| Author | Subject: Console switches |
| William J. Feehan | Posted At 15:27:23 10/31/2002
When George, with great anticipation slowly and softly sits in the comfortable chair of his time machine to begin his maiden voyage, he flicks on 3 toggle switches above the cosole face plate and another one below. Where are these switches? You don't see them in the movie and they are not on any time machine model I have seen, nor are they acknowledged by scratch builders. The bottom switch appears to be the power switch. You can see George switch it off when he first leaves his laboratory at his first stop in the future. These switches are important. I remember my excitement when I heard the switches clicking on. I feel compelled to add the switches to my model under construction. |
| Ady |
Re: Cosole switches (Currently 0
replies) Posted At 16:10:38 11/01/2002 Hi William: From what. I've learnt. There are no switches on the console! I was very surprised to find this out myself! Rod Taylor brilliantly gestures the art of throwing imaginary switches. There's a switch on either side of the rebuilt console by Harvey Mayo, on the restoration of the original Time Machine by Bob Burns, and these are duplicated on the Granite City Time Machine model. Don't know if these switches have any purpose, in operating the machine, especially in the model. |
| Francois Beaulieu |
Re: Console switches (Currently 0
replies) Posted At 20:07:31 11/01/2002 Ady is quite correct. There are no switches at all on the original console. The funny thing is that a lot of changes and errors were made when the original prop owned by Bob Burns was "restored" and several designers and builders have incorporated these errors into their "authentic" models. I vote for leaving these switches off. They were never there in the first place. |
| Don C |
Re: Cosole switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 02:13:31 11/02/2002 The switches have been an area of concern for some time. Physically they don't appear on the console only the sound as George turns them on. My thoughts are that George Pal felt the activation of switches was necessary for the exact reason William described himself: to raise excitement about the activation of the machine. The same thing is still being done today. I have lost count the number of times an art director wants 'blinking lights' to show something is or is about to happen. It's all part of the show. |
| Francois Beaulieu |
Re: Cosole switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 15:08:26 11/02/2002 Well.... some lights DO turn on ! That's exciting, isn't it ??? ;-))) |
| Richard D. Cole |
Re: Cosole switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 11:33:51 11/05/2002 I was looking at Don C.s' model (photos I took in Sacramento) just the other day and he did enclude three switches under the date plate of the console. I do agree that there are some error in the original Machine after the restorations, the light behind the seat in front of the dish (top one), the lights on top of the console are slightly different, and the curve of the rail up to the console is too straight. |
| William Feehan |
Re: Cosole switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 15:17:20 11/05/2002 The more I think about it, the more compelled I am to add the switches. Why? Because I can't imagine any complex machine in the past or the present that did not or does not have switches. We need switches to turn on our computer our house lights, our automobile head lights, ect, ect. On the TM the switches clearly turn everything on. One switch for each of the 3 lights mounted on the top of the console and a bottom switch that turns on the power source. Imagine a new car delivered to you and when you seat yourself down inside you discover there are no switches anywhere on the dash. Just gauges and a stick shift. You won't get very far in your new car because you don't have an ignition switch. Jerking the gear shift won't help. Those that were captivated by the classic TM movie will look for those switches on my model and upon seeing them they will connect to that exciting moment George flipped each switch giving life to the machine. CLICK…..CLICK….CLICK…………….CLICK |
| Francois Beaulieu |
Re: Console switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 00:39:27 11/06/2002 Well, the problem here is revisionism. Yes, of course, you can change things because you would have liked them to be that way - but they were not. I don't see why anyone would look for switches on your model anymore than anyone ever does look for them while watching the movie. The point is, in the first place, that the design of this machine is allegorical. It pretends to be a scientific machine but its form is a symbol of its function. If you take it as such, no switches are needed because you know that what this machine is doing is taking your imagination for a ride. The proof of that is that you attribute uses for these switches that have nothing to do with the real reasons they would exist - if they did: You state "one switch for each of the three lights mounted on the top of the console". Did you not notice at all, after watching the movie so many times, that those three lights DON'T light up when the imaginary switches are activated ? Did you not notice that each of these lights is a visual signal of time going by, which matches the MONTH/YEAR/DAY pattern of the date display ? The yellow light flashes once for each day; the green, once for each month; and the red, once for each year !!! (This pattern changes once the Machine reaches a velocity of thousands of years per second.)But these three lights remain OFF at all times when George activates the Machine and moves ahead only a few hours. (OK, yes, the fourth switch does turn on the back light - and it turns off when the dish begins to spin.) My point here is that the Machine has taken your imagination for a ride - so much so that you never noticed the few logical details of it - save for the sound of these switches. You are giving your logical mind too much power to dictate a rational function to something which is beyond logic and reaches into the realm of pure imagination !!!! But... if you insist... go ahead and put those switches in. However, you better make sure you know EXACTLY what these switches are for. You know what can happen if you flick the wrong switch... |
