Movie Scopes (and other T&M-Props a little bit "out of place" :) ) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: SaabFAN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2018, 07:32:34 pm
content: I can't help but notice that Philips Scopes seem to be the go to-items when it comes to fill laboratories in movies and TV-Shows.Yesterday I was watching a video with the most memorable Q-Moments from James Bond and noticed a PM3350 (or smiliar) Combiscope in one scene.Got me thinking that they pop up fairly often or at least stick out more than others.From memory I've got these so far:- Analog Scope made by Philips in Stargate Atlantis Episode (the one with the asteroid-base from the second season, I believe).- PM335x Combiscope in:James Bond Movie from the 80sNetflix-Movie SpectralAt least one more movie that I just can't place right nowWhat Scopes or other T&M-Equipment have you noticed in movies or TV-Shows? Or games - In GTA 5 there's at least one Scope that looks kinda like a low end TDS-Scope from around the mid 2000s

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 13, 2018, 07:52:48 pm
content: A Stanford Research SR510 lock in amplifier on the Big Bang Theory.

author: SaabFAN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2018, 07:53:25 pm
content: Looked at Spectral again - Kinda goofy lab with random equipment and non-connected Scopes that double as control-monitors for crazy lasers, 40€ Bench Power Supplies from ebay in Super High Tech Death-Ray developing lab, Closeup-Shots of Combiscope from the 80s in lab in the near future.Funniest part is when the protagonist turns the timebase-knob and thereby turns the laz0r on that melts a block of ice

author: abraxa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2018, 07:56:32 pm
content: Not T&M gear but still made me cringe:https://youtu.be/XGdbaEDVWp0?t=52s- those tape decks don't... uh... have a vacuum column and I love the random A/V gear they put into the "computer room" as props...

author: borjam
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 13, 2018, 07:58:34 pm
content: I was surprised by a spectrum analyzer inside a van in “The Wire”And in a hideous Spanish TV series called “El Barco” the radio transceiver was actually a digital multimeter. With the visible legend even!

author: lukier
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 13, 2018, 08:52:50 pm
content: Tektronix TLA704

author: basinstreetdesign
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2018, 09:16:08 pm
content: Quote from: abraxa on March 13, 2018, 07:56:32 pmI noticed at 1.04 my Rockwell calculator that I had in 1975+

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 13, 2018, 10:08:58 pm
content: I never saw the end production - but I was working in a Tandy store here in Sydney many years ago when someone came in and asked the boss for some products with lots of buttons which they could use to dress up the interior of a spacecraft. IIRC they walked out with a bagful of timers like this one:

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2018, 10:22:12 pm
content: The rebel lab/computer room from The Hunger Games (part 3).Some tube gear like Tektronix stuff, what appears to be some old reference standards/calibrators, and other antique goodies.

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2018, 10:32:18 pm
content: Much of the prop movie stuff comes from Apex Electronics or similar place. I am waiting for something from the many upon many piles of stuff I have dumped or traded there to make it into a movie. Being most of it was obsolete or otherwise unsaleable parts from our inventory, and most of it custom to us, most of it would be easy to recognize. I got a picture from my friend who works there of a bunch of stuff a prop house was buying and some of our stuff was in it. No clue if it was ever used in a movie though.

author: Cubdriver
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 14, 2018, 01:37:40 am
content: I watched some of the original Battlestar Galactica series a while back on Netflix, and noticed that they had a lot of Tektronix TM-500 gear in the sets.-Pat

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2018, 06:42:49 am
content: Air Crash Disasters....or one something similar.Always an old'ish Tek CRO in the background with NO signal, just doing it's thing....just flatline sweeping on probably 100ms/div.Like it adds credibility to the scene.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2018, 06:57:42 am
content: Took me a while to find it.....I supplied a good # of props in this NZ TV advertisement:https://youtu.be/loon0nHy-MMIt was shot just down the road from where member Dubbie works.Early SDS2304 @ 0.05

author: R_Gtx
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2018, 05:28:36 pm
content: One for vintage oscilloscope aficionados, the British made Roband RO50, makes a number of appearances in "The Prisoner" (1967).

author: LaserSteve
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2018, 07:13:41 pm
content: Galactica used a lot of 500 series, many Tek XY vectorscopes and a bunch of Tek 4051 or similar vector graphics programmable terminals.Steve

author: Bassman59
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2018, 07:14:38 pm
content: For some reason, every laboratory scene, no matter what type of lab, has an oscilloscope displaying Lissajous figures on it. Sometimes there are cables connected to the 'scope's inputs ...

