The Original Sonic Screwdriver

[greatwazoo42]

The more I see of the replicas of the sonic screwdrivers that are out there and the more research material comes up as the DVD's are released it makes me wonder: where are the original props? They must be in SOMEONE'S collection somewhere! There's been several of them so that should up the odds.

Doesn't anyone know anything about any of the real prop sonics and with whom they may currently reside? We've tracked down so much other stuff from various shows. Somebody's got to know where at least one of the old sonic props is currently being kept safe and lavished!

 

[deck5]

The more I see of the replicas of the sonic screwdrivers that are out there and the more research material comes up as the DVD's are released it makes me wonder: where are the original props? They must be in SOMEONE'S collection somewhere! There's been several of them so that should up the odds.

Doesn't anyone know anything about any of the real prop sonics and with whom they may currently reside? We've tracked down so much other stuff from various shows. Somebody's got to know where at least one of the old sonic props is currently being kept safe and lavished!

What makes you sure there was more than one sonic screwdriver? From when the Thunderbirds prop was first introduced with Pertwee, through to "The Visitation" with Davison, it appears unchanged. Coloured tape was placed on, and then removed, during Pertwee's reign, the head changed slightly a couple of times thereafter, and white tape with symbols was applied to the thumb ring -- but otherwise the body of the gadget looks to be the same one throughout.

Of course the one that was blasted in "The Visitation" was a plastic toy model.

I imagine JNT took the original home with him; subsequently it was probably mislaid or nicked, as it hasn't shown up anywhere since.

 

[greatwazoo42]

I forget the thread here on RPF, it's been a few years, but there were some detailed examinations made of screen grabs and the measurements don't synch up between some of the stories pointing to multiple props playing the same part.

Still, as dimissive as "mislaid or nicked" seems I'd still like to know where it is. Just our luck there probably was one and it's burried with JNT but I'm hoping for a break in the usual luck here.

 

[deck5]

I forget the thread here on RPF, it's been a few years, but there were some detailed examinations made of screen grabs and the measurements don't synch up between some of the stories pointing to multiple props playing the same part.

Still, as dimissive as "mislaid or nicked" seems I'd still like to know where it is. Just our luck there probably was one and it's burried with JNT but I'm hoping for a break in the usual luck here.

I'd be curious to see those examinations; I've had a pretty careful look over the last while, and I think it's the same body throughout. Another point in favour of the idea is that I can't imagine somebody charged with reproducing for the show it bothering to reproduce the specific angled slot in the handle, and slope at the end, which is always there.

 

[greatwazoo42]

We're getting off subject here.

 

[deck5]

We're getting off subject here.

It's on subject -- if there's only the one, the odds of finding it hiding somewhere are significantly different than if there were a bunch of 'em.

 

[greatwazoo42]

I'm only concerned with finding the present where-a-bouts of the prop be it one or one hundred.

 

[greatwazoo42]

Found this so far:

from http://nathanr.ca/2007/01/

"Most of the outfits are expected to fetch between £15,000 and £20,000, or between $29,400 and $39,250. That includes a special surprise for the person that ends up owning the jacket used by Jon Pertwee -- the third Doctor -- in the series, as auctioneers found a sonic screwdriver in the pocket. Even though the prop is nothing more than a pen with a toothpaste tube cap on it, the sonic screwdriver may make the Pertwee lot a popular attraction."


Hmmm....

 

[deck5]

Found this so far:

from http://nathanr.ca/2007/01/

"Most of the outfits are expected to fetch between £15,000 and £20,000, or between $29,400 and $39,250. That includes a special surprise for the person that ends up owning the jacket used by Jon Pertwee -- the third Doctor -- in the series, as auctioneers found a sonic screwdriver in the pocket. Even though the prop is nothing more than a pen with a toothpaste tube cap on it, the sonic screwdriver may make the Pertwee lot a popular attraction."


Hmmm....

Prior to the chiropractor's tool, Pertwee's sonic screwdriver was this short, thin, odd silver thing with a bulbous top, with bits of what look like black electrical tape wrapped around. This may be that.

 

[greatwazoo42]

You mean Pat Troughton's penlight?

 

[deck5]

You mean Pat Troughton's penlight?

No, after that but before the classic model -- here's a couple of pics from Inferno:

Small enough to fit in the breast pocket of his jacket with just the round part showing above.

 

[deck5]

Just found a pic from the Bonham's auction: here's the gadget in question! I don't think this ever appeared on the show, at least not as a sonic screwdriver -- please let me know if you've seen it in an episode!

Addendum: Ah -- from the accompanying text: "This costume was used for exhibition and promotional purposes and did not feature in the television series."

 

[Wickerness]

Found this thread looking for info on Sonic Screwdrivers.

Is that a Sonic Screwdriver that Pertwee has? I haven't seen Inferno in a long time and I do not have the dvd.

 

[deck5]

Found this thread looking for info on Sonic Screwdrivers.

Is that a Sonic Screwdriver that Pertwee has? I haven't seen Inferno in a long time and I do not have the dvd.

It is. After that he switches to the Thunderbird model.

 

[DoctorWho]

I wish we had some better screen caps of it. I might try to make one if I could just see it better.

 

[Magnus Darcrider]

The device you've screencapped from Inferno was the Doctor's "door handle", basically just an automatic door opener to get into his laboratory/garage at the site he was working at. It was not his sonic screwdriver.

Be seeing you,

Magnus Darcrider