The Dominators Sonic Screwdriver

 

The Doctor, Jamie & Zoe in The Dominators.

Once again a blog I originally planned has been put on hold for a while, so apologies. This time around I've decided to revisit one of the 2nd Doctor's Sonic Screwdrivers, namely the one seen in The Dominators.

Now this is an ongoing bit of research of mine, that quite frankly has been proving to be very tricky. Not only have you got find the right penlight, but you've also got to try and work out what shape the gun holder is. However, I thought I'd share what my thoughts are on this prop and showcase a design that I have been collaborating on. But before I get ahead of myself,  let's break the prop down, starting with....

The Penlight.

The identity of this penlight is still a mystery. People have been squinting at very small and blurred images of what type of penlight this could be. Over the last few years the look has been sort of fixed via mixing a modern penlight with a tear drop clip from a fountain pen and various black caps. The hybrid designs are good looking enough, but are they correct? 

So far my research (and I have been on this since 2013) I have not found one single 1960's penlight that matches that look. The stumbling block seems to be the clip. It's catching people out... myself included. I have to confess at one point recently I did wonder whether this Sonic Screwdriver prop was made not from a penlight, but from an actual fountain pen, and all because of that damn clip!! In the end I decided to throw that idea out and start again. So,  the best thing to do was to examine the pictures and footage with fresh eyes. Looking at this again I can see it isn't a tear drop style clip at all. Like with the erroneous blue cap on The War Games Sonic, people are seeing what they want to see, or have been told to see. So, with my fresh eyes what I see is a kinked or rippled clip, similar to a kirby or hair grip, but with less ridges...or something similar. 

An example on the left to the type of clip that is on the prop flashlight

In the black and white photo above, the angle is suggesting a solid tear drop end on the clip, but it could also be a flat upturned end as in the colour photo.. At the top end near the black cap where the studio light catches the metal, there seems to be another ridge. However, this is not as peaked as the one on my penlight, but its certainly higher than the end of the clip.There are variations on this design of clip on quite a number of penlights, as it was a popular way to activated the light by simply pressing the clip down onto the barrel for a connection. Now, if we go with the possibility of this style of design, it opens the search up to what other type of penlight was around in the 1960's. It certainly gives us a better choice of contenders. But how now to narrow it down further? On closer examination I can see that there is a line midway under the clip, perhaps for the section that screws off to change the batteries, perhaps a different colour or metal? But there is faint a line there and not near the end of the clip more in the middle. So another pointer to look out for in the quest for the correct penlight. 

Now let's look at the bulb end to see if we can pick up more clues. First thing we can see is, unlike the Eveready penlight used in The War Games, the bulb does not protrude from the metal cylinder. Sticking with the metal cylinder, we can see that it looks straight, it does not taper like the Eveready and as for the thickness of the metal, well... it is rather thick. Like this...

So all good pointers to kick off a new search for us all out there. If there is someone clever enough to blow up the image of Pats hands to roughly life size, we would be able to get a better idea of the dimensions of the penlight used. This is the penlight I have that ticks some of the boxes as mentioned above. It also shows off the kink of the clip in detail.

A 1960s Medical pocket penlight manufactured by Keeler

Now, there is no way that I'm saying that this IS the penlight used in The Dominators, I am just opening up the search to show that this type of clip with its kink is a possible contender to the tear drop one currently used from a pen. Its difficult to make out for certain as the image we have all been basing it on is blurred and of course the studio lighting bouncing off the prop it is obscuring what is there and what we actually see. Its a problem very similar to the one of identifying The War Games Sonic clicker a few years back. I also found that taking photos at different angles can alter the look of the penlight clip too, even on the flashlight that I have. I have included examples of this in the photos below. By twisting the angles the clips kink becomes less pronounced and then almost straight. This is exaggerated more so when these photos are viewed in black and white.

As I said earlier, the search for what was actually used is tricky, especially when the angles and studio lighting distorts what was there and fools us into thinking we are seeing something else. This is the same when looking at the gun attachment for this version of the Sonic Screwdriver, which brings me nearly on to...

The Gun Attachment.

Some years ago there was an excellent design made for the gun attachment section by a team of fans (see picture right) which has over the years become the official 'go to' design for this Sonic Screwdriver variant. Now don't get me wrong, I do like this fan design, It's quite quirky and rather unique, but it has a couple of things that just don't really sit well with me and that is what I want to explore in this section. I will also reveal my own thoughts on what the gun attachment was originally and what I think the design actually could be and most importantly why.

First up, let's look at what happens on screen and compare it to the replica that has been made. At the start, we can see The Doctor produces the Sonic Screwdriver and attachment from his pocket and then assembles them... and that's the key. So here's the test that you can do before reading further. Grab your own prop replica if you have one, and assemble it. So, how did you attach your penlight to the replica gun section? Chances are you just pressed and clipped it on from the top. Now look closely at the screen and see what Troughton does. (also see photo below)

You will see That Troughton doesn't clip the penlight on at all, he looks almost down it and inserts the penlight into it. The only reason he would do that is because there isn't an open groove at the top, there is a barrel that he slips the penlight into. So, already we can the  design is at odds with what is happening on screen. This is why I'm inclined to discount that gap or cutaway section that goes all the way along the barrel of the fan design.

