Special PhotoStudy: Star Trek The Original Series Leatherette Tricorder

This article shall present some closeup photos of an Original Series Leatherette Tricorder hand prop that is part of the authors collection. It's right angle door pulls identify it as being of second or third season origin. The photograph which immediately follows was taken in the home of Star Trek Original Series Set Decorator John Dwyer, who indicated that both Tricorders seen in the picture are authentic TOS hand props. The Leatherette Tricorder is shown on the right side; at left is a Fiberglass Tricorder which is now part of the Paul Allen Family Collection, on display at the Museum of Science Fiction in Seattle ...

Readers are referred to an earlier article on this blog site for a fairly comprehensive photo archive illustrating the major differences in appearance and materials found on authentic Original Series Tricorders, entitled "Design Features of Screen Used TOS Tricorders", and viewable at: http://startrekpropauthority.blogspot.com/2008/04/design-features-of-screen-used-tos.html

And now, some pictures of the construction details of this Leatherette model:

Some interior views ...

The following closeup photo of the "haircell" pattern on the vacuuformed plastic of the Leatherette is actually an enlarged portion of the above photograph; taken from the upper left side where the hood assembly is joined to the metal frame. The view below has been rotated 90 degrees clockwise for easy comparison to the 1966 haircell and modern-day reference photos seen afterwards. The light reflection from the camera flash has illuminated the haircell pattern very well at this location on the Leatherette. The vacuuform pattern is clearly seen to match the 1966 reference pattern ...

In the 3rd season TOS episode "Spock's Brain" (first airdate: Sep. 20, 1968), Scotty is seen carrying a tricorder with a silver metal plate clearly visible at bottom - a feature shared by this Leatherette Tricorder and quite different from the standard black bottom surface usually seen on these props ...

Readers interested in TOS Tricorders are also referred to the following Tricorder Measurements Study on this blog site, viewable at: http://startrekpropauthority.blogspot.com/2008/04/tos-tricorder-measurements-study.html