Farnsworth Discussion

[Mecha01]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

Just thought some of you might be interested in knowing Quantum Mechanix is releasing a Hero Farnsworth prop...there are pictures of it posted in my Comic Con thread

http://www.therpf.com/f12/san-diego...d-you-buy-what-did-you-see-91604/#post1303364

Yup, and it's funny that for a 'hero' unit, it's still not as accurate as the RPF's research.

 

[Fyberdyne Labs]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

I have a tap light that is the right size to fit the hole on both plates. I got it at ace hardware but didn't keep the package. It was an old incondesent light not an led. Also I removed the spiral pantern from the walmart tap light then repolished it to make a clear one, So it can be used. I think Thermalize found the same tap light in a 6 pack at lowes hardware. They are white not clear. A friend found them in single at amazon.com but he will have to post that link I don't have it.
Hope that helpes.
Mark

 

[PeterLC]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

Yeah, I keep hearing people say that they've found the correct size lens on those tap lights found in supermarkets.
When this project first started I looked at nearly every tap light out there, and none of them were the correct size. They were usually too big, too small, or they had some screwy pattern on the lens.

Maybe they came out with new types of tap lights that are the correct size.

I found this one and it specifies that it is 4" in diameter so that might be about right for the clear lens to be about 3". It looks like the picture is simply a stencil behind the lens.

 

[propologist]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

yup, and it's funny that for a 'hero' unit, it's still not as accurate as the rpf's research.

qtf..

 

[DARTH SABER]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

I tought Artie said he created it just after inventing the television. His first TV patent was in January 1927 for the image dissector tube (camera tube). So I would have thought around 1930 for the Farnsworth based on when he first had a working TV system.

The Blueprints for Philo's Farnsworth say '44.
Im assuming Philo built his first.

 

[knightone]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

Im assuming Philo built his first.

That may not be necessarily so. Philo might have built his personal unit with custom features and accoutrements as an improved model after he built the standard ones. It may contain equipment and features he wasn't able to put in the originals or that he felt weren't necessary on the standard model, but he wanted to have for his own. Or he might have used his as a base for experimenting with improvements to the design. He might have wanted to make it more desirable for mass production and sale, something the original model obviously wasn't able to do.

 

[marop]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

Just thought some of you might be interested in knowing Quantum Mechanix is releasing a Hero Farnsworth prop...there are pictures of it posted in my Comic Con thread

http://www.therpf.com/f12/san-diego...d-you-buy-what-did-you-see-91604/#post1303364

I saw the prototypes at Comicon. Photo included. I have somemore if anyone is interested. I spoke to a QMX guy who said they are using the actual parts to make the release version (if parts are available). They also got the original CAD files to engrave the faceplate...Mark

 

[Gordon Gekko]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

Well, I'm sorry to say, but the switches on the BK Tester 350 I got off Ebay are not correct. The switch on the screen seen Farnsworth is clearly indented on the top, while the switches on the BK are flat.

Size seems right and it's a minor difference, but still wrong.

Screen Seen:

From BK Tester 350:

 

[DARTH SABER]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

Check my post, a page or so back.
I posted a source for the bush buttons.

 

[Gordon Gekko]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

Yeah, I had already ordered the BK when you posted that source.

That's why I kept sayin' it would be nice to have another source.:lol

 

[Zombie Killer]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

That stinks Gordon. Here are the ones on my B&K 400.

I went bin digging today and found some black banana jacks. Also found some tuning coils. I'm pretty sure thats what is used on the dish. You can see the iron adjuster in the screencaps. These are not exact but i will rewrap the red one with some thin red copper. Pretty sure the T pin is correct also.

 

[Kylash]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

yeah the button i have has a flat top =\

 

[Kylash]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

I saw the prototypes at Comicon. Photo included. I have somemore if anyone is interested. I spoke to a QMX guy who said they are using the actual parts to make the release version (if parts are available). They also got the original CAD files to engrave the faceplate...Mark

Im surprised to hear their faceplate is from the original CAD drawing, their numbers look maybe 10-20% too big around the dial..

 

[exoray]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

Im surprised to hear their faceplate is from the original CAD drawing, their numbers look maybe 10-20% too big around the dial..

To me any size difference seen, could easily be attributed to the laser/mill setup...

On a laser or milling machine here are three ways to cut lines, offset inside, offset outside, or down the middle depending on the lasers focal size or milling bit size the overall setup results will vary the outcome...

 

[protokev DMD]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

man my buttons on the tester are wrong too! D'oh

 

[Zombie Killer]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

Protokev, did you get a 400 or 350?

 

[PeterLC]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

Well, I'm sorry to say, but the switches on the BK Tester 350 I got off Ebay are not correct. The switch on the screen seen Farnsworth is clearly indented on the top, while the switches on the BK are flat.

Sand/mill it down and buff it with a Dremel.

 

[protokev DMD]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

Protokev, did you get a 400 or 350?

mine is a 400

 

[PeterLC]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

wonder if they just stuck magnets on it to get it to stay on the sides since its not in the jacks..

It looks to me like they've either added some eyelets further up like on the Caludia unit but it's hard to tell if they have left the original jacks there or built another unit with just the eyelets. In all of the scenes I have looked at there is always someone's fingers over where the original jacks would be.

 

[PeterLC]

Re: Warehouse 13 Prop Research - The Farnsworth

When this project first started I looked at nearly every tap light out there, and none of them were the correct size. They were usually too big, too small, or they had some screwy pattern on the lens.

I have searched through a heap of them online and as you say they are generally not the right size. Some are 150mm across and some are really small. I found one that was a kid's night light (Dora the Exporer) but the image was actually printed on to the dome itself. Very likely one would wreck the dome trying to remove it.

I did find a "Barbie" night light online and the whole unit is quoted as being 4" across so it looks like the dome would be about 3" and the Barbie image appears to be on a stencil behind the dome.

I also found online a couple of clock glasses that would do in a pinch.