Star Trek Flint's Control Device!

[Petseal]

Hello all,
I was looking around and came across a couple pics of the control device used by the character Flint in the TOS third season episode "Requiem for Methuselah".
I thought that looks like an easy, quick build and commenced finding screencaps.
What I found surprised me as the actual prop in the actors hand does not look like the "props" I've seen for sale and in illustrations.
Attached are two pics.
The first is a screen cap I did which shows most of the device. The other is a pic I found years ago somewhere on the internet.
Comparing the pics you can see right away that the button shapes are wrong and the overall shape and thickness appear to be different.
What I would like to know is are there any members here who believe they have an accurate representation or an actual prop they would like to share here?
Any help with correct dimensions would be highly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any help, Petseal

 

[mgoob]

The only thing I can see is that the white & yellow buttons look to be the same size as the square "clear-colored" switches used (mainly) on the bridge and everywhere else. You could scale up from that.

The circles at the rear of it seem to be of the reflective type of material used on some of the more "exotic" medals & commendation awards seen on the ISS Enterprise in "Mirror, Mirror."

 

[Robot Monster]

The center portion looks like a copper ribbon cable. If you look close you can see the lines in the center portion.

 

[racprops]

The recreation may be one I did back in the 80s, I remember the black details on the bottom looking the hub caps off a 62 Corvett model.

Rich

 

[SurferGeek]

From Greg Jein's collection. Photos copyright by Karl Tate. By the way... the greeblie in the center of the device is a section of a flexible printed circuit.

 

[Petseal]

Many thanks to everyone who posted here.
Your input is extremely appreciated.

mgoob, those "circles" and the shape of the back portion are what I was hoping to clarify!

tekmage3000, I saw that too and thought I might be able to mimic the design with a piece of gold foil with copper foil stripes.

racprops, it is very possible that I found it on your web page as it is one of the first sited I ever found on Star Trek. I have found many interesting and informative items on your site that have helped me create my own props. I have almost completed the control unit (still needs buttons) used by the aliens in the episode "The Empath" thanks to the information from your site. So to you an extra and long overdue THANKS!

SurferGeek, WOW, that is so cool. I would have made the bottom flat if I had not seen those pics. Not sure yet how I will achieve the look but I will try.
I will assume, due to the fact that you posted the pics here, that it is OK to make myself a copy of this prop? And anyone else who might view this thread.
Can't vouch for anyone else but I can guaranty I will not make copies for sale.

Thanks again, Petseal

 

[Tiberius Kirk]

Petseal,

After looking at the pic of the original screen used prop, I can just about guarantee that the orange base is from some "found" item. It's hard to say what that item is but with some searching and the help of fellow board members, I'm sure the answer will come to the surface.

I can tell you that it somewhat resembles a sanding block that I used to have.

I'm sure that the other members here will chime in and make suggestions as to where/what to look for.

 

[Petseal]

Petseal,

After looking at the pic of the original screen used prop, I can just about guarantee that the orange base is from some "found" item. It's hard to say what that item is but with some searching and the help of fellow board members, I'm sure the answer will come to the surface.

I can tell you that it somewhat resembles a sanding block that I used to have.

I'm sure that the other members here will chime in and make suggestions as to where/what to look for.

Hi Tiberius Kirk and thanks for posting,
I was thinking the same but I was leaning towards part of a found prop.
If you look at the second pic it appears to have diagonal "saw" marks, especially around the notch, lower left. I assume this notch was so that the actor could keep it in the right position to withdraw from his pocket when needed.
Also, in the last pic it appears to have several layers of half round running from front to back but the center, were the "at" in Tate is sitting, looks to be flat with a small line dead center. Might be a seam on a larger ball type item??? I do not know what it is but I am sure I have seen something like it before.
By comparing the screencaps I took of the episode and the pics supplied by SurferGeek I feel fairly confident in saying this is either a screen used piece or one made from a screen used piece. The roundness of the back, the shape and look to the 4 silver circles, the shape and color of the blue and the yellow button in the front all look right to me.
The only variation is the colors which appear off, item is orange in the pics and red on the screen cap. I am assuming this variation would be due to the lighting and the type of film used. I have never worked in the field but I have seen the extras on the DVDs where they show a model on a stage then show all the processes it goes through to get to the ship you see on the screen and one aspect I saw right away is the color. The DS9 model has light and calming colors but on screen it is very dark and foreboding!
Anyway just some thoughts that might pan out once everyone gets a chance to chime in.
Keep it coming, Petseal

 

[racprops]

Thanks for the kind words, we only had the old 25 inch 400 line TVs and 250 line VHS and Bata tapes back them...

So it is fun to see how close and how off we got things.

Rich

Many thanks to everyone who posted here.
Your input is extremely appreciated.

mgoob, those "circles" and the shape of the back portion are what I was hoping to clarify!

tekmage3000, I saw that too and thought I might be able to mimic the design with a piece of gold foil with copper foil stripes.

racprops, it is very possible that I found it on your web page as it is one of the first sited I ever found on Star Trek. I have found many interesting and informative items on your site that have helped me create my own props. I have almost completed the control unit (still needs buttons) used by the aliens in the episode "The Empath" thanks to the information from your site. So to you an extra and long overdue THANKS!

