STATE YOUR BUSINESS

International Electromatic Company. State your business! This week I take a look at the ‘stupid primitive machine’ from the reception of IE. The Doctor and Zoe may not appreciate this ‘brainless tin box’ but it is a distinctive prop and one that turns up a bit in sixties TV. And it’s not alone as there are a few variants to look for.

THE INVASION, 1968

Let’s start with its memorable appearance in The Invasion. We get a good look at the whole thing so we can see what to spot in its other appearances. There are two panels at the top which have handles and almost look like they can open. Under that we have the standard whirly tapes and then in the body of the machine is a wedge shaped control panel.

SOMETHING IN THE CELLAR, 1969

Something in the Cellar is an episode from the seminal 60s anthology series Out of the Unknown. It’s from OOTU’s third season and was broadcast in February 1969. In the episode a Professor, haunted by the memory of his Mother, builds a computer in his basement.

THE FOSTERS, 1969

One month later the prop was back in Out Of The Unknown in an episode called The Fosters. Again the computer is in a domestic environment, in the home of an unearthly Brother and Sister. Note the computer here is grey while over in…..

THE AMBASSADORS OF DEATH, 1970

…. it’s blue! Still appears to be the same prop tho. So either it’s had a lick of paint or there is more than one prop. If I was a betting man I’d say they are separate props as Ambassadors features more computers that seem to have the same lineage. As you can see from the still below, there are three of them. The one we have been looking at is in the middle. The props either side have the same basic shape, they have the door panels at the top, tapes in the middle and the wedge controls in the body etc. The main differences are in those top panels. The rows of lights from The Invasion prop are replaced with three electric meter like squares.

D FOR DESTRUCTION, 1966

These props with the electric meter panels turn up in this episode from the first season of Adam Adamant Lives! Incidentally this episode also features Patrick Troughton just weeks before his Doctor Who debut.

THE SEE-THROUGH MAN, 1967

And finally one of these electric meter variants turns up in the fifth series of The Avengers. This being a non BBC show would probably point to them belonging to a prop house. 

That’s all I’ve found for now. As always the hunt continues. If you’ve seen these props somewhere else please do get in touch.