Obi-Wan Kenobi AHN Lightsaber Buttons - A new hope?

[the.rebel.agent]

As you should know by now, most of us are willing to assemble the most accurate Obi-Wan Kenobi ANH lightsaber hilt. I have been collecting found items and replicas for mine. This item puzzled me. I even bought two set from Russ. But I was confident that with a little bit of work, I would be able to find a good replacement "found item". So started to ask questions here and there. Received a lot of help from some members that were doing the same task long time ago. Here is what we have:

Reference:

Originals buttons:

Some members here believe that they are Motorola transistors. I do believe that the manufacturer is Motorola given the shape of the logo, as you will see in the following photos I collected from old Motorola components:

Old Motorola Integrated circuits from 1962:

Some members here identified even the code number that started with MA. MA series were TO-5 encapsulated germanium transistors. TO-5 encapsulated are 8.1mm in diameter BUT 6.6mm tall. From the references with have, they are 2mm taller or so. So I explored other possibilities. TO-5 Case 32 and 32A are around 4.5mm tall or so. Which is right according with the photo reference we have but won't match any MA series transistor. Maybe Motorola manufactured them for military use or for another company. I am just speculating about that. But, I am quite sure, regular MA transistors were normal TO-5. I was able to bought two of them; still waiting for receive them. I also found that the TO-99 encapsulated has the same dimensions 8.1mmx4.5mm tall, so I spent a few pesos and bought several transistors and old fashioned integrated circuits. TO-39 are ST and RCA (transistors), the TO-99 one are National Semiconductor ICs. All of them are old.

The ones I bought for the test:

Resource manuals for codes and transistors outlines measurements:
TO-39 variant from National Semiconductor:
http://www.theforce.com.ar/Download...rsEpisodeIVANewHopeLightsaberReplica/h03a.pdf

Scans by Tom Bruhns (such a wonderful member from an electronic components forum) from a Motorola book from 1969:
MA series TO-5
http://www.theforce.com.ar/Download...wHopeLightsaberReplica/MA-transistors0001.pdf

Transistors outlines cases:
TO-39: Case 79,79A
TO-5: Case 31,32,32A
TO-99: Case 601
http://www.theforce.com.ar/Download...saberReplica/Motorola_transistor_outlines.pdf

TO-99:

TO-5/39:

I wanted to do a photo comparison to light up a little bit the research. I know this will be very helpful to make my point about it. I placed the transistors in place. The Graflex clamp is original (51.2mm x 39.8mm). Based my estimations on that measurements by the way. As you will see, the photos will speak for themselves. Just compare them with the photo reference we have. My estimation for the button diameter was 7.9mmx4.62mm. So a TO-99 or TO-5 Case 32A electronic component matches our found item.

Graflex Clamp with TO-99:

Graflex Clamp with TO-5/39:

Comparison TO-5 vs TO-99:

So, my conclusion is this one: They are electronic components using a TO-5 Case 32A or TO-99 encapsulated. I believe they manufacturer was Motorola and IF they are MAXXX, they are a special series given the 2 under the M logo. Usually Motorola did not put the code in the third line. They usually use the second line for code. Could be wrong, but given the shape of the marks at the original component we will never be able to identify it. I will be using TO-99 IC for my lightsaber hilt unless I found something better. Ant feedback will be welcome and I really want to thanks your help and patience. ASAP I receive my MA transistors will post photos. So I guess we have a little bit more of information to look for them. I will start looking for decent washers/insulators :lol. Hope this helps someone here. Could have missing to write down something. Gathered a lot of information.

High resolution photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/the.rebel.agent/ObiWanKenobiStarWarsEpisodeIVANewHopeLightsaberReplica

 

[mgoob]

From the references with have, they are 2mm tall or so. So I explored other possibilities.

My estimation for the button diameter was 7.9mmx4.62mm. So a TO-99 or TO-5 Case 32A electronic component matches our found item.


Research well done. Kudos!

I don't know how you deduced them as being 2mm tall. Maybe 2mm above the heat sink, but not in total.

From what you've shown, TO-99 seems to be the closest found yet. That I would agree is the one.

As for the heatsinks, IIRC, the heatsinks that surround the transistor were used in military equipment used during the late 60's early 70's. Take that for what you will, but it looks like the TO-99 is the one.

Perhaps you could try putting a mockup of the heatsink (cardboard, styrene, etc.) around that and then take some photos for a more conclusive proof.

 

[the.rebel.agent]

From the references with have, they are 2mm tall or so. So I explored other possibilities. My estimation for the button diameter was 7.9mmx4.62mm. So a TO-99 or TO-5 Case 32A electronic component matches our found item.

Research well done. Kudos!

I don't know how you deduced them as being 2mm tall. Maybe 2mm above the heat sink, but not in total.

From what you've shown, TO-99 seems to be the closest found yet. That I would agree is the one.

As for the heatsinks, IIRC, the heatsinks that surround the transistor were used in military equipment used during the late 60's early 70's. Take that for what you will, but it looks like the TO-99 is the one.

Perhaps you could try putting a mockup of the heatsink (cardboard, styrene, etc.) around that and then take some photos for a more conclusive proof.