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2018, 07:44:23 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on March 14, 2018, 06:42:49 amAir Crash Investigation? The same guys that always wave around a reel of tape when investigating the black box

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2018, 11:10:40 pm
content: Whenever there's some sort of wormhole involved in a sci-fi, there's often what looks like a Smith chart on a screen somewhere.

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2018, 08:22:17 am
content: I remember years ago, when some character in "Days of our lives" was in dire health straits.The "heart monitor" was an old Tektronix 545B apparently stolen from the Network techs.On another occasion, on "Doctor Who" the Doctor was fiddling with this very "high tech" looking cylindrical device with controls sticking out of every part of it.Many years later, I saw the very same type of device sitting on a shelf in TVW's Camera maintenance area.Apparently Philips supplied this device which was never used.The "Beeb" obviously found a better use for it.Not quite the same thing, but related:-In the old "Battlestar Galactica", one episode had two of the main characters apparently on "present day" Earth.They were equipped with motorcycles which were "supposed to blend in", with the " in joke" being that they looked too spectacular & futuristic to do so.In fact, they looked positively "dowdy" compared to the then current Suzuki Katana.

author: Harb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2018, 08:35:34 am
content: All the TV News crew gear that was in the Movie "The Nugget" was mine.....it was the scene where all the news crews went to his house after finding the big nugget.......it was all old stuff out of my retired gear warehouse.....even got in the credits lol...I also have a bit of the gear used in the (Actual) Apollo 11 mission......Monitors and tech gear etc etc.

author: SaabFAN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2018, 09:39:55 pm
content: Quote from: Harb on March 15, 2018, 08:35:34 amNice!From what has been presented so far, I very much doubt there are more than two or three movies out there that use lab equipment properly

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2018, 06:04:52 pm
content: kpop. 4Minute - 'WHY''Why' is there a scope (powered off, but they adjust it) and what looks like some old chip programmer?What movies DO use test gear correctly? The Dish maybe?

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2018, 08:40:00 pm
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on March 16, 2018, 06:04:52 pmScreenshot from Apollo 13:

author: Harb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2018, 09:17:03 am
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on March 16, 2018, 06:04:52 pmThe "dish" had a lot of gear brought in for the shoot....older stuff, but some of the stuff in there is still used today.........for the record I have played Cricket on the dish.......back before the upgrade to small mesh on the reflective surface.......they got a bit fussy when the new aerial cabin went up and the better mesh......dents in the mesh dont go real well with the higher freq's..........I also thought I was going to be there forever, as I got stuck in one of the manhole ports in the centre of the dish.......I eventually wiggled myself in as got out lol........the good old days of dish rides, you could even ride the sketchy elevator up one of the legs.......I imagine OHS would have a fit now........there were some awesome people out there.....very very smart.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 17, 2018, 01:04:30 pm
content: I watched 'Ghosts of Mars' the other night. Slap center of the 'dashboard' of their high tech bullet train was a huge unidentifiable old tube based scope, round domed white screen and all!Iiic, it was displaying a bright sinewave. Maybe they needed it to be EMP proof.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 18, 2018, 09:32:02 am
content: Quote from: Harb on March 17, 2018, 09:17:03 amYou're not still there?No chance of special insider tours for eevblog members?

author: Harb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 19, 2018, 03:17:47 am
content: I left the Area a few years back now........In Sydney these days.

