National Treasure- Ocular Device/ ALL PARTS FOUND!!!

[Gigatron]

Here's mine

I made the lenses from 1/8" plexi. Considering the fairly crappy job I did reshaping the frames, homemade lenses were pretty much my only recourse.

Given the time, money and opportunity, I'd try to create a bending/shaping jig to reshape the frames. At least they'd be straight and even :lol

-Fred

 

[SgtFang]

Looking great guys! I need to order another pair of the main glasses sometime, since I futzed around and broke one of the hinges on my existing pair. :unsure

-Sarge

 

[TSqProductions]

*BUMP*

Hey everyone!

(Don't worry, I have experience in forums, so I know how this goes down. ^_^)

Ever since I came across this site yesterday, I've been strongly considering making one of my own pairs of the NT Ocular Device. I had no idea all the parts were so easy to get! I think if it's possible to do, I might make mine more authentic by being able to do what it does in the film. (For real-world authenticity, it might be possible with either polarized lenses, or with lens material like the glasses of Crayola's 3D Explosion drawing kits.)

Oh, and for those of you buying the Jas. Townsend glasses looking for accuracy, the wide 19th Cent. brass glasses are NOT accurate. The ones in the film are just Townsend's 18th Cent. glasses that have had the lens frames modified. (Not only that, but getting just one of the glasses saves you $30.)

(I haven't bought them myself just yet. I'm just giving a warning to those who want to buy from Jas Townsend)

Is it possible to give the 18th Cent. glasses that weathered brass look?

 

[TSqProductions]

*Another Bump*

Hey, for those of you looking for a way to make your glasses' lenses work like the lenses in National Treasure, you're in luck! It's the same stuff they use in USPS Stamps and other government-owned items.

It's also the stuff they use on certain toys and movie posters. They're lenticular lenses. The kind of lenses that have those small ridges on one side. I haven't tried it myself yet, but it could work. I'm not sure if you actually have to place the lenticular sheet on the paper itself, but...

 

[tripoli]

Actually, the 18th century glasses are the wrong ones. The original set was found out of a CA antique optical business. They were original 18 century glasses and cost thousands. The store was willing to sell remakes of them and a couple grand. I did talk with the shop owner Sgtfang noted on page 4 of the thread long ago.

"The glasses are an off the shelf set of "Ben Franklin" style glasses. We made the loops from scratch to fit lenses that were colored and custom ground from our eyeglass department. Unfortunately, there was only one set made of these glasses. The same pair of glasses were later redone and used again in "Click". I have not seen this movie but they should be in there. "

The closest production glasses you can find to the original glasses is the wide frame from Townsend at a very good price. There are some hundred dollars frames that come just a bit closer but you do have to reshape them and for the money and accuracy, you cannot beat the Townsend glasses. Added to the fact that you would need to get an optical center to shape new lenses to maintain accuracy with the glass inserts themselves.

 

[TSqProductions]

Actually, the 18th century glasses are the wrong ones. The original set was found out of a CA antique optical business. They were original 18 century glasses and cost thousands. The store was willing to sell remakes of them and a couple grand. I did talk with the shop owner Sgtfang noted on page 4 of the thread long ago.

"The glasses are an off the shelf set of "Ben Franklin" style glasses. We made the loops from scratch to fit lenses that were colored and custom ground from our eyeglass department. Unfortunately, there was only one set made of these glasses. The same pair of glasses were later redone and used again in "Click". I have not seen this movie but they should be in there. "

The closest production glasses you can find to the original glasses is the wide frame from Townsend at a very good price. There are some hundred dollars frames that come just a bit closer but you do have to reshape them and for the money and accuracy, you cannot beat the Townsend glasses. Added to the fact that you would need to get an optical center to shape new lenses to maintain accuracy with the glass inserts themselves.

Not from what I see. I'll take your word for it, though. The Townsend Round Glasses have the exact same shape, except for the shape of the lens frames, so it's a good compromise for price.

*The glasses have a cantilever bend in the metal right next to the lenses, like the ones in the movie. (At least I think it's a cantilever bend in this image:

)
*The ear supports are double hinged, and appear to be in the same shape like the movie.
*Not only that, but I think the glasses are actually grey in the movie, with the loupes being made of brass. [look closely at them when Agent Sandusky is fiddling around with them in the film, as well as the images of the clear-lensed props below)
*The nose bridge is almost the exact same shape.