I meant 2mm tall in total. 4.6mm vs 6.6mm. Regular TO-5/39 case is 2mm tall than TO-99. Once I found the closest washer/insulator/heatsink will re-do the photo comparison for sure.:love

 

[DARTH SABER]

I always thought it might have been the old NEC logo on the transistor with a slightly different placement of the letters ( the "N" on top, the "E" slightly lower and to the right of the "N". and the "C" lower and to the right of the "E"....."E" might be partially scrathed off)

 

[lonepigeon]

Nice work.
I see from a quick search that TO-99's are common in amplifiers which makes sense given all the audio equipment parts used in A New Hope.

 

[James Kenobi 1138]

Detective work = 100% AWESOME. Outstanding job. Top Man.

If the transistors were military, they would probably have threaded post attached to them like these:

 

[the.rebel.agent]

I always thought it might have been the old NEC logo on the transistor with a slightly different placement of the letters ( the "N" on top, the "E" slightly lower and to the right of the "N". and the "C" lower and to the right of the "E"....."E" might be partially scrathed off)

I checked the NEC lead, but found nothing having MA code. Most of the transistors manufactured by this Japanese company started with ST as prefix. Found a lot of photo from vintage logos. Won´t matter whose manufactured it, encapsulation won´t change anyway :cool

 

[the.rebel.agent]

Detective work = 100% AWESOME. Outstanding job. Top Man.

Thanks James! If they were manufactured for the army, someone out there could be able to tracking down it by cross reference. Someone with access to the correct database of course. :$

 

[the.rebel.agent]

As for the heatsinks, IIRC, the heatsinks that surround the transistor were used in military equipment used during the late 60's early 70's. Take that for what you will, but it looks like the TO-99 is the one.
Perhaps you could try putting a mockup of the heatsink (cardboard, styrene, etc.) around that and then take some photos for a more conclusive proof.

Ok, I have been looking for heatsinks having that shape and "nada". Then looking for washers I found this: Cancellous Washers

That are primarily used for medicine orthopedic implants. Don't know what you are are using but this stuff looks really close. I guess I will have to do some research about the dimensions. I estimated that the washer used in the prop is about 13.4mm in diameter. The hole should be close 8.5mm or less and the inner circle is about 10.5mm or so. What do you think?

 

[Treadwell]

I meant 2mm tall in total. 4.6mm vs 6.6mm. Regular TO-5/39 case is 2mm tall than TO-99.

...so you mean 2mm taller. I think.

(Makes a big difference!)

 

[the.rebel.agent]

...so you mean 2mm taller. I think.
(Makes a big difference!)

You are absolutely right! Taller, we Spanish speakers don't see the difference. Will edit the first post. Thanks!:rolleyes

 

[Serafino]

TRA--great find with the washers BUT were they doing implants and using this type of washer far enough before 1976 that the film makers would have had access to them?

 

[the.rebel.agent]

TRA--great find with the washers BUT were they doing implants and using this type of washer far enough before 1976 that the film makers would have had access to them?

Thanks! about your question, that's what I am learning right now. Contacted several companies selling this washers outside Argentina and locally. Let's hope they answer my call. Something is telling me that this washer are new. Never saw them in the hardware shop. In the other hand, orthopedic implants were common back in the '70. Even in the old Rusia, back in 1950, a doctor conducted some experimental surgery using bicycle parts. Creepy.

 

[Howard]

Well there's certainly a link with the washers and with the Vader reveal mask - as it used dental expanders IIRC.
Then again, there's 7-8 years between productions.
Still - those washers do look mighty interesting!

 

[lonepigeon]

Well there's certainly a link with the washers and with the Vader reveal mask - as it used dental expanders IIRC.
Then again, there's 7-8 years between productions.
Still - those washers do look mighty interesting!

Dental expanders were also used on Boba Fett in ESB. A little closer.

Plus there's the Vader neck brace (also medical equipment) that was first used in ESB before they expanded on it for the more elaborate reveal helmet for ROTJ.

 

[the.rebel.agent]

Dental expanders were also used on Boba Fett in ESB. A little closer.
Plus there's the Vader neck brace (also medical equipment) that was first used in ESB before they expanded on it for the more elaborate reveal helmet for ROTJ.

Could be a terrible coincidence? :love Who knows. What I am sure, they are not transistors heat sinks. The usually wraps the metal case entirely, cause they function is to dissipate heat. So a heat sink like the one used on the prop won't be useful for nothing unless the have a base where to fix them. Never saw a heat sink like that. All TO-39/5/99 heat sinks, even the vintage ones wraps the component.:confused

Got an email back from one of the local vendors. They will call me back very soon to offer me a catalog and more information. Keep you posted as usual.

 

[Howard]

Thanks Chris! I'm not up on costume pieces.

 

[lesternessman]

Nice work Diego. I was out of town this week and it seems like you've been busy.

 

[the.rebel.agent]

Nice work Diego. I was out of town this week and it seems like you've been busy.

You know, I am workaholic.:lol

 

[the.rebel.agent]

I have been investigating a little bit more. I am gathering new information I extracted from another forum. Keep you posted guys.:thumbsup