Sonic Screwdriver with detachable head

[stingray]

I was watching the story Robot (first episode with Tom Baker) and noticed that the Sonic Screwdriver that the Doctor (Tom Baker) used in this story had a removable head. I don't recall this detail being discussed in any of the threads about the Sonic Screwdriver. It does make sense that the Sonic Screwdriver has an extending head in the story "Genesis of the Daleks" which was about three stories after Robot if I recall correctly.

 

[phez]

The head is connected to a brass rod (wire?) that extends or slides out of the top of the handle. I think we see it pulled out and bent in a few episodes. I wounder if the origenal intenet was to have different attachments go where the halo top is? :confused

I think they might have glued or soldered the thing in at some point to keep it from breaking. I do not recall seeing it pop out again after the earlyer Baker episodes.

I was watching the story Robot (first episode with Tom Baker) and noticed that the Sonic Screwdriver that the Doctor (Tom Baker) used in this story had a removable head. I don't recall this detail being discussed in any of the threads about the Sonic Screwdriver. It does make sense that the Sonic Screwdriver has an extending head in the story "Genesis of the Daleks" which was about three stories after Robot if I recall correctly.

 

[stingray]

....I wounder if the origenal intenet was to have different attachments go where the halo top is? :confused

I think they might have glued or soldered the thing in at some point to keep it from breaking. I do not recall seeing it pop out again after the earlyer Baker episodes....

Thats a good point Phez. As you, I don't recall it being pulled out with the exception of Genesis of the Daleks and I believe Phase Pistol pointed that out in another Sonic Screwdriver thread. It's probably been 15 to 20 years since I have seen some of the Tom Baker episodes, so anything is possible. They are slowly coming out on DVD and I have been getting my favorite stories.

 

[DarthBish]

If I recall, the Doc said something like "also doubles as a Sonic Lance", before putting the head on and cutting through "Thinktank's" main door

 

[stingray]

If I recall, the Doc said something like "also doubles as a Sonic Lance", before putting the head on and cutting through "Thinktank's" main door

Good memory. That is pretty much what he said.

 

[NakedMoleRat]

On a cruise with Terry Nation about ten years ago, he told a thrilled audience about what it was like to work with Tom Baker. He said that Tom was brutal with the props, but great on improvisation. During the scene in Robot, Tom pulled the sonic out and realized that the head of it had gotten tangled in the pucket of his jacket and pulled off. He then add-libbed the sonic lance bit while he stuck it back together. Much of the classic series was shot in one take. Which is why you'll at times see the Doctor cut himself off mid sentence and say something else as Tom realizes that he's just blown a line. :lol

 

[greatwazoo42]

Yup, I've heard Barry Letts and Terrance Dicks tell the same story about that bit. Tom's a bit of a bull in a china shop it seems.

 

[Terrasolo]

accident or not, it made for an interesting new feature.

 

[randommann]

In quite a few stories you can clearly see the SS head bent a little,
I love that though, the wear and tear of a time lords gadgets!

Wasnt it in The City of Deth where the SS gets pummeld by Duggan!!
I think you can see Tom try to put it back together again!