 

[RelicMaker]

Here's some pictures of two of actual prop glasses when both pair were auctioned off on eBay after the movie was made. If one pair was used in the movie "Click", then it wasn't one of these two.

This particular pair below, I believe, was used in the scene when the FBI agent was flipping the lens up and down on the desk. This way they could add whatever CGI they needed to add without the colored lenses and give the dollar bill effect.

 

[tripoli]

You don't have to take my word for it. Page four of the thread shows the note from the original prop maker that sgtfang noted and I quoted above with the actual information, and below that, he has the actual shop. You can call for yourself and try to get a a pair as I did, but you find out it is darn expensive as many of us that started on this thread learned early on.

 

[RelicMaker]

Yeah, I've read all that, but the price of over $1000 is not worth it for a pair of glasses.:rolleyes
Especially, when we can already make a decent replica ourselves.thumbsup

 

[tripoli]

Exactly. The original antique pair was supposedly 4 grand and they wanted 2500 for the replica glass frames. Way out of reason for what we are doing.

 

[TSqProductions]

I noticed that one thing you guys all have forgotten on the loupes (Not saying that's a bad thing, if you prefer it that way. :confused) is an extra spring.

The loupes do a mirror image along the length of the rod, something like this:

[Holding nut]
(Metal Rim next to Lens)
[Spring]
[Loupe holder with set screw]
[Metal Separator]
[Loupe holder with set screw]
[Spring]
[Holding nut]

Is there any way I can get an extra spring like that without getting another 2 sets of loupes?

 

[tripoli]

I noticed that as well. The hardware loupes have a spring clip. I use the smaller spring from that clip in my glasses. It gives the larger extension of the loupe rods and keeps the tension more adjustable for them as well. You just have to clip the two extension wires from the smaller clips that hold the clamps for the loupes when you first take them apart.

 

[TSqProductions]

Ok, maybe I was somewhat wrong about the lenticular decoder...

But there's another one that's similar, called a focal encoder. (Apparently based on the same idea as the lenticular decoder)

This would be more appropriate, but the lenses require a minimum purchase of $100/£250.
3-D IMAGES LTD: Focal Decoders (TM)

I wouldn't buy it unless you wanted to try to make it absolutely accurate...

 

[TSqProductions]

If all else fails, a cheap way could be to print the various messages in VERY LIGHT color ink in different colors, so that way each message is revealed separately, like this: EFF: DocuColor Tracking Dot Decoding Guide

The ink on the back of the movie's Declaration of Independence wasn't very visible even when seen under the lens of the glasses.

 

[TSqProductions]

Finally bought my pair of glasses. (Yes, I know they're not the exact ones, but they're close enough to the ones in the movie. I like a little challenge when it comes to props. ^_^)

I'm going to check on loupes at Hobby Lobby on Friday. (Hopefully I can find some glass tinting paint or something similar.)

 

[TSqProductions]

You can add another part to the found list, for possibly-perfect springs:

Amazon.com: Century Spring Corp C-570 Compression Spring, 1/8" OD (Pack of 5x6): Home Improvement

They seem to be the same size as the springs included with any pair of loupes, except for the length. You could probably cut them down to the proper length and then bend the ends of the springs to make them flat. The outer diameter is about the same as a loupe spring, allowing it to fit on the metal rod without it slipping off over the metal nut.

(BTW, I posted this in my own thread for *MY* ocular device.)

 

[TSqProductions]

Does anyone know the appropriate bit to use? I read on this topic that 1/16" is one, but I'm not so sure, because I want to be able to secure my loupe rods down without them wiggling.

 

[DARTH SABER]

Hey guys, Im in the process of finishing up one of these glasses - everything is done except I need a bit of info on the lenses.

In regards to the reshaped housing on the glasses - what did you guys use for these clear lenses?


As for the colored loupe lenses - I'm thinking of getting the colored lenses from this site (apparently a few of you got them from this site as well) -
Anchor Optics - Optical Cast Plastic Color Filters

My question is, how well do these fit? I noticed the website says the lenses are 1.5mm thick....However, the lenses that came with the loupes are 1mm thick along the edges that fit into the housing.
Will these lenses fit, or is there some grinding needed?

Thanks

 

[DARTH SABER]

Bump.....

 

[DARTH SABER]

Nevermind, I found the info in the thread.