Now secondly let's look at the overall design. As I said it's a great design, but it's not really 1960's is it? But why is that? Because, 1) I don't think that that era has been taken into account when it was designed and 2) It's been solely based on one scene and the screen grab below and that didn't create the whole picture in that design. Let me explain...

Now while the fan design has interpreted what can been seen above, it's not taking into consideration what can been seen a few moments later in another scene and in this publicity photo below. Look at what is in Troughton's hand now, its a totally different shape for the attachment.

It is almost like a triangle, certainly not at all the same shape as in the earlier scene. This is where I think we can pick up the biggest clues of the overall shape of the attachment and it is that shape that has been niggling away at me for years. It's so familiar, but I just cant quite place it. Way back in 2013 I said the same on the Replica Prop Forum. It reminded me of a toy gun that was around when I was a kid back in the 1960's.  

https://www.therpf.com/forums/threads/second-doctors-sonic-screwdriver.89127/page-10

As for which toy gun, that is anyone's guess. Toy guns were 10 a penny back then and could be picked up at any high street shop. Pop guns, dart guns, potato guns, water guns. It was guntastic when I was a Kid. There were so many cheap guns around to choose from. Some were official TV tie ins, some not; Batman, Man From Uncle, Captain Scarlet A Woolworths knock-off... Whatever was used in The Dominators episode does ring a bell with me, but alas, it is now lost in the mists of time and in the back of my memory! Now if it was an off the shelf toy adapted for this prop, that would make a lot of sense as it would be cheap and easy to use just like the Eveready penlight was used for The War Games Sonic. I would venture to say that this was a bought item, adapted and not designed from scratch. In-fact when I was recently in communication with Micheal Bryant re the original prop intended to be used in Fury from The Deep, he said that they " always grabbed something to hand". This was common place in Doctor Who during the 60's. Not all props were scratched built. It was very different to designing props for the show today. So if this was a toy gun used (and that is only my speculation), what about the actual gun design? Again, we have been slightly squed on this because of the perceived fan design. People are ready to accept it because no one has come up with an alternative, it's become 'the official' design. And that why I am suggesting an alternative design by including the triangle shape we see in the publicity photo and screen grab.

Enter James Kieboom...

While I was compiling this blog entry, I was in communication with James on Instagram.  As we got chatting and I told him that this blog entry was in the planning stages. He was interested and revealed that he too could also see the triangle shape and showed me a rough design that he had worked on sometime back. So we started working together on a design to incorporate what we could both see. This included going back to my initial thoughts and to start to once again researching toy guns manufactured in the 1960's. There were various references out there on the internet. This is a small selection of what I found (including a rather nifty flashlight gun)...

A small selection of 1960's toy guns. Interesting the one bottom right is a flashlight gun.

There is a definite 60's look to these designs, of cours, because it reflects the era in which they were made,  especially if looking at 'Space Guns'. Interestingly, the triangle shape near the trigger in that Dominators scene can also be seen repeated, to various degree's, in a lot of the guns. Bingo! They backed up my hunch of this being a gun that I had seen when I was a kid way back in the 60's and also what James was seeing

.

But what about what can be seen in an earlier scene of The Dominators, ie the shape that the fan design is based on? Is that a that is a completely different prop? Well, to be honest, it would be strange if it was. I know continuity wasn't great back then but to change from one prop to another in a matter of moments would be very odd thing to do. But there's no denying it, it is different shape to the triangle. A puzzle... at 1st yes, but on further examination of the fan replica, the shape is more in-line with a gun handle. An example can be seen in the yellow gun handle below.

Note the curve, it is almost identical to what has been replicated in the fan build. So where and how does this tie in? Well, I believe, like Sylvester McCoy in the TV Movie, Troughton first held the prop the wrong way around. This means that what we are seeing in an earlier scene is actually the back end of the prop used ie the handle. If I am right, and this is only my theory, then it is this that has been reproduced erroneously in the replica as the front of the gun attachment. As for the shape that was then used for the back in this fan build replica, that may be a bit of artistic licence, or it could have been designed by mistaking the shadow created from Troughton's palm as he holds the prop. I believe that the correct front of the prop used on TV is the triangle shape, as seen in the later scene. It is very plainly there to see and shouldn't be overlooked when designing a replica.

Still with me? If not have no fear... Look at the screen grab images below. In these examples, highlighted in blue, it will give you a clearer picture to what I mean and also show you what  James and I used as as we started to work on an alternative design for the gun attachment. We have also included the section where it looks like there is no attachment. This is from the scene where the Sonic Screwdriver cuts a hole into the wall. Interestingly, I think that this was added earlier or at a later date in filming not only due to the lack of gun attachment but also because of the hand. I am suggesting that it is NOT Troughton's hand. Note the absence of a bitten thumb nail!

