As you might have seen, modern everyday objects are sometimes transformed into futuristic props. Often, these products are repainted or decorated and used exactly as they would be used today, as with this round tool box featured on Star Trek Discovery.
I always get a kick out of recognizing the tools or objects used as props.
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In Season 4 Episode 3 of The Expanse, at around 30:42, they deploy seismometers, sensors that detect earthquakes and ground movement. They did a good job of masking it, but I immediately recognized the device as a Milwaukee M18 Rocket Tower LED worklight, model 2120.
The Expanse is a show about… let’s just say it’s a futuristic sci-fi series. It started as a TV series and Amazon produced the latest season after it was cancelled. Here’s a link – it’s free for Amazon Prime members.
The Expanse propmasters have used other Milwaukee M18 LED worklights as props before too, or at least on one other occasion – the M18 Rocket light was mounted to the wall of the Rocinante spaceship. If I ever have the time, I’ll rewatch the first 3 seasons and keep an eye out for other tools being used as futuristic props.
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notinuse says
Cool, my favorite show with my favorite cordless tools.
Craig H says
It’s not really a tool, but there was an ice cream maker that was used as a prop in “The Empire Strikes Back.” That split second of screen time was turned into an entire backstory for the guy carrying it.
https://youtu.be/3zxesxhCbWA
The ice cream maker was featured in an episode of “The Mandalorian” with a different purpose from the previous backstory.
https://screenrant.com/mandalorian-empire-strikes-back-willrow-hood-ice-cream-maker/
KL says
Season 4 has at least 5 to 6 Rocket Lights in a cargo bay near a futuristic “dump truck”
Tom says
Season 4 of The Expanse had a lot of Festool Systainers used at the scientist’s camp and labs.
Gregory says
I recently finished watching Season 4 of the expanse, too. I noticed the Milwaukee work lights in another scene or two as different types of equipment. Also a few stacks of Systainers in Festool livery. More tools too, that escape me.
Less on the traditional tool tip, in prior seasons I noticed that they use a computer input device used for CAD and 3D modeling (“Space Navigator” or some such) as part of the pilot’s controls on the hero ship.
Damian Stamm says
in season 3, episode 11 there is an old air seeder from the 90s. looks like a flexicoil.
Chris Gutierrez says
In an episode of “eureka” from sifi a few years back they used a handful of telescoping / tripod florescent husky lamps. But then, those always looked to have been designed with a second purpose as a sifi prop with the 360 light spread and the blue led marker lamps when the main lamp tube was off/not telescoped.
Teamfraser says
Just for the record……
Property Masters,
well let’s just say at the end of the shoot
They get first dibs on the merch that was bought and paid for by the production company
Allegedly… I may have purchased a few things as props that ended up in my kit/home at the end of a shoot
Thank you movie company for buying me some nice “props”
Austin says
In several scenes the actors are wearing these Carhartt Impact gloves,
https://www.amazon.com/Carhartt-Mens-Impact-Black-Large/dp/B00DVJQKYC
It always makes me laugh a little seeing them as part of a spacesuit.
MarylandUSA says
For the original Star Trek, the tricorder was just a modified salt shaker.
Jonathan Chan says
The Expanses uses alot of Dewalt and Ryobi lighting systems as well. Ryboi lanterns as power packs. Any of the tower lights look great in a hangar and they used the Dewalt Area light as such.
Chris says
I noticed the Sys tainers, and they used Milwaukee 6 in 1 pliers to pull some guys teeth out.
Tyler H says
I love looking for found object props. I think Adam Savage has a youtube video about some of the props in this series.
Jonny says
Good catch Stuart. But it didn’t start as a TV series, it’s based on the book series by “James S.A. Corey” (really Ty Franck and Danieal Abraham).
Stuart says
True! I meant that the series started on TV and then moved to Amazon Prime.
J.S. says
I am fairly certain that the shoulder lights worn on the work harness of Holden when they are trapped in the underground ruins is the Husky LED headlamp that Home Depot sells. Has 2 white light settings and 2 red light settings. Just removing it from the head strap enables the light to be attached to any inch wide webbing like what you would have on a backpack or molle vest.
Tom says
Black diamond revolt