

 

[Captain Dunsel]

Isn’t it funny that as soon as one of the actors dies, all of the “original props” show up in their private collections. You would think they would be passed down to their children and grandchildren instead.

There, I fixed that for you

 

[NakedMoleRat]

^^^
Indeed!

At the prices that these things go for, you can bet we will be seeing others come along.

Wait until Shatner dies!

This phaser puzzles me. Never mind the excellent condition--the acrylic meter cover is yellowed with age, but not the emitter? Why? If it's real, how does that happen? If it's fake, how did the forger miss that obvious detail?

It’s from an alternate universe. Not ours.

 

[Gregatron]

Wait until Shatner dies!

The entire Bridge set, five complete uniforms, three communicators, 10 phasers with 2 extra power packs each, and a partridge in a pear tree.

 

[NakedMoleRat]

The entire Bridge set, five complete uniforms, three communicators, 10 phasers with 2 extra power packs each, and a partridge in a pear tree.

And a toupee made from Ricardo Montalban’s chest hair…

 

[NakedMoleRat]

There, I fixed that for you

View attachment 1714909

Thanks, buddy!

 

[asalaw]

It's not real.

As for the discrepancy:

I should reiterate (without getting into specifics) that, back during the "hero" auction debacle, I was made privy to several inside documents from the auction. There were a number of big red flags in the provenance, and one key bit of info seemed like it was included as an in-joke by someone with a massive ego, who wanted to "sign" their fraudulent work. They clearly thought that no one but a hard-core STAR TREK fan would catch this reference, so they snuck it in to be "clever".

I have absolutely no doubt that the same parties are also responsible for THIS forgery. We all knew they'd strike again after the last auction was successful, and now they have. And I'm sure that the YouTube video of the late Ms. Nichols showing off "her" fake props was removed to help hide the trail leading back to the guilty parties.

But there are still enough dots out there for people to connect, even if I personally can't do it publicly. Believe me, guys, I'd LOVE to tell you the whole story. You wouldn't believe it. But I gave my word to several independent sources that I wouldn't. And it burns me.

Anyway, Ms. Nichols was suffering from cognitive issues near the end of her life, and she was roped into more than one dubious fan-made project designed to make money from her endorsement, like that crowdfunder to rebuild the TMP Enterprise FX model. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that she was taken advantage of, here.

Again, I can't go into detail, but the "hero" phaser auction made use of an elderly (and possibly cognitively-impaired) TOS guest-star to establish "provenance". But the signature on the Letter of Authenticity looked falsified to both myself and one of my sources. Like someone found a copy of the person's signature online and digitally pasted it in. There was visible artifacting around it. The guest-star in question may not even have been involved at all, with merely their stolen signature used to falsify the provenance.

That's the level of what we're dealing with, here, people. As well as bribery and corruption within the auction house, in the case of the "hero" auction.

Everything is rotten in Denmark, and it sickens me.

Curiouser and curiouser....

 

[Captain Dunsel]

The video featuring Nichelle Nichols telling the story regarding the 2 midgrade phasers is at the bottom of the Prop Authority link.


Star Trek: Original Series "Plato's Stepchildren" Type 2 Phaser Pistol at Profiles September 2019 Hollywood Auction 112 from Nichelle Nichols Collection

 

[feek61]

I don't remember seeing that video but what a crock of BS! I guess we are to believe that the production kept records of which phaser props were used in which specific episode (because you know that would be important information to have, lol) so that the producer years later could say "This phaser was in "The Cloud Minders" " and give them away; sure!

 

[NakedMoleRat]

Let’s not forget that the lousy prop house HAS to know it’s fake too. They’re complicit in this fraud.

Mrs Nichols was clearly reading a script on poster boards next to the camera. She wasn’t speaking from memory or with any familiarity of the topic.

It boils my blood.

 

[asalaw]

I don't remember seeing that video but what a crock of BS! I guess we are to believe that the production kept records of which phaser props were used in which specific episode (because you know that would be important information to have, lol) so that the producer years later could say "This phaser was in "The Cloud Minders" " and give them away; sure!

The only way he could know that is if he walked away with it during the shoot. Even then, it likely would have been one of several phasers on the prop table/cart.

 

[Apollo]

The only way he could know that is if he walked away with it during the shoot. Even then, it likely would have been one of several phasers on the prop table/cart.

Feinberg would have NEVER let that happen!

