Welcome! As part of its ongoing mission to document the Art and Production History of Star Trek, this site will present technical articles on Star Trek prop and costume authentication - focusing on The Original Series - with detailed photos and episode screenshots to complement the information presented; as well as feature pictorials to showcase Star Trek memorabilia in private & public collections, present rare Behind The Scenes TOS imagery & discuss other topics.
Gerald Gurian is a 40+ year collector of screen used Star Trek memorabilia and a passionate fan of TOS
     
- Star Trek TOS At Auction Part I - Gurian Collection Highlights - Greg Jein TOS Hero Type II Phaser
-Authenticating a TOS Communicator -6 Myths About Star Trek Prop Design -Star Trek 3rd Season Command Tunic
- Design Features of TOS Tricorders -Star Trek Props At National Air & Space - TOS Leatherette Tricorder
- TOS Federation Sciences Dress -Desilu Studio TOS Prop Fabrication - Unreleased Allen/Gurian Prop Photos
- The Beautiful Women of TOS Part I -TOS U.S.S. Enterprise 11' Filming Model - Captain Kirk's Chair from TOS
- Spock Ears -TOS Control Panels & Displays - Mr. Spock's Science Station
- TOS Soundstage at Desilu -TOS Shatner Romulan Pants - The Beautiful Women of TOS Pt. II
- TOS Galileo Shuttlecraft -Greg Jein TOS Cage Laser Pistol - TOS 3rd Season Midgrade Type II Phaser
- Dr. McCoy's Sickbay on TOS -TOS Balok Puppet Head - Captain Kirk "Mirror, Mirror" Tunic
- Greg Jein TOS Hero Tricorder -1992 Smithsonian TOS Cast Video - TOS 1st Season Command Tunic
- TOS "Where No Man" Silver Contact Lenses -TOS Special Effects: The Transporter - The Art of Matt Jefferies
- TOS "Space Seed" Gold Mesh Jumpsuit -Gorn Costume from "Arena" - Rare TOS Behind-the-Scenes Videos
- TOS Stunt Type II Phaser -1993 Bill Theiss Estate Auction - TOS Shatner Command Dress Tunic
- TOS Elasian Royal Guard Tunic -TOS Finnegan Silver "Shore Leave" Tunic - TOS Science Officer Tunic "The Cage"
- TOS Shatner Early 1st Season Command Tunic -William Shatner TOS Tunics At Auction - TOS Shatner Late 1st Season Command Tunic

Friday, May 30, 2008

Star Trek: The Original Series Control Panels & Displays

The Profiles In History Bob Justman Star Trek Auction in June, 2002 was the only large public offering of Star Trek TOS screen used control panels and the first opportunity for many collectors to gain insights on their construction details. All of the control panel lots at auction came from the estate of an individual who was contacted by a friend at Paramount in 1969 at the time that the Original Series sets were being dismantled and destroyed; and he was literally given the opportunity to take any items of interest before they were thrown out. In addition to the many control panels that he salvaged; this gentleman saved-from-destruction and was the long-time owner of Captain Kirk's Command Chair - now on display at the Science Fiction Museum in Seattle.

The control panel props used on TOS were more sophisticated than simple multicolor resin circular and square buttons glued to black plexiglass. Many of these resin buttons had inset lights or were illuminated from underneath (with elaborate wiring harnesses and other circuitry to randomly flash different bulbs) to create the illusion of a functioning Starship computer interface. In addition to the resin components, real aircraft switches and lights also adorned the U.S.S. Enterprise control panels - a result of Art Director Matt Jefferies background and industry contacts as an accomplished aviator.

The detailed writeups contained in several of the Profiles auction listings from 2002, which are illustrated below, provide excellent additional insights on panel construction and design issues; such as overheating - which was a primary concern of the technical crew.

And now, some photographs ...





















The U.S.S. Enterprise Transmitter Console from Lt. Uhura's Communications Station ...







The starships Self-Destruct console, part of the Science Officers station ...

Some lamps and internal wiring inside the TOS Captain's Chairs seat and armrest ...



A warp drive monitor panel from Scotty's Bridge Engineering station ...



Some selected TOS screenshots that provide excellent reference views of the ships control panels and displays ...

Occasionally, some panels would be especially reconfigured to facilitate the storyline of a particular episode, as is the case with the Captain's Chair armrest seen in "Court Martial"...













A closeup of the Ship's Chronometer on the Helm ...






A backlit Medical diagnostic panel ...



A mockup of Bridge control station circuitry ...


And now, a few photos of a modern-era Star Trek: Enterprise Bridge Console that is part of the author's collection. Note the use of a few miniature flourescent lights as opposed to the TOS-style design involving dozens of 25 watt bulbs ...