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

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Star Trek Original Series Communicator at the Science Fiction Museum in Seattle

Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, is a well known collector of Star Trek and science fiction memorabilia. His private asset management company, of which he is the founder and chairman, is called Vulcan, Inc. Many of Mr. Allen's most celebrated TOS collectibles, including the original Captain's Chair used on the Bridge set of the Enterprise for all three seasons of production, are on display at the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle, Washington.

Below are some images of his TOS communicator hand prop; which is the only Original Series communicator currently on display in a public venue.  This communicator was designed and constructed by the artist and special effects master Wah Ming Chang, and is perhaps best seen in the memorable 1st Season episode "This Side of Paradise" (first airdate: Mar. 2, 1967).   The communicator was part of the collection of Original Series Set Decorator John Dwyer for over 30 years before it was acquired by Paul Allen in the December, 2001 Profiles In History Matt Jefferies Star Trek Auction for a high bid of $37,500.

And now, some modern era photos of this rare TOS hand prop, which foretold the creation of today's common place cell phone ...

















Below are some vintage images of the communicator taken several decades ago while it was in the custody of Mr. Dwyer.  Prior to the Profiles In History auction in 2001, it did possess a red crystal in its middle indicator light position.  This component unfortunately went missing sometime later; not an unusual occurrence for these tiny jewels.  The Dwyer prop is seen alongside a second TOS communicator in the following two photos ...




Below is a screen capture from "This Side of Paradise" which features this communicator ...


And the following image shows the final bid realized for the prop on auction day - December 12, 2001 ...


Below are a few pictures of an Original Series communicator that is part of the collection of the renowned Star Trek TOS expert Greg Jein.  Mr. Jein, a celebrated model maker, is also the creator of the 4 foot filming miniature of the Enterprise-D built at the start of the 3rd season for Star Trek: TNG ...




This communicator was carefully restored by Greg Jein so that it would once again appear as it did in the late '60s during the filming of TOS on the Desilu soundstages.  In addition to some cleaning, the circular moire display was repaired and a missing control knob was replaced.  Below is an image that shows the condition of this prop prior to its restoration ...