| William J. Feehan |
Re: Cosole switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 15:02:47 11/06/2002 Harvey Mayo and Bob Burns felt it necessary to put switches on their rebuilt or restored Time Machine and I don't think they knew EXACTLY the function of the switches. I beleive that George Pal overlooked the switches and during filming he realized their importance, so he cleverly had Rod Taylor go through the motions of turning on the switches and in doing so clearly demonstrated his intent and desire to have the switches on the console should a sequel or model of the Time Machine be made. And so it came to pass that models were made ignoring George Pal's efforts to show the existence of the switches. Only those that have scratch built or currently scratch building the classic Time Machine can know the frustration of the dilemma of the switches. In conclusion, let the record show that I am installing all 4 switches. I'm sure George Pal would have wanted it that way. And for those that strongly disagree, I have only one word: CLICK |
| ady |
Re: Cosole switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 16:23:23 11/06/2002 Well,i used to look for those switches on the console! As a child I was happy enough with the ride. But as i got older and more curious, i paid more attention to the film. I started to look at the Machine in a more detailed way. I looked at the display and console, which are very prominent in the film! I started to look for the switches that george flicks to activate the Machine, but never saw them! It's only because i'm making a model of the Time Machine, i've come to learn that there are no switches at all! My model will have no switches, because i want to be as accurate as i can to the movie prop! ;-))) But that doesn't detract from the fact that George gives the impression of real switches! |
| Francois Beaulieu |
Re: Console switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 00:31:37 11/07/2002 The argument is futile. Harvey and Don put these switches there for purely practical reasons: The movie prop was activated off camera, while the restored prop and other full-size functional Machines have switches because those props are activated on board. I doubt George Pal would have made much of a fuss over the actual presence of switches. In fact, he didn't, since the switches are NOT there. It's not as if it would have cost him a million dollars to put switches there. But he was probably aware that putting real switches on that console would detract from the pure beauty of the design. I know quite a few scratch builders of TM models, including Harvey Mayo and Alain Gadbois and most agree that the model should be faithful to the original Machine exactly as it appears in the movie - not the way it is now. |
| Don C |
Re: Console switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 12:15:34 11/17/2002 I put the three switches on the bottom of the console and made them practical. I couldn't compell myself to add the forth one at the top. I just didn't think it would fit aesthetically. So, the next question to answer once you've decided to add the switches is, what type of switch do you use? What was available in 1899? I used brass rotary lamp switches but they were not my 1st choice. The ones I wanted to use I couldn't find. I recently discoverd what would probably be a very good choice although I haven't seen one in person yet. I'm curious to see if any one finds the same one. |
| Francois Beaulieu |
Re: Console switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 20:48:13 11/18/2002 Yes, of course, if switches were added, they would have to conform to those available in 1899. Another alternative would be to install recessed switches at the bottom of the console. William, however, recently told me that he has decided not to add switches after all. The dilemma for anyone contemplating the construction of an "accurate" replica of the Pal Time Machine is: Should one be true to what one sees or to what one hears ??? It is not an easy choice to make since, in the movie, there is an obvious contradiction between the two. |
| Bruce Holroyd |
Re: Cosole switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 23:20:05 12/01/2002 As a model builder, I will be staying true to the original appearance of the Time Machine in the movie when I begin the Masterpiece kit. But if I may interject here... the 'switch' dilemma is, at best, just another topic of interest for all of us diehard fans of the George Pal film; yet in the message board, it seems that the discussion is bordering on a parallel of political overtones! William, if switches make you happy, you should put them on your machine! Francois... your knowledge of the machine and all of its intricacies; even your well-versed background on the novel is, indeed, profound and the stuff of envy! I never actually attributed the blinking of the console lights with seriously symbolizing the passing of each day, month or year! How absent minded of me! Still, it is an amazing observation! As said, the machine takes all of us on an 'imaginative' journey... why all the implied practicality? Switches or no switches.... the design of the vehicle is still beautiful for artistic sake! One may as well ask: "Why did the Time Traveler choose the colors of lights that he installed on his machine?" Now, I just know that someone will have a detailed analysis of that issue! Any takers???? |
| ady |
