Help identifying old Star Trek phaser needed

[JamesHW]

Hello everybody!

We have come across this older Star Trek Phaser and was wondering if the collective here may be able to help us figure out if possible when it was made and by whom? It was recovered from a box of memorabilia that dates from prior to 1977. So potentially this object is over 20 years old and it shows it as you can see from the pictures. I can answer any questions anyone may have or add photos as requested. In examining prior threads on this site where the thread still had linked photos it's pretty clear this is a repro and not an actual prop, but I defer to the experts. The phaser is as the photos indicate and the center, top and bottom pieces have come apart, but fit back together perfectly. As a side question, any advice on care and restoration would also be appreciated. I have worked in museums, so my default is to do nothing and preserve patina where age is showing, but would consider gluing it back together and adding the missing parts if I can find them.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[Duncanator]

Cool find. Sorry I can't help figure out its history.

 

[JamesHW]

Thanks for the look see. Hopefully someone will come along that knows something.

 

[Jintosh]

Here's the original series Phaser. The top piece clips into the larger piece. Yours is a variation.....but may just be someone's replica. I can't tell.

 

[ranallace]

Federation trading post sold those back in the day I believe

 

[JamesHW]

Thanks again for the responses.

jintosh, your pic differs from mine in at least a couple of ways, the color of the deflector grid metal foil (mine is gold versus a more silver color) and no led between the setting scale and the setting wheel. It is interesting how many repops lack the LED between the dial and wheel. In looking at all the screen caps from TOS of rare close ups of the phasers the angle is such the LED could be hidden behind the dial or wheel, so left off in subsequent reports efforts? One screen cap, presumably of Kirk in his gold uniform shirt holding the phaser clearly shows gold tinted foil, but very likely the deflector foil was simply reflecting the gold uniform that was just behind it. This could explain why whoever made it used gold instead of more correct silver foil, especially considering color monitor quality mid-70's compared with what we have today 29 years later.

ranallace, I did some searches and the Federation Trading post models appear to differ from mine. If you have links that might clarify this I would appreciate it. Your post led me to articles about early other efforts such as Brad Nelson. Still no match, but folks I can reach out to for assistance.

A few more details on mine: the two halves are clearly cast in a mold and consist of a very heavy black plastic. The aluminum plate that goes between the two halves does not reject from the sides of the phaser when assembled as some of the repops do. The #3 scratched into the plastic haves and written in black marker on the aluminum plate appears to indicate the maker was making multiple phasers, but could also indicate a version.

 

[Apollo]

Looks like this one was modeled after the photos in TMOST, definately not a nelson.

Not all the Phaser ones had the Crystal on them.

Although inacurate as all of them were back in the day a nice piece of history you have there

 

[JamesHW]

Apollo,

Thanks for the reply. I agree it is similar to the TMOST, except photos I have seen have the separation piece of the two halves projects out from the sides rather then being flush with the two halves. Also, the TMOST appears to be the grey color while mine is clearly black.

 

[Apollo]

Might be a very early Ed M. or a Deschannes

 

[JamesHW]

Thanks. No idea who they are, so any additional clarification would be appreciated.

How cool would it be if I tracked down the maker and it turned out he had some spare parts in a box....

 

[Jintosh]

I just can't find any photos with a gold grill.

 

[JamesHW]

I was referring to this screen cap:

http://www.tk560.com/herophaser.jpg