The Wand Company TOS Tricorder is coming!

[scottsusernames]

Don’t know if it’s art….do you have a reference?

Meanwhile…. I came across this…

View attachment 1956540


It says engraved in the description…..still looks like a cutout to me…. I see some blue light from the button reflected from within…

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View attachment 1956541

Came across this…..okay …what if that’s the symbol but was still cut in …in that design?

View attachment 1956551

Guys - There is NO HOLE in the Klingon communicator lid. In brief, the original Klingon symbol is the brown one shown by Fanatico and as seen in the first couple of episodes that had Klingons. There was even a large candleholder or torch holder in the set background of the first Klingon episode that was this design. But the producers deemed it too detailed and boring for the small TV screens of the day, and they created a new symbol that was more recognizable - the colored trident. For the episode where Kirk holds the communicator up and says "it's a Klingon communicator" they stuck a sticker on it to emphasize just that. Well, it was either a sticker or painted on - but it was NOT a hole. (More trivia: The original trident was supposed to be rotated 90 degrees so it kind of points right...but along the way they re-oriented it, and now that is the best known, cannon symbol.)

 

[FANATICO]

Guys - There is NO HOLE in the Klingon communicator lid. In brief, the original Klingon symbol is the brown one shown by Fanatico and as seen in the first couple of episodes that had Klingons. There was even a large candleholder or torch holder in the set background of the first Klingon episode that was this design. But the producers deemed it too detailed and boring for the small TV screens of the day, and they created a new symbol that was more recognizable - the colored trident. For the episode where Kirk holds the communicator up and says "it's a Klingon communicator" they stuck a sticker on it to emphasize just that. Well, it was either a sticker or painted on - but it was NOT a hole. (More trivia: The original trident was supposed to be rotated 90 degrees so it kind of points right...but along the way they re-oriented it, and now that is the best known, cannon symbol.)

It’s a pity no one here has a clue to what happened to that prop after the series ended that I know of…..it would have been nice for someone back in the day to retain it and photograph several angles maybe even a general analysis, review…paragraph or two for prosperity.

Perhaps someone from the props department gave it their kids to play with as a toy….and now it’s in a lower layer of the L.A. dump….

Btw….is this speculation on your part, or you have a specific document reference source that corroborates……

“But the producers deemed it too detailed and boring for the small TV screens of the day, and they created a new symbol that was more recognizable - the colored trident. For the episode where Kirk holds the communicator up and says "it's a Klingon communicator" they stuck a sticker on it to emphasize just that. “

If so, kindly link….perhaps there is other….nice to know info..

Just curious …

 

[scottsusernames]

It’s a pity no one here has a clue to what happened to that prop after the series ended that I know of…..it would have been nice for someone back in the day to retain it and photograph several angles maybe even a general analysis, review…paragraph or two for prosperity.

Perhaps someone from the props department gave it their kids to play with as a toy….and now it’s in a lower layer of the L.A. dump….

Btw….is this speculation on your part, or you have a specific document reference source that corroborates……

“But the producers deemed it too detailed and boring for the small TV screens of the day, and they created a new symbol that was more recognizable - the colored trident. For the episode where Kirk holds the communicator up and says "it's a Klingon communicator" they stuck a sticker on it to emphasize just that. “

If so, kindly link….perhaps there is other….nice to know info..

Just curious …

Hi - I did research over a decade ago when I wanted to add a TOS Klingon communicator to my collection. I don't remember where I got all my info from as it was from many sources over months of time. (I did a LOT of research as I wanted my prop to be as screen-accurate as possible. I should have saved it, organized it, and posted it here...sorry I didn't do that.) I found the story of the evolution of the Klingon artwork interesting as well as making sense. So yes, it is speculation on my part, and I don't know exactly what the producers were thinking or what their motivations were. But the visual history speaks for itself. Look at the emblems / symbols in the episodes over time - by filming order, not "air date" order. Note that the communicator's hole/sticker/smudge is so blurry that you can't tell what it is (a hole? a design of some kind?), hence the reason to adopt a simpler, more easily recognizable symbol - the trident. Also note that this is the same prop used as an Eminar communicator but without the smudge on the lid. Note their "sonic disruptors" were also repurposed into Klingon disruptors - or was it the other way around? This is the rabbit hole I didn't want to go down. Lastly, remember that this was a 1960's weekly TV show just trying to make money. There was not fanatic concern about continuity or detail. Heck, they used cardboard boxes and bubble wrap as props! And reused Nomad's parts 3 times! And used Klingon ships as Romulan ships after Wah Chang destroyed his Romulan ship model. Do you really think that they would carve a tiny, detailed Klingon symbol into a quickly seen communicator prop to be seen on a 25" TV screen? Bottom line: The Klingon comm in my collection has a black decal of the long brown symbol instead of a hole in the lid. Close-up, it looks like the early on-screen Klingon symbol. From a distance, it looks identical to what is seen on-screen. No holes.

 

[Technoboots]

One has to wonder Why Wand?

So…here’s a comparison…the first moire pic (from the left going right) is purportedly Wah’s Hero…it’s static black lines white background……then Chris B. shows Adam S., in the Tricorder coming out party on Tested….a motorized backlit moire with black lines and a white background lit (unlit when off), center pic…cool …so now my uncalibrated eyes are seeing a motorized backlit moire with black lines and an “amber(ish) lighted” background, right pic….

Imo…..Wand came closer to Wah with its black lines and white background as Chris B. showed Adam S. In Tested.

