Correct D-ring for a Luke ANH Graflex Saber?

[roygilsing]

Yesterday I made this image to compare the same D-ring of ANH in my Kobold clip prototype, slightly bent open of course. I am doing a limited run for these Kobold clips with this D-ring (clip will be nickel plated brass)

Wannawanga.com

 

[Edraven99]

Kobold or Linhof Mount

That I knew - I already have a Kobold waiting to be modded once I find the proper pop rivets... but the ring itself is what I was wondering about!

 

[roygilsing]

Yes, in my picture it is the same as the ANH D-ring but bent open.


Roy

www.wannawanga.com

 

[scottjua]

That I knew - I already have a Kobold waiting to be modded once I find the proper pop rivets... but the ring itself is what I was wondering about!

yeah duh... I get it now.... I are dumb

Good question too... Probably something super obvious... that we'll never know.

 

[Aison]

First of all I'd like to thank Sym-Cha, this is really your find not mine, if you never posted the pics, I would have never had bothered buying a camera with a case, and investigating it into such detail. It was an expensive D ring but worth it.

As for the ESB D ring, not sure but here are a couple of screen caps. I don't know if it's the camera's angle of the dangle, but the D ring looks like it has been bent and has irregular shape, which might suggest it was a D ring that was opened up with pliers?

 

[roygilsing]

Aison, check my post #21 & 23! My conclusion: it's the same ring!

 

[Aison]

Logically it makes sense, actually now I think of it I first tried to use the other D ring off the case, and opened it up to insert it into the bracket off the camera, (see pic) like you, I too thought the colour/reflection of the strap was odd, and thought it matched up to the bracket on the camera.

However it was extremely difficult to open up the D ring and get it in, when I did, it looked deformed, and the braket is 2mm too wide, not to mention it took way too long. When the clip was stretched out it did look a bit like the ESB one. I however repaired it back to 98% of its original shape.

After looking at the D ring on this photo enlarged, I think you're right, now I know what to do with my spare one:devil

It seems the logical progression, one pop rivet failed, ANH strap was not good enough, the prop maker took the Kobold mount, salvaged the D ring and adapted it to the kobold. KISS like Sym-Cha says.

 

[Sym-Cha]

Thanks Aison for your kind words ... however I'm going to play devil's advocate now. James Kenobi 1138's remark also makes sense ... on many movie-productions there are usually multiple sets of props, just in case something brakes ... so that means more than 1 jedi belt for OB1 or Luke, more than 1 designated lightsaber per character OB1, Luke even Darth Vader's all have D-rings attached ... think hero and stunt versions, at the minimum 6 D's ... so reason dictates that possibly multiple D-ring were available, the same as an abundance of T-track, think not only lightsabers but 30 some blasters plus spares for all the stormtroopers.

That said I personally love vintage stuff ... and I only need one of each part, not multiple, and being a photographer having several G R A F L E X camera's by now I started to put 1 and 1 together hence the search for the case with D-rings attached Now is that what Bapty's propmakers did? Perhaps ... or perhaps not. Is it rather difficult to make a custom D-ring when you need only 1? No see all the members with Luke's ANH lightsaber, who succesfully created 'my custome designed' D-ring with clip ... so the crafty folks at Bapty were quite capable of doing the same if need be

So I really enjoy Aison's lightsaber, for which he was able to use a vintage D-ring . . . now there's 1 spare left. So will it be for Luke's ESB, a Darth Vader real MPP or perhaps an all real parts OB1?

Chaim

 

[lesternessman]

Nice pics Chaim, thanks. I agree, there was probably a lot of d-rings on hand at the prop shop, certainly plenty used in the movies but it's clear the prop guys had a predisposition to camera accessories since there was Kolbolds, MPPs and Graflex featured in the film. I would guess they used what they had, then sought out more d-rings and clips/attachments as needed. As far as the clip in ANH, once it failed to stay secure, they picked up another handy flash part off the Kolbold. May not have been the first choice, but it was used all the same. Whether they used the same d-ring is debatable, but again, why not use what you had sitting in front of you?

 

[Aison]

Thanks Chaim, we need a referee before we get out of control. I agree with with you, but the idea is a logical progression and should be tested. I won't know until I stretch out my spare D ring and attach it to the kobold mount and compare it to the reference photo. (Maybe Roygilsing can reverse engineer that pic) I have a 1" d ring from Strapworks that looks like a really good match. The D ring from the screen caps to me does not look like the same one as in the promo shot I posted, but that could be camera tricks. The angle where they bend in looks sharper on the screen caps. (real MPP... Obi 1 I wish, not so easy to do these days)

 

[lesternessman]

The D-ring on his belt looks closer to the one used in ESB than the one on his hilt in ANH.

 

[Aison]

It does look good, working out the dimensions still should be possible off the ESB promo shot as well.

 

[thd9791]

The D-ring on his belt looks closer to the one used in ESB than the one on his hilt in ANH.

I just saw a pic in another thread of a close-up shot of Luke on Bespin. There is a D ring hanging next to the lightsaber hook. His ESB saber is ironically hanging there on the hook and the two D rings are identical, to me.
(credit: Chaim)

Logically, in their workshop, I can bet the prop guys had a drawer full of screws and a drawer full of hooks, fasteners or D rings. Some may have come from camera equipment after stripping it, some may have come from other things. Although, as already said, only needing one, using a vintage piece is awesome.

 

[kurtyboy]

 

[Aison]

The one on the belt looks a thicker gauge, size looks similar though

 

[l33tLX]

Sym-Cha and Aison. any chance you guys could post some larger pics of the graflex cases you found the d-rings on? and maybe some specs of what cameras came inside them? I'm on the hunt and anything that would help in searches would be appreciated

 

[Sym-Cha]

Certainly ... here's my case :



This particular case was probably used for a Graflex 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 Graphic Camera ... it's about 30 x 20 x 24 cm in size. 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 stands for the film size used ... not the actual size of the camera which is larger of course

Chaim

 

[l33tLX]

Thank you Chaim!!! Your info will help me tremendously in tracking one of theses down.

 

[Sym-Cha]

And in case - no pun intended - it's very hard to find any ... you can always check with Roy ... who used my D-rings and custom clip as a template for his ANH set

Chaim

 

[Aison]

Mine is pretty much the same, 29x20x24 cm, the camera that came in mine was a: GRAFLEX SPEED GRAPHIC large format FIELD camera 3 1/4 4 1/4 ZEISS 13.5cm TESSAR and it came with a Graflite flash which is the same one used in the cockpit of the life size x wing in ANH.