Your Favorite Matt Jefferies/Jim Rugg Special Effect Prop???

[KirksStuntMan]

The late Jim Rugg was a mastermind in creating electrical, electronic, and mechanical special effects for the in-studio ST filming. Matt Jefferies designed them, and Jim Rugg built them.

What was your favorite ST prop that these 2 gentlemen created for the ST universe?

Here's mine: The M5 Computer, which eventually evolved into Gary Seven's computer, and then the Atavachron.

 

[Gary7]

^ I've always been impressed with how resourceful Star Trek TOS production staff were with props and sets. The degree of reuse was significant and clever. The M5/Atavachron/Gary7-Computer looked cool, but I wish they had some labels and display digits on them. Flashing colored light bars in X/Y axis orientation looks completely meaningless. At least with the flashing lights on the bridge consoles, they could be indicators for functions that are labeled in some fashion but too far away for us to see.

Anyway... back to the topic... what were other Jeffries/Rugg props seen? The Wah Chang built props (phaser [designed by Matt], communicator, tricorder) certainly have the greatest recognition.

 

[Doug Otte]

I've always marveled at the simplicity of the turbolift and how it efficiently portrayed movement. Rugg created a kind of spinning light barrel behind the glass, and seeing the lights move up/down or left/right made us think the lift was actually moving.

I learned about this in the DVD/blu-ray extras, or maybe it was in a book. But I can't remember: was the wheel spun by hand, or did it have a motor?

Doug

 

[KirksStuntMan]

The twirling moire pattern generator on Spock's science station is pretty cool, too.

 

[plynch]

The twirling moire pattern generator on Spock's science station is pretty cool, too.

Wish it kept spinning in later eps. That always draws my attention -- the not-spinning.

 

[KirksStuntMan]

The twirling moire pattern generator on Spock's science station is pretty cool, too.

Wish it kept spinning in later eps. That always draws my attention -- the not-spinning.

The late Jim Rugg said that during the 3rd season he was notified that the moire pattern generator was not turning. He found that the motor was burned out, but there was no money in the budget to replace it.

 

[WRStone]

I like the simple stuff: the Servo and Magnetic Wrench:





I don't know if Rugg and/or Jeffries are responsible for these props, but they satisfy a geekish desire on my part for futuristic tools.

Of course, nothing beats a good ol' Sonic Screwdriver:

 

[KirksStuntMan]

^ Here's a simple device that every evil empire should have...

 

[plynch]

I would deal with an agonizer if I also got a pleasurizer when I did things well. Skinnerian, I know, but I'm just sayin'.

 

[Navigator_NCC2120]

I would deal with an agonizer if I also got a pleasurizer when I did things well. Skinnerian, I know, but I'm just sayin'.

A device like that was used in Gene Roddenberry's 1973 television pilot film "Genesis II", it was called a stem. Here is the video of the stem being used for pain and then pleasure.


Navigator NCC-2120 USS Entente
/\

 

[WRStone]

A device like that was used in Gene Roddenberry's 1973 television pilot film "Genesis II", it was called a stem.

It's not a Jeffries/Rugg prop, but there's another Trek connection to GII:

Franz Joseph of Blueprints and Tech Manual fame did designs for the props for GII/Planet Earth. There's a great site with Joseph's diagrams, screencaps, and other goodies.



Dakota Smith

 

[Navigator_NCC2120]

A device like that was used in Gene Roddenberry's 1973 television pilot film "Genesis II", it was called a stem.

It's not a Jeffries/Rugg prop, but there's another Trek connection to GII:

Franz Joseph of Blueprints and Tech Manual fame did designs for the props for GII/Planet Earth. There's a great site with Joseph's diagrams, screencaps, and other goodies.



Dakota Smith

Thanks Dakota. I remember reading the Karen (Schnaubelt) Dick Interview at that website where she talks about her Father, Franz Joseph Schnaubelt, and his history with Gene Roddenberry. Since they recently updated it, I will be reviewing it for all the goodies they added.

Thanks again,


Navigator NCC-2120 USS Entente
/\

 

[WRStone]

Here's a nifty thing I'd never seen:



From the Web site:

One of the four denominations of "Federation Credits" developed and printed for the "Red Hour" convention in early 1975. The credits were used as "play money" to play Star Trek themed carnival games (such as "Feed Vaal") at the convention.

I had no idea that Joseph designed this. Very cool.

Dakota Smith

 

[scotpens]

A device like that was used in Gene Roddenberry's 1973 television pilot film "Genesis II", it was called a stem. Here is the video of the stem being used for pain and then pleasure.

“Stim,” as in stimulator.

I’ve always had a fondness for the Guardian of Forever, aka the Lopsided Time Bagel. It was a simple but effective way to pare down Harlan Ellison’s grandiose concepts into something that could actually be done within budget.

And has nobody mentioned Nomad yet?

 

[Navigator_NCC2120]

A device like that was used in Gene Roddenberry's 1973 television pilot film "Genesis II", it was called a stem. Here is the video of the stem being used for pain and then pleasure.

“Stim,” as in stimulator.

Thanks Encino Vampire (aka scotpens). That makes sense. To my ear though I thought the actor said "You see, the stem is capable of pleasure, or do you prefer the final level of pain?" starting at time index 01:25. He does have a strange accent. I only saw "Genesis II" once when it premiered in 1973. With the actor's strange accent and my faulty memory, I thought it was called a stem.

Here is the scene with Dylan Hunt (Alex Cord) and Lyra-a (Mariette Hartley), starting at time index 06:13, she does say "The stim...".


Navigator NCC-2120 USS Entente
/\

 

[KirksStuntMan]

And has nobody mentioned Nomad yet?

Yes, another Jefferies/Rugg prop that was pretty cool. Eventually, parts of Nomad were used for the M5 robot in "Requiem for Methuselah".

 

[scotpens]

^^ And for the Romulan cloaking device in “The Enterprise Incident.”

 

[KirksStuntMan]

^^ And for the Romulan cloaking device in “The Enterprise Incident.”

And that's good old Sargon's receptacle.

 

[Maurice]

I’ve always had a fondness for the Guardian of Forever, aka the Lopsided Time Bagel. It was a simple but effective way to pare down Harlan Ellison’s grandiose concepts into something that could actually be done within budget.

AGAIN, this old (untrue) chestnut.

Ellison's first draft describes several robed figures: the Guardians. The time vortex is described as "a pillar of flame, a shaft of light, a rolling brightness of smoke...the obvious aspects are light, height and insubstantiality. Construct it as you choose."

By the second draft the Guardian is described as "like a globe of flickering light...like a shimmering handful of fog...(Construction of the Guardian should combine a minimum of expense with a maximum of ingenuity.)" The time vortex remains the same.

Neither is "grandiose," and the latter is certainly written with cheap in mind, and this revision happened long before Jefferies and Rugg would have been involved, so let's be fair and stay the Guardian as realized is an ingenious and alien looking solution without a cheap and undeserved dig at Harlan in the process.

 

[kf6vzv]

I not sure if it is was designed by Jim Rugg or Matt Jefferies, but mine would have to be the Helm Fire Control pop up device. Does anybody have any idea (or, even better, blueprints, wiring diagrams) how that prop worked?