Present-Day Devices as Props

by Bernd Schneider and Jörg Hillebrand

Toys and Game ConsolesOther Electronic DevicesContainersOther Items

 

Every Star Trek production requires a large number of props to act as technical devices of Starfleet or of aliens. There are custom designs for standard phasers, tricorders or communicators. But in most cases there is a need for additional props that either serve a specific purpose in the story or are used as generic futuristic decoration. Several of them are actually slightly modified items of the 20th/21st century. In particular, game consoles have been used repeatedly for handheld scanners.

 

Toys and Game Consoles

Space Marines Evac Fighter

In Picard's Nexus vision in "Star Trek Generations", Matthew's Christmas gift is actually a Space Marines EVAC Fighter from the "Aliens" action figure line by Kenner (1992). It features firing "Alienator missiles" and a transparent "Alien capture pod" at its aft end. Nothing has been done to disguise the toy's true origin or to make it look like a Trek vessel.

Remco crossbow and arrow set

The weapon that appeared in many Star Trek episodes and most notably as the Jem'Hadar rifle was originally a Remco crossbow toy, produced in apparently several different colors around 1990. The first version of the weapon in Star Trek (as a Hunter weapon in DS9: "Captive Pursuit") still had the bow part in the form of two spikes on the barrel. This part was largely removed on later versions of the weapon.

Robotech Invid Shock Trooper

The Robotech Invid Shock Trooper was turned into Quark's pistol in two DS9 episodes and even appeared in ENT: "Acquisition" (though we should expect Ferengi technology to progress in 220 years). One shoulder cannon of the toy was made into the barrel, a leg became the handle of the Trek weapon. A variant of the prop only uses the cannon, without the disk-shaped handle.

Tandy Astro Thunder

The game console Astro Thunder from Tandy (1986) appears as a comm console in TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint". The same prop appears once again several years later, this time as a door control console on the "Polaric Power Planet" in VOY: "Time and Again".

Bandai game pyramid

A 380-year-old game pyramid, the Pair Match game manufactured by Bandai, frequently shows up in Ten Forward, like in "The Outrageous Okona" and "Ensign Ro". In TNG: "Ethics" we can see how Alexander Rozhenko plays with it, insinuating that in his time the pyramid still serves the same purpose as in the 20th century.

Diaper Dancer

The device that Lt. Ducane uses to hide Seven's implant in VOY: "Relativity" was made from a baby-themed Tamagotchi "Diaper Dancer" by C Games & Trendmasters.

Excalibur Space Invaders

We can see an Excalibur Space Invaders console as a scanner in ENT: "Vox Sola".

Hasbro MAGS

The Hasbro Music Activated Game System (MAGS) appears in two episodes: as the Vulcan bomb in ENT: "The Forge" and as a medical scanner in ENT: "Terra Prime", both times with additional LEDs.

 

Other Electronic Devices

20th century PCBs and wires

23rd century electronic (or rather duotronic) circuits in TOS often look quite familiar because they consist of printed circuit boards or test boards along with discrete components like resistors, capacitors, coils, transistors and relays as they existed in the 1960's.

We can see Enterprise shipboard circuitry in a couple of episodes, most notably behind a grating underneath the bridge consoles.

Old-style circuitry is also used in a power control unit in a corridor and inside the communicators, which can be seen opened in TOS: "Patterns of Force".

Even advanced androids rely on 20th century components, as can be seen in "What are Little Girls Made of?" and "Return to Tomorrow".

All of the old circuitry remained the same when TOS was remastered between 2006 and 2008. There is only one exception. In TOS-R: "I, Mudd" the effect of opening Norman's stomach lid as well as the circuitry were revised to look futuristic.

Low-tech behind panels

In "Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country" we can glimpse pencil markings on the inside of an access panel. Also, the technology inside looks like directly taken from late 20th century computers.

Computer keyboard

In TNG: "Peak Performance" we can see an access panel made of a 20th century QWERTY keyboard that is mounted upright.

Ancient things that make the Pakled go

We know that the Pakled steal equipment from various civilizations and that they do not really know how to get everything working. Maybe it is the simplicity of the device that makes an audio switchboard or a radio beacon (EPIRB) from Earth's mid-20th century useful to them.

Floppy disk drive covers

As already mentioned, Alexander likes to play with a 380-year-old game pyramid. He seems to have an odd predilection for Earth's late 20th century, considering that in TNG: "A Fistful of Datas" we can see him with the front covers of 5.25-inch floppy drives. The Borg, however, are fans of this ancient technology as well.

Drum machine

A 20th century drum machine of the type Oberheim DMX was incorporated into the helm console in "Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country".

Dental x-ray machine

A dental x-ray machine of the type GE Panelipse from the 1970's can be seen in the Enterprise-D medical lab in TNG: "Transfigurations".