Why the background color change to “amber(ish)” ??

Haven’t had my coffee yet

View attachment 1956719

People pointed out to TWC that when the original prop was made white bulbs did not exist. If the original prop had been lit they would have used a bulb that had a warm white/amber glow so ended up switching to that.
Since it was never lit you could say it doesn't really matter what colour they chose but they wanted to keep it in the 60s prop style.

 

[scottsusernames]

Check out these screen captures. Note the wall torch, the sash emblems on both Colicos & Dorn, and Kirk's comm. Same design. Stylized for the sashes. Too detailed to be seen clearly on the comm.

 

[FANATICO]

People pointed out to TWC that when the original prop was made white bulbs did not exist. If the original prop had been lit they would have used a bulb that had a warm white/amber glow so ended up switching to that.
Since it was never lit you could say it doesn't really matter what colour they chose but they wanted to keep it in the 60s prop style.

I’ve updated the post…….

 

[Technoboots]

I’ve updated the post…….

I can't be sure but the package looks like an SMD2835. No idea which version though.

 

[FANATICO]

Check out these screen captures. Note the wall torch, the sash emblems on both Colicos & Dorn, and Kirk's comm. Same design. Stylized for the sashes. Too detailed to be seen clearly on the comm.

Yeah…I’ve read this particular opinion /speculation….. The Evolution of the Klingon Emblem
It references “adorned” ….that could be manifested as drawn, painted, stenciled, embossed, decaled and including cut out.

Yeah it’s a splitting in hairs of whether it was actually one of the above…..for those 3D designers that interpreted as a cutout…..is that artistic licensing? or do they have a source we don’t know about?

Some more cut out symbol 3D prints….

 

[FANATICO]

I can't be sure but the package looks like an SMD2835. No idea which version though.

I agree it’s the SMD2835 style and package…

Yeah warm white is out there….just got to make sure it has the right spec’s and characteristics plus a source of low quantity, Quantity of 3…..eBay may have low quantities..

An example below of many mfg’s out there….

Perhaps someone here who has a repore with Andrew, could ask for the exact P/N of the (warm) white ones that were used for the Adam S. Tested reveal.

 

[AnubisGuard]

Yeah…I’ve read this particular opinion /speculation….. The Evolution of the Klingon Emblem
It references “adorned” ….that could be manifested as drawn, painted, stenciled, embossed, decaled and including cut out.

Yeah it’s a splitting in hairs of whether it was actually one of the above…..for those 3D designers that interpreted as a cutout…..is that artistic licensing? or do they have a source we don’t know about?

Some more cut out symbol 3D prints….

View attachment 1956776

I very much doubt it was a cutout on the original for the simple question of what would be easier: modifying the Eminarian communicators by gluing on a bit of filigree, or modifying them by cutting rather elaborate holes in all the lids?

 

[Technoboots]

I agree it’s the SMD2835 style and package…

Yeah warm white is out there….just got to make sure it has the right spec’s and characteristics plus a source of low quantity, Quantity of 3…..eBay may have low quantities..

An example below of many mfg’s out there….

Perhaps someone here who has a repore with Andrew, could ask for the exact P/N of the (warm) white ones that were used for the Adam S. Tested reveal.

View attachment 1956781

I'm guessing the needed one would have a colour temperature above 4000k. The ones in that image would be more yellow. Here is an example of colour temp. The higher the temp the whiter it is. Past a certain point they start to take on a blue tint.

 

[xlowes]

Yeah…I’ve read this particular opinion /speculation….. The Evolution of the Klingon Emblem
It references “adorned” ….that could be manifested as drawn, painted, stenciled, embossed, decaled and including cut out.

Yeah it’s a splitting in hairs of whether it was actually one of the above…..for those 3D designers that interpreted as a cutout…..is that artistic licensing? or do they have a source we don’t know about?

Some more cut out symbol 3D prints….

View attachment 1956776

Ask Shatner. He should know.

 

[FANATICO]

I very much doubt it was a cutout on the original for the simple question of what would be easier: modifying the Eminarian communicators by gluing on a bit of filigree, or modifying them by cutting rather elaborate holes in all the lids?

Well….let’s go this way…..what would have been easier based on the low Desilu budgets for each episode and cheaper to do machining metal wise, for creating the TOS communicator ….having a solid one piece antenna/cover without multi hole perforations (essentially multi cutouts) or ….with perforations?

 

[FANATICO]

I'm guessing the needed one would have a colour temperature above 4000k. The ones in that image would be more yellow. Here is an example of colour temp. The higher the temp the whiter it is. Past a certain point they start to take on a blue tint.

Agreed…..to narrow by my eyes….4K to 6K

Determining electrical characteristics is key…..voltage, amperage etc. that’s driving the 3 LEDs portion of that circuit.

 

[Technoboots]

Agreed…..to narrow by my eyes….4K to 6K

Determining electrical characteristics is key…..voltage, amperage etc.

Personally I'd chose a neutral white at 4500k rather than a cool white. Cool white always seems too bright to me due to the blue tint. Neutral would be more like the colour of paper.

 

[FANATICO]

Personally I'd chose a neutral white at 4500k rather than a cool white. Cool white always seems too bright to me due to the blue tint. Neutral would be more like the colour of paper.

I’d go with the same……I think you can find natural white in LED’s if warm white is already known to be available. LEDs can be a pallet of colors…especially when your using RGB LEDs.