author: SaabFAN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2018, 09:58:59 pm
content: Not so much test-equipment, but I guess Philips did some "sponsoring" for Q-DivisionAnd then there's this one:Seems like a rare occasion where a scope is used correctly: It looks like it displays a FBAS-Signal, although it appears that the waveforms have been printed on foil and put on screen, as there's very little light coming from the screen

author: Scratch.HTF
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 25, 2018, 09:01:49 am
content: I've seen Tektronix equipment in Face/Off (also in the credits) and early in "The Core", but I am really wanting to know what movie where a LeCroy oscilloscope was depicted.

author: 1xrtt
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2018, 09:20:27 pm
content: Doctor Who Episode "Hide" have the highest number of scopes in a stage, that I remember seeing.I could only find a clip on youtube (see at 0:13)

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 26, 2018, 09:50:59 pm
content: I saw Westworld (the 1973 movie) the other day and noticed an old Tek scope on a cart in the lab. I didn't bother to figure out which model but it was one of the old vacuum tube mainframes.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 27, 2018, 02:00:17 am
content: At 6:57, there's what appears to be a frequency counter with a glowing cable connected to it. And it always seems to be displaying all zeros.

author: steve30
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2019, 09:17:55 am
content: Not quite electronics, but this music video features Windows Task Manager and Netscape Navigator running some VR stuff.

author: basinstreetdesign
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2019, 10:01:38 pm
content: We have been watching this one on TV for months. I can't figure out how a high class HP spectrum analyzer is useful for diagnosing pain...At least he actually adjusts it to shift the spectrum.

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2019, 10:28:21 pm
content: Not T&M gear, but in the original Robocop movie, the police force's main computer is actually a Northern Telecom DMS digital voice switch. I watched the credits at the end and there was a credit to Bell Northern Research - I forget if it was their office in North Carolina or Texas.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2019, 10:53:54 pm
content: Quote from: abraxa on March 13, 2018, 07:56:32 pmYeah, it is hilarious that they put ordinary 1/4 inch reel-to-reel tape recorders inside a computer-looking cabinet. And then piled a couple of 3/4 inch video cassette machines on top. But then they did make the cabinets sort-of "look like" proper 1/2 inch mag tape drives with the vacuum column in the center on the lower panel. But those were only visible for a few seconds so perhaps we should be surprised that they went to THAT much effort. That blue, wide-carriage IBM Selectric typewriter on the computer mainframe-style cabinet was quite in line with early 1970s mainframe computing.In Hollywood there are many electronics, instrument, surplus companies that do a brisk side-business supplying "tech-looking" stuff to set designers and prop makers. BigClive has done an episode or two on prop-making and set decorating. And that was Adam Savage's job before becoming a debunking celebrity etc.There are even specialized products made specifically for set decorating like...http://www.apexjr.com/Props.htm

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 03, 2023, 10:18:04 am
content: A few months back we were privileged to be asked to supply instruments for props for a very local film set for an advertisement launching the new productFlowfrom Autodesk.https://www.autodesk.com/company/autodesk-platform/meAuckland company Fathom worked with Autodesk to concept, write, produce and deliver this short film teaser where we got privileged access behind the scenes and the chance to work with EEVblog member and friend Dubbie and his crew.https://fathomvfx.com/about(1m40s)7 of the dozen Siglent instrument made into this snapshot @34s

author: ponch0v
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 09, 2025, 03:43:31 pm
content: (Reposting here from the What's this please? (Component Advice) thread)I'm trying to identify some vintage electronics and havent any any success for one. Im sure its a long shot here, but hoping to get lucky someone recognizes it. Im not sure it's test equipment, but the other objects around it suggest that it might be (HP 130C oscilloscope, Fluke 893C voltmeter (and a ADDS Regent 25 terminal). This is the best image I can get (its a screenshot from an 80s movie) unfortunately. I thought the strange case shape would be a giveaway to what it is, but havent found anything thats not a rectangular box from that era (mid 80s at the latest).It appears to be mostly a crt screen with maybe a few controls on the right. Its possible its some device inside some other bracket/holder but the fact that the other objects on the cart are off the shelf, suggests its not modified.I thought I was getting close with portable tvs from that time, but no match yet.Anyone have any ideas? Thanks for any help!

