Scanner Gadget from the Television Series "SeaQuest DSV"
This handheld scanner prop comes from the television series SeaQuest DSV, which aired from 1993 – 1996. The show, set in the near future, centers on a large submarine, the seaQuest DSV 4600, which protects undersea colonies and performs research during an era when the sea floor is being mined for resources. Along the way, the submarine encounters aliens, killer plants, a fire-breathing worm, time travel, parapsychology, and issues surrounding genetic engineering—among many other challenges. Rockne S. O’Bannon (b. 1955) created the show. He is known for other science fiction television including Alien Nation, Farscape, and Defiance. SeaQuest DSV starred Roy Scheider (b. 1932), a well-established film star especially known for his work in The French Connection and Jaws.
What makes this prop so charming is that it is clearly a household lint remover painted and dressed up with decals and a few glued-on plastic pieces. This is a wonderful example of old-school science fiction prop-making in action. Numbers and technical terms in futuristic fonts enhance the effect. Could the phrase “31 frequency filters” be a humorous reference to Baskin Robbins’ 31 original ice cream flavors?
