Star Trek: The Original Series, Cage Spectrum Analyzer

replica movie prop

In the first pilot episode The Cage, a crewman accompanying Captain Pike to the surface of Talos IV carries this somewhat bulky scientific instrument, although it's never seen in use and its purpose is never explained.  Similar to the orange and grey device (seen in several first season episodes) known to fans as a spectrum analyzer due to an oblique reference to its function in The Naked Time.

The found item converted into this prop was a Precision Radiation Instruments Model 111 Scintillator radiation survey meter, first introduced in 1952 and primarily used for uranium prospecting.  Although this device appeared decidedly high tech in 1966, today it resembles nothing so much as an oversized hair dryer.  Chrome finish (which has seen better days on this particular unit). The meter itself attaches to a separate battery pack, which in turn can be carried over the shoulder or on a belt.