author: NE666
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2025, 06:29:50 pm
content: Just a hunch but the form factor (so much as we can make out of it, at least) seems suggestive of patient monitoring units. i.e. healthcare, rather than TE.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2025, 09:44:42 pm
content: Apology for this not being test equipment.In the US, AMC is running a new serial about the Nautilus, based on Jules Verne.The submarine set is a nice example of steampunk, and doesn't have any oscilloscopes.However, the action is set in 1857, which makes sense with respect to the history of the East India Company and several Indian rebellions.The submarine itself, of course, is fictional so the date is not important.However, it is being chased by the HMS Dreadnought, which, in fact, was launched in 1906.

author: Wallace Gasiewicz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2025, 12:23:28 am
content: Not sure if the link will work, part oscilloscope screen in Outer Limits.https://youtu.be/-INCwFxeVVY

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 10, 2025, 04:43:25 am
content: In some of the earlier episodes of The Office , you can see an early version of Windows Event Viewer from the Windows NT era. In some of the scenes, the screens were just printed onto paper and stuck to the monitors. Later episodes used real computers and Cisco VoIP phones connected to an actual network.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2025, 04:53:48 am
content: This whole thread reminds me of the idiotic comments one sees all over the place in IMDb "goofs" sections on movies. You know, the place where they post every little thing that's wrong, incongruous or out of place for that film. "The movie is set in 1969 but the car used in the chase scene is a 1971 Camaro, as anyone can tell by the design of the grill." I've seen the most picayune, meaningless details posted there, things that could only be noticed by someone examining the movie frame-by-frame, undoubtedly posted by Cheetos-devouring fat nerds posting in their mom's basement (standard derogatory geek description).I mean, who cares about that stuff? Most of the time I don't even notice any of what they post, and some of the things I realize I actually know about after scrolling through the "Goofs" section.It's a movie, for chrissakes. Not a documentary or a grand jury inquest.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2025, 07:20:55 am
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on July 10, 2025, 04:53:48 amIf you're not interested in this thread, don't read it. There's no need for your negativity trying to bring everyone else down

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2025, 12:30:30 am
content: Not T&M but the Andor dual wound inductor array was good, can't remember what the bumps between them were, LEDs?

author: Buriedcode
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2025, 02:27:25 am
content: Quote from: PA0PBZ on March 14, 2018, 07:44:23 pmTo be fair to ACI - many of the episodes are about crashes that occured before 1990, or about planes that were built before the 80's (like most planes up until fairly recently)

author: squadchannel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2025, 03:11:57 am
content: Air Crash Investigation(MayDay) ?often see Tek 22xx or 4xx models in their dramas. Sometimes Rohde or HP. always shown 60/50Hz.The photo of the black box being shown to the search team is the one on Wikipedia.memory modules from the black box was clearly came from a 3.5-inch IDE hard disk.aren't many shows about aviation accidents, I find it interesting to watch.PS:in Japan, some episode is illegally uploaded to NicoNico Douga.It may be a bit too inappropriate at times, but it's popular among aviation enthusiasts.among the buildings that became famous in viewer is theBEAoffice buildings.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2025, 11:56:38 pm
content: (Movie) TRIVIA that's called, about this thread. Many people enjoy the sharing, and get some piece of trivial data that they've missed. Either some detail they've forgotten...or some arcane detail that they missed, entirely.We all know it's as useless as a candy chocolate bar, but gives us humans pleasure, doing a sort-of MEMORY upgrade, personal.Then,...next time...they can jump into a trivia fest, and contribute that latest little, itty, bitty, detail:"Why did t Humphrey Bogart use left hand, in scene where the wine had gotten spilled ?"That's trivia, in action.

author: EC8010
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2025, 01:20:26 pm
content: And don't forget "Blake's 7" calling up the planet Nim on an AVO mkIV valve characteristic meter!Early James Bond films used Solartron 'scopes. The hand monitors in "Dr No" were authentic.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2025, 01:46:40 pm
content: Well, just the probe in 2001:Is that a P whatever Tektronix probe? I think it is!