 

[Gregatron]

The video featuring Nichelle Nichols telling the story regarding the 2 midgrade phasers is at the bottom of the Prop Authority link.


Star Trek: Original Series "Plato's Stepchildren" Type 2 Phaser Pistol at Profiles September 2019 Hollywood Auction 112 from Nichelle Nichols Collection

Huh. When I looked for it on YouTube, it had been removed.

 

[asalaw]

Feinberg would have NEVER let that happen!

I've seen veteran on-set guys stand up to the big cheese before, and it's a sight to behold. Usually only happens when the big cheese in question is way, way out of line.

 

[Lightning]

I don't remember seeing that video but what a crock of BS! I guess we are to believe that the production kept records of which phaser props were used in which specific episode (because you know that would be important information to have, lol) so that the producer years later could say "This phaser was in "The Cloud Minders" " and give them away; sure!

Wait, isn't it the Plato's Stepchildren phaser that was id'd by the producer? The Cloud minders phaser was just compared to screen caps, (or in this case built to match).

 

[ghostryder]

Are there any parts on this one that identify themselves as replica? Is there anything that connects this phaser to the Heritage one originally discussed in this thread?

 

[ghostryder]

Not to get off topic, but here's the Heritage "Maverick" flightsuit (with patches that didn't match any seen on screen)

Tom Cruise "Lt. Maverick" Signature Flight Suit from Top Gun | Lot #89330 | Heritage Auctions

World's Largest Collectibles Auctioneer

entertainment.ha.com

The auctioneers of this new phaser also have a "Maverick" flighsuit - I can't tell if the patches match with the same as the Propstore one from a few years ago:

Here's a shot of the American flag patch seen in the film - it's a red rectangle with embroidered white stripes:

Which is different than the one in this auction.

Original VF-1 patch on the left:

 

[asalaw]

Are there any parts on this one that identify themselves as replica? Is there anything that connects this phaser to the Heritage one originally discussed in this thread?

View attachment 1715205

Offhand I'd say the knurling on that nozzle looks familiar.

 

[pengbuzz]

It's not real.

As for the discrepancy:

I should reiterate (without getting into specifics) that, back during the "hero" auction debacle, I was made privy to several inside documents from the auction. There were a number of big red flags in the provenance, and one key bit of info seemed like it was included as an in-joke by someone with a massive ego, who wanted to "sign" their fraudulent work. They clearly thought that no one but a hard-core STAR TREK fan would catch this reference, so they snuck it in to be "clever".

I have absolutely no doubt that the same parties are also responsible for THIS forgery. We all knew they'd strike again after the last auction was successful, and now they have. And I'm sure that the YouTube video of the late Ms. Nichols showing off "her" fake props was removed to help hide the trail leading back to the guilty parties.

But there are still enough dots out there for people to connect, even if I personally can't do it publicly. Believe me, guys, I'd LOVE to tell you the whole story. You wouldn't believe it. But I gave my word to several independent sources that I wouldn't. And it burns me.

Anyway, Ms. Nichols was suffering from cognitive issues near the end of her life, and she was roped into more than one dubious fan-made project designed to make money from her endorsement, like that crowdfunder to rebuild the TMP Enterprise FX model. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that she was taken advantage of, here.

Again, I can't go into detail, but the "hero" phaser auction made use of an elderly (and possibly cognitively-impaired) TOS guest-star to establish "provenance". But the signature on the Letter of Authenticity looked falsified to both myself and one of my sources. Like someone found a copy of the person's signature online and digitally pasted it in. There was visible artifacting around it. The guest-star in question may not even have been involved at all, with merely their stolen signature used to falsify the provenance.

That's the level of what we're dealing with, here, people. As well as bribery and corruption within the auction house, in the case of the "hero" auction.

Everything is rotten in Denmark, and it sickens me.

WHAT A BUNCH OF MISERABLE SCUMBAGS.

I truly feel sorry for Ms. Nichols (Lord rest her soul); no one deserves to be taken advantage of, especially in that condition. :>( All of that, just to make a buck or two... there should be a special place in the deeper parts of Hell for individuals who do this.

As for the "rebuild the TMP-E" crowdfunder: IIRC, Paul Olsen had something to do with that? Something about he was over in the UK and wanted money to "move back to the States" for this project (or some nonsense like that)? I also faintly recall they wanted to "do the rebuild at twice the size"? Or am I misremembering these things/ different project?

Anyways... more crap from the conveyor belt of Craptollia I suppose...