Tom Baker Sonic Screwdriver SHOCKING EVIDENCE!

[Zander]

I remain a skeptic but your enthusiasm has me curious.

I hope you have indeed found it, so we can kill this thread once and for all! :lol

agreed

 

[mez7]

Why not just post the make/model/year so some of us and try to see for ourselfs?

then everyone can go out and try to find them,

making many buyers for an item, where before the market wasnt really there,

people catch on, raise prices, they become harder to find...ect.....as with every part to every lightsaber...

 

[Rylo]

**** me. Is it too late to take back all that Yankee drill nonsense?

The rantings of a madman. Too much sun.

-Rylo

 

[Deech]

Well. I'm excited. Waiting moderately patiently for pictures.
:love

 

[Clutch]

I keep waiting to be shocked.

 

[Straker]

As near as I can tell this information is not widely known but a buddy of mine and I have known this for sometime and I finally thought I would share it here in hopes of getting help identifying other parts of the device but we have got the body for sure.

Here are a few pics of screengrabs and fan mades -

and the found object is a Chiropractic Activator -

There are different models but you can now see why the grooves are where they are and the tilted end of the hilt makes sense - it's where the pressure bar was. The main body is all there - you just need to get the right year for the one they used (grabbed from the set of Thunderbirds). I know with this info out we can get some accurate measurements and perhaps even have a "true parts" version someday.

Hope this info helps all you WHOlagins

HOLY CRAP! You used one of my photos! Third one down! I'm all like, famous now! XDDDD

 

[Jack T Chance]

So, where is the photographic proof we were promised, oh, say, 3 months ago, hmm? :confused

I understand the concern about the "Real McCoy" becoming even MORE scarce once people know what it is. Star Wars fans faced the same problem with the Graflex and other flash guns that were used to make lightsaber props for the Original Trilogy. But if the real, found object has, indeed, been FOUND, the information to be gained from that is absolutely CRUCIAL for us to know about on this forum. Once that info is available, it means that the best prop replicas available today can be refined and improved to be even more accurate.

BTW, something I've been thinking for a long time is that I recognize the black "greebly" that was added onto the sonic's emitter when it was revised into its "4th Doctor" version. If I'm correct, it's a part that no one ever gets right... IF I'm correct. Will post photos soon of what I think it was (if I still have one around the house) and you all can decide whether I'm right or not.

 

[Straker]

So, where is the photographic proof we were promised, oh, say, 3 months ago, hmm? :confused

I understand the concern about the "Real McCoy" becoming even MORE scarce once people know what it is. Star Wars fans faced the same problem with the Graflex and other flash guns that were used to make lightsaber props for the Original Trilogy. But if the real, found object has, indeed, been FOUND, the information to be gained from that is absolutely CRUCIAL for us to know about on this forum. Once that info is available, it means that the best prop replicas available today can be refined and improved to be even more accurate.

BTW, something I've been thinking for a long time is that I recognize the black "greebly" that was added onto the sonic's emitter when it was revised into its "4th Doctor" version. If I'm correct, it's a part that no one ever gets right... IF I'm correct. Will post photos soon of what I think it was (if I still have one around the house) and you all can decide whether I'm right or not.

I'm curious as well. I'm rather tempted to buy one of the adjusters and make it into a make shift sonic screwdriver for the hell of it anyway.

 

[Jack T Chance]

I keep forgetting to take pics of my found object, but I promise, they're coming soonish.

In fact, I'll tell you what: I'll post the pics of my found object WHEN THE ORIGINAL POSTER FINALLY GIVES US THE INFO THEY PROMISED US MONTHS AGO!!! :rolleyes

In other words, we're all still waiting for an update, dude. WTF, Chuck? :confused

 

[Asp9mm]

I keep forgetting to take pics of my found object, but I promise, they're coming soonish.

In fact, I'll tell you what: I'll post the pics of my found object WHEN THE ORIGINAL POSTER FINALLY GIVES US THE INFO THEY PROMISED US MONTHS AGO!!! :rolleyes

In other words, we're all still waiting for an update, dude. WTF, Chuck? :confused

I've seen similar things on the limpets on safes. In fact two years ago I fitted one of these limpet magnets to my TLP sonic that was nicked from display at the library I loaned it to :angry

Although it looks pretty good from the visual evidence available, that it IS a chiropractic activator, I doubt we will get an update on this thread from the OP. I have seen very very similar CAs listed on ebay for + £300.

 

[Jack T Chance]

I'm going to take pictures of my found item at some point today or tomorrow and post them. I now also have one of the Sonic Screwdrivers made by Russ AKA RB Replicas, so I'll be photographing the 2 side-by-side. Turns out that the found item I have is only similar to what I think was used on the sonic screwdriver, the size is off, but other than that, I'm dead certain that a similar model is what would have been used, for reasons I'll explain when I post the photos. :cool

Now then... Jet Beetle, what's the hold-up? Am I going to have to contact manofsteel25 and ask him to fill us in on this info, since you've been so quiet? :confused

I understand that you have a lot of "real life" stuff going on, but so do the rest of us. And yet, most of us still find the time to come to the board at least occasionally and post. We're all waiting on the edge of our seats for you to reveal the info that people have been wanting for 30-40 years, namely just what the heck that prop was made out of! You've had about 4 months since your last post to "secure some for yourselves", that should have been plenty of time, now that you know what the item is.