SurferGeek, WOW, that is so cool. I would have made the bottom flat if I had not seen those pics. Not sure yet how I will achieve the look but I will try.
I will assume, due to the fact that you posted the pics here, that it is OK to make myself a copy of this prop? And anyone else who might view this thread.
Can't vouch for anyone else but I can guaranty I will not make copies for sale.

Thanks again, Petseal

 

[mgoob]

By the way... the greeblie in the center of the device is a section of a flexible printed circuit.

I does look like flexible circuit, but was that around in 1967?

Could be some piece of funky plastic for a "groovy" purse or whatnot.

I agree: the orange shape, upon seeing its profile, looks like a found object.
I don't think they would have gone to all that trouble for a small prop like this (use Lord Garth's remote as an example)

 

[SurferGeek]

I does look like flexible circuit, but was that around in 1967?

Yup...

http://books.google.com/books?id=aN...=X&oi=book_result&resnum=25&ct=result#PPA3,M1

 

[Petseal]

Hello all,
I finally figured out what the bottom of the prop reminded me of...the float inside a toilet.
I lifted the lid off mine and found that it looks almost the identical. The differences are on mine the half round is a little narrower and the center flat area is wider. And of course mine is hollow!!! I wonder if these were ever made out of solid plastic? That might explain the diagonal marks in the second pic posted by SurferGeek.
Later, Petseal

 

[SurferGeek]

The floats from that era were made of hollow metal and the replacements are hollow plastic. I guess it's possible it could have been used as a mold if you could find one with the same shape, most I've seen are circular. The scratches could easily have been from sanding...

 

[Master_Shake]

If the floats were solid they wouldn't float. I'm extremely new here and have little experience, but to me it looks like something found.

 

[Petseal]

The floats from that era were made of hollow metal and the replacements are hollow plastic. I guess it's possible it could have been used as a mold if you could find one with the same shape, most I've seen are circular. The scratches could easily have been from sanding...

Thanks SurferGeek,
I was thinking the same thing but did not realize, or remember, that the floats would be made of metal. As far as using a modern float as a mold I been thinking about trying it just to see how it looks.
It has occurred to me that maybe all I really need is a float I can cut in half to see if it can be used as a mold! I am sure I have an old one floating (sorry) around here somewhere.

Welcome to the board Master_Shake and I am not totally sure but I think a solid piece of plastic would actually float on water. I think it just saves material and makes them cheaper if they are hollow.

Many thanks, Petseal

 

[Tiberius Kirk]

I knew you guys would find something plausible.

The float is a really good start (and may be the solution) but I'm sure if we continue the search, the definitive answer will present itself eventually.

 

[Tremas]

I've always loved this little piece of hardware; it would make a nice addition to an Enterprise diorama:
"Oh, that? Well, I thought, why have a model, when you could just shrink down the ship and stick it on a shelf?"


Sorry if this seems goofy, I've yet to have my coffee...

 

[SurferGeek]

I knew you guys would find something plausible.

The float is a really good start (and may be the solution) but I'm sure if we continue the search, the definitive answer will present itself eventually.

I agree... I really believe that the piece is a found item, maybe a child's toy or some "art" piece of the time. Plastic and bakelite were very popular mediums from the late 40's to mid 60's.

My feelings on the piece's origin aside, I finally found a plastic float and got around to cutting a slice out of it and getting photos. But first, I spoke with my father and he said he doesn't remember seeing plastic floats until the early to mid 70's. He wasn't a plumber but worked in the home building trade.

All that said, I do think it's plausible to make a passable remote using a similar float as a mold, the one that I have has a wide, smooth band in the middle but other than that it's very close. The other detractor is that the nice ribbing that's evident on the outside is not as pronounced on the inside and the ribs aren't as cleanly spaced.

 

[Petseal]

I agree... I really believe that the piece is a found item, maybe a child's toy or some "art" piece of the time. Plastic and bakelite were very popular mediums from the late 40's to mid 60's.

My feelings on the piece's origin aside, I finally found a plastic float and got around to cutting a slice out of it and getting photos. But first, I spoke with my father and he said he doesn't remember seeing plastic floats until the early to mid 70's. He wasn't a plumber but worked in the home building trade.

All that said, I do think it's plausible to make a passable remote using a similar float as a mold, the one that I have has a wide, smooth band in the middle but other than that it's very close. The other detractor is that the nice ribbing that's evident on the outside is not as pronounced on the inside and the ribs aren't as cleanly spaced.

Hey SurferGeek,
Your pics look very promising! Actually when I first saw the prop pics I thought the ribs ran the other way so your pics corrected that error for me.
I still haven't gone looking through my odds and ends for the float, I am sure I still have one.
When I do I think it would have to be used to create a negative mold. It could be made deeper then the prop then cut and sanded to the finished height.
Hopefully someone will see this soon and let us know for one way or another if this was a found item or not.
Here's to the hunt, Petseal

 

[temponaut]

The button in the upper right corner flushes Flint's toilet.

As Petseal wrote, your pictures look very promising, SG.

Like others, I'm looking forward to seeing whether someone can identify the original positively as a found item.

Good thread! :thumbsup