Working with those images and referencing the 1960's toy guns we started to build up the shape and design. We put the triangle shape at the front, and a similar shape the 1st fan build's front at the back and it created a new design for the Sonic Screwdriver gun attachment. As it all came together, the shape that revealed itself certainly resembled a gun and very similar to those toy guns in the photos above.  So what does it look like? Well, after various tweaks and changes, this is the design that James and I have put together for The Dominators Sonic Screwdriver.

Our version of The Dominators Sonic Screwdriver gun attachment.

We are not claiming that this is a 100% correct replica, just as the previous replica cannot make that claim either, but we believe that this design it is much closer to what was originally used. It certainly wouldn't look out of place in the Museum of Weapons on Dulkis. In fact if you have a good look at the designs on that Museum set you can see that the alien weaponary are very similar in style to 1960's earth toys!! Look closely at the main rifle in the scene, the shapes and curves are very similar in style to the toy guns and to our design. If the Sonic attachment was a scratch build (and im not ruling that possibility out), then it is not inconceivable that the design would match in style to what we see here in the photo below  and hanging up in the background of the Museum. Who knows (and I will be scrutinizing all frames of these scenes now), the actual prop used for the Sonic attachment may be hanging up there on the wall, ready and waiting to be re used for its close-up, just like the whistle prop was in Fury From The Deep. If I find it, I will certainly be blogging about it here!

"Look at the size of that one Doctor!" -  Note the shapes and designs used in the prop laser rifle. 

Back to our design and a little bit more info about it... Now obviously we have no indication of to what the colour may be, so have painted it blue to link in to The War Games Sonic. This blue also matches up quite well with the grey tone of the B&W episode. There was another reason for using a colour. I would suggest that if a toy gun was used for the prop, it would have been plastic as it would have been easier to adapt over a toy gun made of metal. Also, in all the plastic guns I researched, not one was of a silver colour. That said, I am still on the lookout!

Now with our gun design revealed, here are some final examples shots (opposite) that reference the gun attachment being, in my view remember, held the wrong way around when its first seen on screen. 

Also highlighted is the position of the pen clip to show that, this was placed in the barrel the wrong way first time around. This was subsequently removed and replaced the other way around for the next scene, as the clip is once again at the back of the attachment prop.

We have also circled the shadow and/or crease that  Troughton's hand makes when grasping the original prop. This is to highlight that it is easy to mistake them for another section of the gun attachment, ie a handle

The angle in our mock-up photo isn't quite the same as in the TV scene and James admits that his hands are smaller than mine or Troughton's. That said it does give you an idea of what our gun looks like if it was used the wrong way around!


So, those are my thoughts and research thus far on alternative penlights that could have been used for The Dominators Sonic Screwdriver, along with the design that James and I have for the gun attachment. It is fair to say without James's involvement a prototype would not have been made as this section of the blog would have just been a selection of clumsy screen-grabs (and not very good ones minus highlighted sections) to try and illustrate my theory. many thanks goes to James for all his hard work and skill.

Remember, this is all based on what can see be seen in the episode and also, in the case of the gun attachment, what type of toy guns were being manufactured at the time. Please note, we have decided not to embellish our design by added any detail on the handle or barrel, but I'm sure there would have been on the original molding and can certainly be seen on the 60's toys above. For those interested I have included a photo of the various stages of design so you can see how we achieved the end result. You will also see James's original design (top left) in grey.

Our various stages of design for The Dominator's Sonic Screwdriver gun attachment.

I have to say on a personal note, that working with James on this it has been a rewarding collaborative experience, keeping each other in check, not deviating of what can be seen and sticking with the practicalities. It was all fairly pacey work, not hampered by the differing time zones of the UK & OZ. I'm sure as time goes on James and I will tweak small sections of our version of the prop here and there. However, until something obvious jumps up at us, this is the design that we are staying with, as it ties together all the known images. You cant really not include what is seen in both scenes.

Now remember, no design is right or wrong... until that is, more evidence comes to light of the actual prop used. Some of you will prefer one design over the other and that's fine, we are not out to destroy the previous design, or trample on designs that may come after. We hope this blog post explains clearly why both of us came to this particular design and the choices we made. Hopefully it will also gives the Sonic Screwdriver collectors out there a bit of a choice too.

Any questions, comments or points you have on this please do let me know as I'm more than happy to chat about them, either here or on my Instagram account @the_zeroroom

If you like this design and would like one to add to your collection, then please contact James via his Instagram account for further details @the_sonicscrewdriver_collector

Once again, many thanks for reading!

Photo and Video stills used on this site are (c) BBC Worldwide Ltd. The Doctor Who brand is a trademark of The BBC. No infringement is intended or implied. Dominators Sonic design (c) Lee Moone & James Kieboom.