Convection oven

In Soong's lab in TNG: "Brothers" we can see a metallic box with rounded edges. This is a convection oven from the 1970's, most likely originally designed by Dieter Rams for Braun. The particular device seen in the episode was probably sold by Maxim Electric and was also available in stainless steel besides the more common white variant. The two huge orange knobs are used to set temperature and time.

Bread machine

Jörg said he'd be damned if the stasis container for Odo seen in DS9: "Children of Time" didn't begin its life as a bread machine. After a bit of Googling I could finally confirm that. I only hope that they didn't heat it up while Odo was inside. ;-)

Desktop power manager

The base of the Voyager standard desktop monitor was built from an APC POW6 desktop power manager, "the ultimate in power control and cord management plus guaranteed surge suppression for life".

Medical equipment

Real-life medical electronic devices can be found in Dr. Phlox's sickbay. So far we could identify a pulse oximeter and an infusion pump. Both were modified by adding a few dummy buttons.

Flatbed scanner

In ENT: "Stigma" we can see a Vulcan scanner prop which really is a present-day (flatbed) scanner. Someone said they are very advanced?

Night vision device

The Klingon leader in ENT: "Marauders" carries binoculars made from an old Soviet night vision device (PNV-57E), repainted and with the helmet mount and battery pack removed.

Portable speaker

The Andorian communicator that Shran uses in ENT: "Proving Ground" and Ambassador Thoris in ENT: "Terra Prime" was built from an Olympia SB002 SoundBug Portable Sound System, a small loudspeaker that could be attacked to a flat resonant surface.

Subwoofer

The Aenar appear to be fond of clear plastic devices. One of them is a Harman Kardon Soundsticks subwoofer. They probably love to rock their underground city at times.

Wind turbine

In PIC; "Remembrance", "Absolute Candor", "The Star Gazer" and "The Next Generation", we can see rotating structures that are commercially available "Happybuy Wind Turbines".

3D printers

A replicator at Utopia Planitia in PIC: "Maps and Legends" was (quite fittingly) built from a FlashForge Dreamer 3D printer.

Another 3D printer as a replicator can be seen in the sickbay of La Sirena. It is used by Jurati in "Nepenthe". This one is a Monoprice MP Voxel.

Smartphone

Smartphones are the precursors of tricorders in many ways. In Picard season 2, we can see Raffi and Seven use a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip to scan the city for alien signals.

Lamps

Here are just three examples of the numerous commercially available lamps that appeared in Star Trek. The probably most notable lamp types consist of small white tubes and were designed by the Canadian company Rougier around 1970. There are four variations with different shapes.

The lamp "Jazz", designed by Porsche for Italiana Luce in 1989, is the probably most common desktop lamp of the galaxy and can be seen at least seven times in Star Trek.

A third interesting lamp, the PS 2014 as it appeared on Star Trek: Picard, is available at IKEA.

A different kind of lamp, a rechargeable LED work light of the type EP360, appears in Ensign Foster's quarters in PIC: "No Win Scenario".

 

Containers

Boby taboret

In the Regula I station in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" as well as in the sickbay of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D we can see a tool cart with three levels and three casters that is a redecorated Boby taboret, originally designed by Joe Colombo. It appears in other sci-fi as well, such as in Space: 1999 and in "Oblivion".

The Boby taboret even shows up in the sickbay of the USS Discovery.

Bin utility cart

In ENT: "Acquisition", we can see an Earth tool cart, complete with Starfleet labels. The Ferengi bring their own tool cart, which is the same prop, only painted green. The cart is commercially available as "Bin Utility Cart".

Plastic boxes

In TNG: "The Big Goodbye", we can see a crew member walking by with a white case. Only the HD version allows to identify it as a Fisher Price Construx box, as indicated by the embossed letters on the side.

The container for the alien parasites in TNG: "Conspiracy" is a Class Act Stuff-It binder from the 1980's.

Geordi's toolbox is seen for the first time in TNG: "Samaritan Snare". In real life, it is an audio cassette case.

Similarly, the phaser locker in DS9: "Hard Time" tries hard to conceal its banal origin in the 20th century, as "Action Packer" box by Rubbermaid (look at the reversed letters in the lid).

Composters

The EPS regulators on DS9 appear in about a dozen other episodes, most often as freight containers. It is actually a composter named "Bio Orb".

The self-replicating mine from DS9: "A Call to Arms" shows up in at least eight more episodes, each time as cargo containers. This prop too is actually a composter.

Sonobuoys

Cylinders with an octagonal cross-section could be seem in many episodes of Star Trek, most notably as Starfleet sample containers and transporter test cylinders. Overall, these devices appeared in at least 40 episodes or movies! The prop was made from containers for sonobuoys of the U.S. Navy. A separate article shows all appearances of these containers: Re-Uses of Sonobuoy Containers.