author: Traceless
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2025, 02:54:44 pm
content: I remember seeing a trailer for a relatively recent movie or series about a girl that is into HAM Radio. She picks up some signal and then they get a visit from the military or some other govenment agency. She had a Racal Dana I think the model was 1998 on her shelf. The trailer looked kinda interesting unfortunately I can not remember the name of that movie/series.I saw that this thread is pretty old but on a side note, since the OP mentioned GTA 5, there is a lot of TE there but I think most of is pieced together from different units. For instance the DMMs look very much like the HP/Agilent 34401A, however the jacks are on the wrong side. Some of the servers look a bit like Dell devices. I don't recognize any of the AWGs/Scopes visible.

author: Traceless
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2025, 04:24:55 pm
content: Quote from: Traceless on September 13, 2025, 02:54:44 pmFound the trailer back. I was off on the model number. It was 1992 not a 1998. There is also quite some other equipment around, that I don't recognize.

author: MathWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2025, 11:11:23 am
content: Here's a lab bench from the tech/hacker movie called Sneakers, this was used by the mathematician that hid the codecracker chip in the answering machine. Later when they break into the office to steal it, I couldn't really see anything of the equipment, and the scene is long. But it's non-tech dialogue focused, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's not there anymore, and they just shoot high.What is the big thing up top that looks like a jumbo button calculator ? LOL IDK.Here's a pic from Speed, it looks like the scope is on X-Y mode.

author: NE666
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2025, 07:24:40 pm
content: The Sneakers bench has a decidedly Philips-y towards its right hand side.Second item from the right (white casing with CRT) looks like a Philips/Fluke logical analyzer of the period.

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 11:47:32 am
content: It's movies and TV shows. What do you expect. They use whatever they can lay their hands on. Whatever happens to be laying around. No great thought as to how appropriate it may be.OK, my example is the Grass Valley production video switcher used to destroy planets in Star Wars. Anyone who worked in TV would instantly recognize it. And using the handle that normally produced a fade from one camera to another as the trigger. Just add some visual effects and an "earth shattering kaboom" to the audio and you got it.Perhaps I recognized it faster than most. I had spent a full week of after midnight work doing a complete set-up of that very same switcher only a few months before that movie came out. I can honestly say that I had adjusted every pot, coil, and variable capacitor in it. Yes, it took a full week of work. I will never forget that I set up a planet destroyer. Pulled the fader lever many, many times, but never got that "earth shattering kaboom".

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 28, 2025, 02:27:54 pm
content: I don’t have a picture, but in the Woody Allen futuristic movie “Sleeper”, a sedative injection is given using a Radio Shack solder-sucker that I owned when the movie came out in 1973.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2025, 10:23:50 pm
content: Quite a few scopes at the start! That video was sent to me by a mentally ill girl who "disappeared", so sadly it's "cursed" for me.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2025, 10:28:58 pm
content: Standards for "accuracy" are the lowest for music videos.(And why shouldn't they be? For that audience, who cares if anything's technically correct or not? The visual effect is what's important here.)

author: Roehrenonkel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2025, 06:27:11 am
content: Hi,from the movie "Far out man" an EEG-scope.

author: 5U4GB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2025, 08:08:00 pm
content: Quote from: EPAIII on September 28, 2025, 11:47:32 amCame here to mention the same thing. Someone was selling one a few months ago and I was really tempted to buy it so I could wire it up to something and intone "commence primary ignition" when I switched whatever something was on.

author: nali
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2025, 08:26:32 pm
content: From "The Avengers" 1960s TV series, accompanied of course by mandatory wobbulating oscillator noises for torture...Sourcehttps://vintagetek.org/tektronix-in-movies-shows/

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2025, 08:53:30 pm
content: That Tek nostalgia site also shows a Grass Valley switcher inStar Wars.

author: MathWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2025, 04:35:18 am
content: Here's something that might be more like A/V gear in 'Die Hard 2'And then here's some Tektronix gear and more, in 'Enemy of the State'I never know what order these files will end up in

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2025, 08:50:37 am
content: Quote from: MathWizard on October 11, 2025, 04:35:18 amNever use the first attachment then they will always be in order......a long standing forum bug.