The Black and Blue Phaser Ones
By Richard A. Coyle
Page 1
Now we move on to the phaser one. In this case we will examine many
versions including a couple of the working models.
The classic phaser one most resembles an electric razor, a fact not
missed by the cast and crew as seen in an out-take on the blooper reel where,
after stalking puposefully towards the camera, the men suddenly start "shaving"
with their phaser ones. 
First of all, we'll describe the working features. Yes, Virginia, there
was indeed a rising plate on the top of the phaser one. Man-o-man, can I remember
in the early days how we used to debate these features! These functions were
just snuck into a scene and rarely high-lighted by any close-ups. This up-down
plate showed up in the very first aired show "The Man Trap".
Watch the tops of the phaser ones that Captain Kirk and
Mr. Spock have in the scene where they beam down to the planet to find Prof.
Crater. Captain Kirk says to Mr. Spock, "Set your phaser on one quarter,
I'll leave mine on stun." Watch Mr. Spock..he thumbs his phaser one's setting
knob on top on his phaser two and the top pops right up. Then they separate
to hunt Prof. Crater. As they are hunting for him, the scenes keep cutting from
Cpt. Kirk to Mr. Spock and back, note the tops of the phasers. As they circle
around Prof. Crater, when we can next see Mr Spock's phaser he now has a phaser
with the top down. A second later when Cpt. Kirk shoots Prof. Crater, his phaser's
hood is up. Common continuity errors, but fun to catch. Note the flapping communicator
grill in this scene too. 
There were a couple of these little bits in later episodes, in a "Private
Little War" Doctor Mc Coy heats up a few rocks and we get a great close
up of a dark gray phaser one with the grill up. Later the witch woman gets one
of the phaser ones and attempts to use it, and again a couple of loving close
ups. A third season show, "Is there in truth No Beauty" when Miranda
Jones companion tries to kill the Gorgan we see a close up of the phaser one.