LOX bottle

We can see the same type of a small spherical container in very different times, locations and functions. In real life this device is called a LOX (liquid oxygen) bottle or LOX converter, as it is used especially in older military aircraft.

Industrial containers

Various containers that are used in the pharmaceutical industry appear in Star Trek episodes, especially in the cargo bay of the Enterprise-D. The yellow "overpack" has a screw top and is used to store spill containment supplies. There are also two kinds of blue plastic drums, one with a black top and one with two bungs on the top. A smaller 15 gal gray plastic drum can be seen as well.

Seed container

The "punishment box" in DS9: "Paradise" is actually a bulk box that can be used to store various equipment, or as a waste paper container. Very similar boxes are used on farms as seed containers. It seems that a bottom part was flipped and used instead of a regular lid. The box was most likely dark gray and was painted silver for the episode.

Bird feeder

Art coordinator Penny Juday mentioned in an interview that the tubes the Borg install on the Enterprise-E deflector dish in "Star Trek: First Contact" were built from bird feeders. The tubes reappear as Vaadwaur devices in VOY: "Dragon's Teeth" and on Voyager in VOY: "Nightingale".

Pet food container

In ENT: "The Catwalk" we can see a container that, in real life, was designed to keep pet food fresh and may serve just the same purpose on Enterprise. Porthos surely knows where his treats are stored.

Freezer spacer

Freezer spacers are used in walk-in freezers to allow air flow between the perishable goods and hence improve the cooling effect. A particular type with a square lattice structure frequently appears in Star Trek since TNG, mostly as ceiling, wall and floor elements but also in other uses. Read everything about this very common set decoration in a separate article: Re-Uses of Freezer Spacers.

 

Other Items

Ground skimmer

The components holding the famous "blinking tubes" are two ground skimmers (for use in swimming pools). The depiction shows a similar model. Ground skimmers were also used for consoles that can be seen in "Star Trek II", as well as for standalone devices.

Desoldering pump

A device that can be seen on Picard's desk in TNG: "Coming of Age" is a 20th century desoldering pump, immediately familiar to anyone who has to do with electronics. Propworx calls the prop a "medical injector".

Knives

The dermal regenerator in VOY: "Revulsion" must be handled with special care, otherwise it could accomplish just the opposite of a healing effect. The prop is almost definitely a twin-bladed asparagus peeler.

Joseph Sisko's knife from DS9: "Homefront" is actually from a late 20th century "Cooks Club" knife set.

In "Star Trek Nemesis", both Shinzon and the Reman Viceroy can be seen fighting with knives of the model UC1169 Jackal that were produced by Kit Rae in 1999. The knife that Shinzon uses earlier in the movie to provide a blood sample for DNA analysis, on the other hand, is of a similar yet different type (and is probably just a prop knife). Many years later, the Kit Rae weapon reappears when Vadic cuts off her hand in PIC: "No Win Scenario". The same knife was also seen in the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, here used by Faith Lehane.

Jadzia's knife in DS9: "Shattered Mirror" is a reproduction of the Raptor knife from Mortal Kombat, produced by United Cutlery.

 

See Also

Commercially Available Chairs in Star Trek - off-the-shelf office chairs, lounge chairs or car seats on screen

Commercially Available Lighting in Star Trek - off-the-shelf lamps and light fixtures on screen

Re-Used Props - Furniture - Lamps - several real-life lamps that appeared in episodes

Re-Uses of Sonobuoy Containers - U.S. Navy containers in more than 40 episodes and movies

Re-Uses of Freezer Spacers - Trek's universal ceiling/wall/floor elements and their origin

Prop and Set Oddities - inconsistent and otherwise unfitting props and sets

Visual Bloopers - funny mishaps and editing mistakes

Visual In-Jokes - deliberate in-jokes on displays and props

 

Credits

Some screen caps from TrekCore and Trekmovie.com. The information about the knife in "Nemesis" comes from the Kit Rae website. The Dyson Airblade was discovered by Marçal, the subwoofer by Twitter user @MissHrisoula, the Soundbug and the "Diaper Dancer" by AJ Halliwell, the Logitech Saitek flight controller by Marcus G. Kulp, the crossbow by Nathan Prosper, the Boby taboret by Craig R, the sonobuoy by Josh Wilder, the power manager by Mo (see also Trekprops.de), two medical devices by Twitter user @Christopher_CSS, the drum machine by @Painfilter and Matrixsynth, the binoculars by Alexej Segeda, the Construx box by Twitter user @mrtwirth, the Stuff-It binder by Twitter user @ArtofNP and Dan Hanna, Geordi's toolbox by Twitter user @Amuns_Ra, the food container by alakani, the convection oven by @ParallelRiker and @vsellen, the ground skimmer by @WebKarls, the Mortal Kombat knife by Lt. Mark and the various plastic drums by Steve Aichele. Thanks to satre and Lee for their contributions!

 

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