Last Dalek from original Dr Who series for sale
The last remaining Dalek from the original Dr Who series is to be auctioned off, as part of a large wardrobe sale.
By Stephen Adams, Arts Correspondent
Published: 6:53PM GMT 04 Dec 2009
Only four of the pepper pot aliens from the 1963 run were ever made, the other three having already been sold.
Bonhams is to auction more than 100 outfits and props from Dr Who, the first time the BBC has done so on such a scale since 1990.
Andrew Beech from the BBC said the Daleks could be dated by their different construction methods.
He said: "The original Daleks were created by a company called Surecraft Models. The 'skirt panels' had round holes in them and the hemispheres were pushed through from the back.
"With the later models, the panels were left intact and the hemispheres glued on."
He added: "I believe this is the last BBC original – the others have been sold off in previous auctions.
"They only made four for the 1963 series and a couple more the following year."
Despite the Daleks' fearsome reputation onscreen, off it the plywood and fibreglass mutants were frequently cannibalised due to tight production budgets.
Mr Beech said: "Every time a new artistic director came in and ordered a redesign, they were re-patched and re-patched, until they got so bad they couldn't be patched up any longer."
Only the lower half of this Dalek dates from 1963, he said.
Also to be sold are a number of Cybermen, Sea Devils and Tractators.
They were all part of a touring Dr Who exhibition and are being sold because of the cost of conserving them.
Sadly, for those hoping to buy a last minute Christmas present, the sale is not until February.
BBRK scene dock Sheppeton Studios.
This was cutting edge TV in the 60's when visual effects consisted of creating video feedback.
For Direct Effects by Director Brian Martin and DOP Johnny Morris.
This was for a stills shoot. Two of us did it in the morning using our 'stock' polystyrene rocks stacked upside down with a black guaze in front and a touch of smoke.