 

[Jack T Chance]

Pictures of suspected emitter greebly!

Alright, I am back with pictures to support my theory on what I suspect the black emitter greebly to be!

First, let's look at the best screen capture that's been posted in this thread (even though it's not very good.) Pay special attention to the unique crescent shape of the silver (unpainted) areas of the item in question:

Now then, here are 2 magnets that my parents have been using around their house for as long as I can remember. My dad thinks they're at least 20 years old, but possibly older. I'm 37, and my parents have had them for as far back as I can remember, meaning they must be from the early to mid '70s, at least. He brought them home with him from where he used to work, so unfortunately, I don't know who the manufacturer was, or where they were sold, or even how long they had been at his workplace before he brought them home. But notice the shape:

Compare that to the screen capture above, and you'll immediately notice the resemblance!

The red color is wrong, obviously. But the bigger issue with the magnets I've photographed is the size... they're simply too big. Here they are with the emitter of one of the sonics made by Russ (RB Replicas):

See what I mean? But most magnet manufacturers make magnets in a variety of sizes, and may even vary the color. So the same manufacturer may very well have made a smaller magnet in a black color that found its way onto the sonic as a greebly!

The red color is something that I don't know exactly what the process is that was used. It has an unusual texture to it, so it doesn't seem like normal paint... maybe some sort of textured enamel? :confused

And lastly, another compelling piece of evidence on the sonic itself is that you can clearly see the exposed metal on the crescent shaped "tips". Why is this important? Well, from handling these magnets, I can tell you that the red coloring seemed to DECREASE the magnetism. It seemed like it interfered with it somehow. The magnetism is MUCH stronger on those exposed crescent shaped areas. If you put that side of the magnet against something, then flip it around and put a different side against the object, you immediately notice the difference in magnetic "pull".

EDIT: Thanks to C.T., I now know that the magnetism is strongest at the 2 tips because these magnets are just a variation on a horseshoe magnet. It has nothing to do with the paint/enamel/whatever. I should have realized that on my own.

From a prop design standpoint, there's no reason for those tips to be bare metal while the rest of the piece is black. But if they used a found magnet in AS-IS condition, just grabbed it and ran a screw through the center hole to attach it to the prop, suddenly, it makes perfect sense why it looks the way it does!

So, that's my theory on what that greebly is... err, was, I mean. Thoughts? Comments?

 

[greatwazoo42]

Re: Pictures of suspected emitter greebly!

Wasn't there a scene in Android Invasion where the Doctor pulls up big rivets or bolts from the floor using the "magnet side" of the sonic's head? The easy way to do that trick would be a magnet in the prop.

 

[Jack T Chance]

Re: Pictures of suspected emitter greebly!

Wasn't there a scene in Android Invasion where the Doctor pulls up big rivets or bolts from the floor using the "magnet side" of the sonic's head? The easy way to do that trick would be a magnet in the prop.

It's been so long since I've seen that story, that I can't remember. So... maybe! And if that's the case, that just adds more evidence to my theory.

I'm positive I've got the right SHAPE of magnet, just not the right size and color. But now that we have that information as a starting point, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before some RPF member from the UK figures out EXACTLY which magnet(s) got used for the prop! :thumbsup

 

[Jet Beetle]

Re: Pictures of suspected emitter greebly!

Bob and I are still working on getting three of the chiro tools. The last batch was useless - same model but bend and busted beyond repair. We have more people who have these and we are trying to close a deal with one of them to aquire the exact match.

great job on the magnet!!! Fantastic find

 

[Jack T Chance]

Re: Pictures of suspected emitter greebly!

Bob and I are still working on getting three of the chiro tools. The last batch was useless - same model but bend and busted beyond repair. We have more people who have these and we are trying to close a deal with one of them to aquire the exact match.

Thanks for the update, JB. Please, keep us posted.

great job on the magnet!!! Fantastic find

Thanks, but it was really just dumb luck! :lol

But then again... when it comes to props and models that used found items, sometimes it is just plain ol' dumb luck that results in a piece getting a positive ID!

EDIT: Just realized that I forgot to reply to this post:

I've seen similar things on the limpets on safes. In fact two years ago I fitted one of these limpet magnets to my TLP sonic that was nicked from display at the library I loaned it to

Although it looks pretty good from the visual evidence available, that it IS a chiropractic activator, I doubt we will get an update on this thread from the OP. I have seen very very similar CAs listed on ebay for + £300.

