Doctor Who

An original Cyberman chest unit used in the production of the long running BBC television series Doctor Who. The Cybermen are one of The Doctor's most persistent foe and appeared, in various incarnations, ten times throughout the classic series of the show from 1963 - 1989

This chest unit was originally constructed for The Moonbase in 1967 and subsequently used in The Tomb of the Cybermen, this style of Cyberman were designed by Sandra Reid and Mary Woods and it is believed that 11 Cybermen were made for the serial with few of these known to be in existence today. This style of chest can also be seen used in Wheel in Space (1968) turned upside down and furthermore at least two were subsequently modified for use in the 1975 Tom Baker serial Revenge of the Cybermen.

The chest is one of the units modified for use in Revenge, constructed from mixed materials with a fibreglass shell with rear cover of hardboard with affixed interior circuitry visible through windows to each side of the chest of perspex construction. Originally in the 1960s these were printed photographic enlargements of circuitry, these were replaced by cardboard inserts dressed with real circuitry giving a more three dimensional appearance, the original screen used 1960s enlargements are however still present underneath this modification. The centre section was also modified from its 1960s appearance, this section is constructed in plywood dressed with mesh and this time fixed to the exterior of the unit. The light at the bottom has been replaced, essentially by a Halfords spray can lid which has been painted and dressed with interior detailing.

The chest unit remains in incredible condition throughout with only light surface marks from screen use. The prop measures approximately 15" high and 12" at its widest point with a depth of around 5".

A rare, important and heavily used artefact from this cult BBC television series.