Tribble Toy Variations

[ClassicTVMan81]

There seem to be some variations on the toy plush Tribbles (the officially licensed ones) out there.

The smaller ones merely squeak when you squeeze them (the keychain Tribbles vibrate when you pull the chain), whereas the medium and large ones are electronic and they purr (when you pet them) or squeal (if you squeeze it).

I wonder if there are also any officially-licensed plush Tribbles that make no sound at all (no squeaking or any other kind of that jazz)?

~Ben

[T'Girl]

It might not be "officially-licensed," but I bought one of these down at Fred Meyers a couple of months ago. Known as a pillow.

It makes no sound, but I've been known too when it gets rubbed on my skin.

[kolibri]

I have one of the ones from ThinkGeek. It doesn't purr, just vibrates and squeals like when Klingons are nearby. It's sound and motion activated, but you can shut it off, which...is good.

It sits on my desk and Ro Laren rides on its back like a boss.

[ToddKent]

There are also pink ones available which, I assume, are based on the ST:TAS tribbles. I don't know if they make noise or not but you cae always try your luck with the Tribble Claw Game:

[ClassicTVMan81]

I've heard some of you say a lot of the electronic Tribble plushes only emit the Klingon warning sound rather than the purring sound.

What I want to know is how you would command it to do both? For it to purr, would you merely pet it (don't be rough on it)?

~Ben

[ClassicTVMan81]

I've heard some of you say a lot of the electronic Tribble plushes only emit the Klingon warning sound rather than the purring sound.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdXPStzSp34

What I want to know is how you would command it to do both? For it to purr, would you merely pet it (don't be rough on it)?

~Ben

[Kelso]

I picked up a couple of purring tribbles at Dragon*Con last year- a brown one for me and a TAS pink tribble for my little girl.

This was her reaction to it...

[scotpens]

^^ Awww, that's so cute. I hope she knows it's not a real animal!

[Therin of Andor]

Glommer pounces by Therin of Andor, on Flickr

Here's my official glommer (TAS) and "safe" pink tribble (can be hidden inside the glommer), two licensed chirping tribbles (orange, white), a longhaired white Lincoln Enterprises tribble (with dog toy squeaker inside, but some varieties were mute), and the very last, authenticated, screen-used, TOS tribble from David Gerrold's garage.

And from the 1980s:


Tribbles from Lincoln Enterprises catalogue by Therin of Andor, on Flickr

And Tribble Lotto, as played Down Under in 1986:


Tribble Lotto at TimeWarped Convention by Therin of Andor, on Flickr


Walter Koenig and wife Judy Levitt play Tribble Lotto at TimeWarped Convention by Therin of Andor, on Flickr

[Frontier]

ClassicTVMan81 wrote:

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I've heard some of you say a lot of the electronic Tribble plushes only emit the Klingon warning sound rather than the purring sound.

What I want to know is how you would command it to do both? For it to purr, would you merely pet it (don't be rough on it)?

~Ben

*Bites his tongue because he really wants to make an inappropriate comment/joke!!*

[NCC-1701-B]

I have a small white/brown one that came with my AMT K7 kit, that makes no sound or anything.

[ClassicTVMan81]

The whole reason that I thought I'd ask all about these is because there are but three classes of Tribble toys:
1. With generic dog toy squeaker
2. With authentic Tribble sounds (the electronic versions)
3. No sounds at all (which also means no dog toy squeaker)

I'd like to know how to break it all down, so that I know who did what variations, in what years, and whether or not any of these variations in these three classes were officially licensed by Paramount/CBS.

Unlicensed (counterfeit) versions won't do it for me (these would not have the Star Trek or Paramount logos on the packaging), and neither will the "dog toy squeaker" versions (licensed or not).

On websites I've visited, both Tribble Toys and others, when I see the disclaimer: "Large Tribbles are sound and touch activated, medium Tribbles are touch activated, and small Tribbles and keychain Tribbles have no sound or motion" is the whole disclaimer really true? Because, with regard to the keychain Tribbles, they do make a sound when you pull the chain (the cooing) and when you squeeze it (dog toy squeak).

Thank you,



Ben

[ClassicTVMan81]

Star Trek Tribble Key Chain by classictvman81, on Flickr

I wonder if this particular keychain Tribble squeaks (like a dog toy) when you squeeze it?
(Picture is of an eBay auction; I don't actually own this item)

~Ben

[scotpens]

Therin of Andor wrote:

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. . . and the very last, authenticated, screen-used, TOS tribble from David Gerrold's garage.

There must be a lot of fakes floating around purporting to be genuine, original, screen-used tribbles. Just how does one go about authenticating the provenance of a tribble?

[OmahaStar]

scotpens wrote:

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There must be a lot of fakes floating around purporting to be genuine, original, screen-used tribbles. Just how does one go about authenticating the provenance of a tribble?

If it's pregnant, it's real.