Artifact ID: Paterson Trident

Before we take a dive into the props of Rouge One, I first wanted to share this Classic Trilogy gem of an artifact.
The Patterson Trident is truly a relic from a bygone age. Slide viewers, amiright? Obsolete though it might be, by playing a part in the most influential film of the last 40 years, the Trident has enjoyed a second life by being a hot commodity among dedicated prop-replicators.
Don’t recognize it? One lonely Trident may not look like much, but what if it’s joined by five friends and some assorted greeblies?
Seeing a resemblance?
How about now?
Yes, our humble slide viewer took its place in cinematic history when it became the Death Star detention block’s security cameras!
Made in England, the Trident model can now be had on eBay for as little as $45 (if you’re lucky)…though most go for $70+ . However, the Trident is nearly identical to another Paterson slide viewer model, the ‘Viscount’ (which goes for $20-60).

From what I can see, the only difference between the two is that the Trident (R) has a wider lens than the Viscount (L), but otherwise they seem identical; so if you want to save your credits and put together a close-enough Death Star camera array, a cheaper option is out there.

Some believe that the Millennium Falcon’s gun turret-targeting computer as seen below is also a Paterson viewer, painted black and illuminated from within by a red light. What do you think?

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