ANH Han Solo Belt Disk

[mgoob]

DaveY Jones
Zombie Killer
However blurry it might be, that enlarged photo (post #56) shows a highlight on the U-curved outer shell.
Lined up with your photo of the part, I think they are a match.

Thanks for sharing the info guys!

 

[Dann]

I took some pics of mine next to the Todd's version.

I'm also trying to figure out the best way to mount it to the belt. Do y'all think they used a rivet on the real belt?

 

[mgoob]

I’m going to go out in a limb here and say that they did the easiest thing and put a bolt thru the center hole attaching it to the leather.

 

[Zombie Killer]

This was posted by symcha in the holster thread. If it is indeed a screen used belt you can see the single attachment point in the center. Hard to see what kind of attacher though.

 

[Davy Jones]

Yeah its definitely a single mount point.
Some of the ANH era belt stuff for other characters used a rivet or pop rivet.
But I actually think a screw or bolt is more likely as others have hypothesized.
It could go right through the center hole and hold the mic part and housing together as well as attach it to the belt.
I personally like the center as is and since with the current reference will likely never be able to see down in that hole I am reluctant to put a bolt through it.
I'm going to play with mounting methods invisible anywhere but the back of the belt.

 

[Dann]

Yeah its definitely a single mount point.
Some of the ANH era belt stuff for other characters used a rivet or pop rivet.
But I actually think a screw or bolt is more likely as others have hypothesized.
It could go right through the center hole and hold the mic part and housing together as well as attach it to the belt.
I personally like the center as is and since with the current reference will likely never be able to see down in that hole I am reluctant to put a bolt through it.
I'm going to play with mounting methods invisible anywhere but the back of the belt.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking, as well. I don't wanna ruin the center hole on the front side, so I reckon I'll just drill through the back center.

 

[Dann]

Went ahead and drilled it. Ended up having to go all the way through, there's just not a lot of meat to tap if you don't. Heh.

Tapped it 8-32 and done!

I managed to chuck the screw on my little lathe with the end facing out, and drilled into it a bit to get that concave shape.

I bet if I went a little bigger with say a 10-32, I might be able to get it looking even closer to original.

 

[Zombie Killer]

Im thinking the best / least destructive way is to put a countersunk screw through the mounting cup and then just place the mic element into it. Just use a tiny dab of silicone or other non permanent glue to hold the element in the housing part. All you'll have is one hole in the center of the mounting cup. At least until we find some better reference.

 

[Davy Jones]

So I know there have been a few pictures posted, but does anyone have any really good pictures of this greeblie on the ESB/ROTJ belts from an exhibit?
Obviously they must exist for Todd's to have gotten their replica greeblie closer than blurry shots would have taken it.

 

[Dann]

Yeah, there's a few right in this thread on the first page. SFProps shared them.

 

[thd9791]

There are leather binding posts that are screws and the opposite threaded flat portion with a full stem

 

[Davy Jones]

Yeah, there's a few right in this thread on the first page. SFProps shared them.

Yeah I know. But I was hoping for more and more close ups perhaps so I can see a few things I have questions about.
I'm not sure what's out there. I'm a Boba Fett guy and there are hundreds of great shots down to the tiniest details which have been collected over the years at TDH.
I'm just spoiled but wondering if the Han displays were documented as thoroughly? I was standing right next to that costume last summer and didnt take a single picture.

 

[phillbarron]

That sleeve came with it. I think that's definitely what we see in the pictures creating that "chip" and also that step in the profile shots.
I bought another one and had to rip it out of the mic just like you did. (Very big pain)

The other one I bought was just the element by itself with the back cover.
I'm unsure of the purpose but it appears to just cover the contacts and the slot would let the wires out the side? It must have originally been for a style of mic we have not yet discovered.

The Telefunken MM65 used the same element (apparently - can't find a good photo to confirm it!)



If the purpose of the sleeve was for the contact wires coming out of the side then it might be from one of these?

Having said that, it doesn't look like that was the purpose from your photos - the cut out looks too high and wouldn't a metal case just short out the contacts? Unless there was some kind of liner to it? Or maybe it's a protective case which is meant to be thrown away when the element's installed?

Which doesn't make a huge amount of sense either, seems too substantial for that.

 

[MarsVoyager]

Great research!

So it can this now be referred to as a Ronette MC65/MM65 microphone? Introduced in 1961 and based on crystal elements according to the site:
Ronette microphones

A 1956 BBC engineering research department report gives this for the Ronette crystal microphone cartridge type MC.65 of diaphragm-type:
With rear cap, diameter 3.0 cm, depth 1.5 cm, weight 12 g.
Without rear cap, diameter 2.9 cm, depth 1.1 cm, weight 8 g.
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/reports/1956-03.pdf

 

[Davy Jones]

The Telefunken MM65 used the same element (apparently - can't find a good photo to confirm it!)

I think ANH Darth Vader used mesh from a Telefunken but I may be remembering wrong. It would be cool if there were a connection.

 

[phillbarron]

I think ANH Darth Vader used mesh from a Telefunken but I may be remembering wrong. It would be cool if there were a connection.

Oh yeah. TELEFUNKEN MAGNETOPHON SERIES 200 apparently.

 

[Zombie Killer]

Figured I would mention this is also the same "disc" on Chewies belt box bandolier !!

 

[Dann]

Here's a few more photos of a mic that I carefully pried the top from.

No outer sleeve. The one I have with the sleeve had a thin piece of card stock sitting in the bottom which made the element sit about 5/32" higher in the sleeve, which would allow a small amount of clearance for wires, so perhaps the sleeve is put to use in other microphones.

 

[Davy Jones]

So the two versions of the mic part I have gotten are different in a few ways;

The one on the left is one I ripped out of a VOM mic and used the sleeve from the one on the right which was sold as a part for VOM mics.
The mesh and the color that is put in the center inner cone are the differences that matter.

So which is correct for which costume/film?
The one I've put together on the right I believe is how the Han ANH looked; with the sleeve, light mesh, and red center.

Here is a color boosted shot which I believe shows reflections from the red center. There are lots other images that show the holes can get blown out in high lighting or flash from certain angles. This I think would only be possible with the light mesh.

Now Zombie Killer pointed out this part was used on Chewbacca's bandolieer so I went looking for reference.

Here is a great shot which shows a red center which I think makes it even more likely they had two of the same parts and this is. The same style used on Han.
The ESB bandolieer looks like it might use a dark mesh version, though it could easily not be. Do we think Han ESB belts used dark mesh versions?

 

[kman]

So are these still available anywhere? Ebay seems fresh out... probably on account of this thread.