Lots of pictures and Name Dropping does not an expert make.
That's a great source for pics of that, there is no doubt.
I dont know "Gerald" from Adam. I'm in no way challenging him or anyone else, but here is an example of what Im talking about.
You decide for your self.
From the web site you get this:
My comments are:
Now, I have no idea if this chap owns a real communicator, or not. He probably does,
I hope he does. I do.
HOWEVER, there is no way on God's Green Earth the two pictures above are of the same prop.
Sorry, you can see what ya want if you look hard enough, but those are two different props.
The point Im making to fellow TREK Prop folks, is never believe anything.
Unless you walked off the set with it, you will always be trusting someone else's word at best.
Who can you trust? Your own eyes and actions. That's pretty much it.
However, "Your eyes can deceive you, don't trust them" said the wise wizard.
"The Communicator has been copied 10 different ways to Sunday. There are so many really nice fakes out there, who know's what is real. Mark English made some great copies. "
Im paraphrasing above, but Greg Jein himself told me the above quote. Yeah I can name drop too.
It doesn't mean I have any more authority than,.....anyone reading this.
Does anyone really think it was only RECENTLY that someone figured out the master was the STERLING PENCIL BOX? How many of HAD the Sterling pencil box as a kid, and said "HEY! THis looks like the COMMUNICATOR!!" So, matching dimensions of the body, or comparing HIGH DEF pictures to FUZZY Screen captures saying THIS PROVES you have a real one, sorry, just doesnt work.
Regaring the site, and again, some of the other pics look more of a match to whatever is being compared. For example, the shot of the communicator rear with Velcro. However, even though it's in the same place, it doesn't prove for certain that it is the same prop. WHo knows? A true statement would be that anyone creating a fake, probably had the same reference.
You have proof it matches a picture. That's pretty much it.
I just find it amazing, in my years of prop collecting, I have found no less than 17 or 19 people swearing they have a REAL COmmunicator, when only 10 were made.
Collectors, beware, be wise.
Choose carefully who you take as "authority" on, well..... anything.