I thought this was an interesting look back at how they used anything they could get their hands on as a prop for something futuristic 'looking' on the original series
http://heroesandiconstv.com/allstartrek/stories/some-star-trek-props-were-no-more-than-29-cent-toys
http://heroesandiconstv.com/allstartrek/stories/some-star-trek-props-were-no-more-than-29-cent-toys