Someone nicked it? What a douchebag!!! :angry

But good job on finding a similar magnet. Sounds like you beat me to that ID by a couple years! :thumbsup

Did you by any chance take any pics of your TLP sonic with that magnet on it before it got nicked? :confused

 

[Asp9mm]

Re: Pictures of suspected emitter greebly!

I did take pictures, but they are lost in the depths of another laptop. Those magnets are definately the magnet on a safe limpet. I suppose they have other uses too, but it is on these that you still see them regularly. I am now 100% certain that this is what is on the emitter back. If he does actually use them as a magnet in the series too, then that confirms it.

The halo and three pins that hold the emitter I am certain are from the weighted balance arm of an old record player. A collector of old record players has told me BSR used to manufacture it and it came silver as standard. It's hard to get a picture of the thing as he is the father of an ex-girlfriend. the two top pins were fixed and the adjustment up and down the arm was via the third pin (bottom one on the sonic) that had a knurled fingergrip.

This info finally coming together is getting me excited. Unfortunately, to get these parts might mean a second mortgage.

 

[Jack T Chance]

Re: Pictures of suspected emitter greebly!

I did take pictures, but they are lost in the depths of another laptop. Those magnets are definately the magnet on a safe limpet. I suppose they have other uses too, but it is on these that you still see them regularly. I am now 100% certain that this is what is on the emitter back. If he does actually use them as a magnet in the series too, then that confirms it.

The halo and three pins that hold the emitter I am certain are from the weighted balance arm of an old record player. A collector of old record players has told me BSR used to manufacture it and it came silver as standard. It's hard to get a picture of the thing as he is the father of an ex-girlfriend. the two top pins were fixed and the adjustment up and down the arm was via the third pin (bottom one on the sonic) that had a knurled fingergrip.

This info finally coming together is getting me excited. Unfortunately, to get these parts might mean a second mortgage.

:lol

Too true! :unsure

But I'm excited because if the actual parts can finally be positively, definitively identified, then someone that specializes in making replicas of the sonic screwdriver can spend the money to acquire original parts, so he can then accurately replicate them to make his sonics even BETTER! (Yes, I'm thinking of a certain business that goes by the initials TLP! )

I don't need to own a sonic screwdriver made with the ORIGINAL, vintage found items. I'd be perfectly happy with a replica made as exact to the real thing as possible. Just like if I wanted Luke's lightsaber from ANH, I don't need to shell out the cash for a real Graflex. There are saber makers out there that have acquired genuine Graflex flash guns, and then produced Graflex replicas that look virtually identical to the "Real McCoy", and that's good enough for me! The same would be true with the sonic screwdriver!

 

[C.T.]

Good morning gentlemen, at last I finally had the chance to enter and participate in this little corner of the interweb.

Firstly, allow me to categorically state, the Classic Sonic is NOT a chiropractic activator.

How do I know this? It was confirmed by no less of a source than Ian Scoones, art director on Thunderbirds. It was a made item specifically for that one famous sceen.

The other reason I know it is not an activator is that Dr Arlan Fuhr, the inventor of the Activator, and also one of the professors at the AECC who teaches Activator methods also both confirmed it.

The notion that the sonic was a 1967 activator is ludicrous and basic research will show that the dates cannot tally. The original Activator was invented by Dr Fuhr in the US during the sixties. It was not commercially available until the mid-seventies. It is impossible that it could have been bought in the late sixties as a hand prop.

Some excerpts from the emails I received:

(From the Professor at the AECC):

"What can I tell you about the Activator? Well, it was, and still is, a therapeutic tool, a hand-held device intended to deliver a controlled and reproducible force. It was developed by Warren Lee and Arlan Fuhr in the 1960s for chiropractic use. It looks like the Activator in the picture ‘chiropractic-activator’ is a second generation model (Activator II). It just so happens that I have one sitting on the desk in front of me now. I understand that the idea for the original Activator came from a surgical mallet designed to split impacted wisdom teeth. The Activator is widely used by chiropractors today, and a number of variations on the theme exist. "

"As far as I understand it, Activator II did not exist commercially until 1994, and the first Activator did not become available commercially until the mid-1970s. These dates are too late for the Thunderbirds prop. To the best of my knowledge, Lee and Fuhr’s Activator was developed in the United States in the 1960s, and not in Britain. "


Dr Arlan Fuhr also stated the following when shown a pic of the Thunderbird prop:

"I do not believe it is a modified 1967 Activator. It look like a screwdriver not a center punch."

You would think that from the inventor of the device he would instantly recognise it if it was the same device?

I am 110% positive that Jet Beetle is living in cloud cuckoo land if he thinks he has identified the device he has said the classic sonic is based on. It is impossible.

 

[phez]

Re: Pictures of suspected emitter greebly!

Wasn't there a scene in Android Invasion where the Doctor pulls up big rivets or bolts from the floor using the "magnet side" of the sonic's head? The easy way to do that trick would be a magnet in the prop.

That is what I was thinking, I remember a close up of a screw turning out and sticking to the tip (I thought it was from the "Ark in Space" but could be wrong). It makes total senses that there would be a magnet there.