Re: Cosole switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 13:19:04 12/02/2002 I don't think i can give you a detailed analysis! The lights flash in sequence with the changing of the dates on the display, as Francois has already said. The three lights in there cages sitting on the base, truly finish off the console in beautiful style! And certainly enhance the feeling of the Machines velocity. Perhap George Pal thought it necessary to show the lights as a secondary indicator of the Machine speed when filming from a frontal position, and the display is out of sight, though i don't really know! The only thing i know for sure is, it's the most beautifully designed prop you'll ever see!!! I would love to know, how William Ferrari, and George Pal ever came up with this fascinating concept! |
| Francois Beaulieu |
Re: Console switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 20:03:22 12/02/2002 Well, first, I would like to give credit where credit is due. It was Ed Turner who first remarked to me (some years ago) that the lights on the Machine did not blink randomly. Up until then, I had never paid attention to this. However, after he mentioned it, I played the movie again and carefully watched the blinking of the lights. I found that, indeed, a light would blink once after the passing of a day, another after the passage of a month and yet another after the passage of a year. Later in the film, however, the pattern changes, but it is never a random blinking. In respect to how the design of the Pal/Ferrari Time Machine came about, George Pal had this to say about it in an interview by Gail Morgan Hickman (found in his book "The Films of George Pal" on page 122): "The design all started with a barber chair. Bill Ferrari, the art director, thought that was a good way to begin... Then he came up with the idea of the sled-like design. He sketched that out and I liked it... And then Bill said we needed something behind to indicate movement. So he came up with the big radar-like wheel." One thing is clear here: According to Pal, it was William Ferrari, not Pal himself (as is implied in the "Journey Back" documentary), who came up with this most memorable design. Of course, it was Pal who chose William Ferrari to work on the project - and a wise choice that was ! |
| ady |
Re: Cosole switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 13:34:38 12/03/2002 I've just got the video of the Journey Back! I tried to watch it last night, but all i got was a rolling screen! I've asked the vendor to send me a replacement. But i could hear the sound, and it does imply George Pal came up with most of the ideas! I find it strange that none of the issues that have been mentioned lately on the message board, about switches,and the lights corresponding to the month, year, and day counters on the display, where mentioned in the Journey Back, which is more or less a documentary about the Machine itself! I may be wrong, as i had a SPLITTING HEADACHE after 30 mins! There was no mention as to the function of the dish, which according to Chris Perrotta, extracts the heat from the engine housing. By the pegs sweeping by the two top rows of vented plates. I know someone's going to say, ADY get a grip on yourself, the Machine isn't REAL! Well, when i was eight years old it was, and to my six year old son it still is, and i ain't spoiling his dream!:-))) I'm just annnoyed, that there wasn't that much information, on the details of The Time Machine! I'm still looking forward to getting my replacement video though, as i liked LISTENING to the interview of Wah Chang and Gene Warren! |
| Don C |
Re: Console switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 16:59:20 12/03/2002 I don't remember when I first noticed the three lights represent the passing of Days,Months, and Years. It was probably when I built my first model of the machine back in 1960 (one of these days I'll take a photo of it and put it up so you all can get a good laugh out of it). You tend to notice these things when you study something to replicate it. Also note that the days are represented in yellow, the months in green (blue/green) and the year in red on the three console lights, the display readout and the three coils in the rear of the machine, Although the green wire was actually black. Household wire was not available in green in 1959 but black was. I suppose they thought no one would notice. Also, Mentor Huebner who was the production illustrator contributed to the design of the machine. The photo of his design is shown in 'Journey Back'. Apparently this is where the dish concept came from. I'm working on some additional info for Mentor and for Russell Garcia. Hope to have it up soon. |
| Dwbuilder |
Re: Cosole switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 01:47:30 12/04/2002 To Ady (and all): Yes, keep the dream alive! I think the dream for all builders is to create a running, flashing, clicking, self-contained machine. My vote is for switches as it adds to the "tactile control experience" of owning and using a time machine. There is something exciting about a sequence of motions that bring the machine to life. MORE POWER, Mr. Scott! |
| Bruce Holroyd |
Re: Cosole switches (Currently 0 replies)
Posted At 23:03:26 12/04/2002 I am, indeed, grateful to you all for clearing up myobservations on the machine. It adds even more to my viewing experiences of this remarkable film! Don... thank you for the explanation of the colored wires and the control panel! Francois... thanks to you for your insights on the background of the machine's design creation! Ady.... you absolutely MUST buy the DVD of "T he Time Machine!" It has the "Journey back..." documentary, which, despite its lack of total information as to the film's intricacies, still remains a testament to the genius of George Pal! Dwbuilder... you are right in your comments about all model builders sharing the experience to bring their personal versions of this classic machine to life! William Ferrari, George Pal and Mentor Huebner started the vision for all of us! We owe them so much for the love we now share for this classic film and its beautifully ornate masterpiece version of H.G. Wells' dreamchild!!!!! Oh...and on another note.. Don... Thank you, Thank you! Thank you! for the new wallpapers!!!!!! INCREDIBLE!!!!! You keep the dream alive in so many different ways! H.G. Wells would have been proud to call this site...HOME!!!! |