Inside an original BBC 1960s Dalek

Have a look inside this original BBC Television Doctor Who Dalek with main parts dating back to 1963 and 1965. It faced EVERY Doctor between 1963 and 1988.
Watch as it's taken apart, section by section, plus learn about it's fascinating history and where you can see it now.
No copyright infringements intended. Credits given during and at the end of the video.
This is a fan-made video celebrating the genius of those who made the 'Classic' series of Doctor Who in this, the 60th Anniversary year of the show.
PLEASE NOTE:
Note: The Doctor Who display at Beaulieu's National Motor Museum (which I mention at the end of this video) has now ended. However, my replica Genesis Dalek is still there, with my 2005 Gold Dalek, beside 'Bessie' in the 'Screen Cars' area at the Museum. It used to be beside Sarah Jane's Austin Metro 'Crayford' conversion from the spin-off 'K-9 & Company' story, but this has now gone to a new owner, in Portsmouth.
One spoken error I failed to notice until it was far too late: 'The Chase' was, of course, made during William Hartnell's era, not Patrick Troughton. I really should have worked from a script!
This Dalek's latest TV appearance was on BBC1's popular daytime show 'Bargain Hunt' in November 2023, when they celebrated the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who.
The interview is available on the BBC site: www.bbc.co.uk/...
Want to see this Dalek's appearance in 'Genesis Of The Daleks'? Check out the Doctor Who KZbin site here:
• Meet the First Daleks!...
Excellent DVD versions of 'The Chase' and 'Remembrance Of The Daleks' have been produced by BBC Worldwide and issued by 2 entertain Video Limited. They are widely available, including here at the official BBC shop:
shop.bbc.com/c...
And don't forget the excellent official Doctor Who KZbin channel: / @doctorwho

[@tycandappa9829]

Walked past this at the motor museum :0 Had no idea what a historic piece it was!!!!

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Glad you saw it in Beaulieu. I wanted it to be seen, not locked away like so many props in private collections.

[@simonc3177]

My Dad was a scenery shiftier at the BBC in the early 60s. When I was 4 he took me to the Dr Who studio and I was up close to daleks and saw the interior Tardis scenery. A day of excitement for me, but the end result was that it demystified Dr Who for me completely!

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Thanks for commenting Simon. Indeed, Terry Nation had a rule that the Daleks should never be seen disassembled, giving away their secret. Sadly the rule didn't last too long.

[@tortysoft]

My father worked on the show back then He took me to TVC may times but I never saw a Dalek. That removed the fear of the show but heightened my delight in it. In later life I too worked on 'Who'.

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

@@tortysoft Many thanks for your memories

[@daverei1211]

Thank you. As a child in the 1960’s I remember my brother and I hiding behind the couch terrified when the darleks came on. Thought with the more modern Dr who, they’ve sort of become Star Wars storm troopers than monsters.

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Thanks for commenting. Yes, I'd be hiding behind cushions, but I'd never leave the room!! 🙂

[@guynewmountain1909]

Fantastic, informative film Chris - as a reallY thorough and methodical breakdown of each part, this has to be the ultimate, definitive video record of that first historic middle Shawcraft section! - I saY that, of course, as proud owner of the tinY 'L'-shaped Dalek 1 fragment removed bY necessitY from the perished gunbox section during the prop's restoration in 2010. It was sold to me in 2015 bY Matt Doe of Toybox Treasures/Reliquary, who also created the most wonderful 'bespoke' retro tv film can case to house both the fragment itself and a crucial letter of provenance signed bY the great Mike Tucker, the man who removed it.

[@Somerset-In-The-Blood]

How cool to own a original Dalek 😊

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Thanks! Happy New Year to you 🙂

[@MartinFutter70]

Lovely story and great hearing the history of this lovely prop... please show more

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Many thanks Martin. Hoping to do the Robots Of Death head next. Best wishes to you.

[@davidmullen6011]

A Thoroughly absorbing breakdown of an original 1960s Dalek - thanks so much for the time taken doing this for us curious people! The point that stood out for me was that this 1965 base/skirt section is partially fibreglass, I'd come to believe fibreglass wasn't commonly used at this time in prop-making, but I may be confusing it with vac-forming...? Either way, what's lovely about your examination of this original early Dalek is that it shows how construction methods have changed over the decades - the turret section you showed off looks at first glance modern fibreglass or maybe vac-formed, but once inside you see its true age and that it is solid hardboard! These wouldn't be made like this today. And when you think of the weight of these original materials I wonder what the _weight_ difference is between and original classic series Daleks like this one is, from the modern series' Bronze models... (It would be an interesting video to look at how the building methods and the materials used for Dalek construction evolved over the decades - from the original 1963 model, to the end of the 80s' and beyond into the modern series..) Lovely look at your classic Dalek, thanks so much!

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Thank you so much for your kind words David. Shawcraft Models (contractors to the BBC) were using fibreglass a lot in the early 1960s. There's a great video called 'Follow That Dalek' which you can find on KZbin, and shows their production methods. The middle (gun/plunger) section is also fibreglass, with a wooden base and top. The dome is also fibreglass, with an inner wooden rim. The props were originally fairly light. But over the years, many layers of extra paint, plus repairs and new ways of operating the domes/eyes, meant they became rather heavy. I have a 2005 gold Dalek, again 85% fibreglass, which weighs about the same as the old Sixties prop.

[@rjjcms1]

Great video. Did the Dalek operators need the proportions of a jockey to sit inside one comfortably?

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

@@rjjcms1 Most of the original series operators were indeed well under 6'. That said, I'm six feet two inches, and can operate my Daleks - it's just a very snug fit!

[@Lumibear.]

Thank you! The one thing I had never yet seen was the inside of an original Dalek prop, now I can die happy.

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

My pleasure! Glad you found it interesting

[@blakesheaven8393]

Wonderful! Thanks for sharing Chris. I was talking about your Dalek only the other day with customers here at the shop.... Now I can show them too! Thankyou 😀😀😀

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

You're very kind. I think I need to speed up a little on the next one!

[@vampiremonkeyonspeed]

This is really interesting and I hate to be "that guy" but "the chase" was in the middle of the Hartnell era, before Patrick Troughton

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Hey! Don't worry. You're absolutely right! I wasn't working from a script, so a few facts slipped by me. I hadn't noticed that really obvious one until you pointed it out. As you say, 'The Chase' was a Bill Hartnell story. Thanks for commenting.

[@kennethlogan459]

This was absolutely fascinating! You really must show more of these beautiful props from the show history. Thank you for saving these beautiful works of art for future generations of Who fans.

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Thankyou so much Kenneth. Very kind comment. I'll be doing more videos once I'm over a few health issues. Getting old's not as fun as I thought it might be!

[@kennethlogan459]

@@TheChrisBalcombe We're all growing old ! Lol. Hope you're feeling better soon .Looking forward to seeing your next video upload. 👍

[@robcaiger1781]

Thank you, Chris. This was fascinating. I was born in 1963 & was told I watched the first Dalek episodes with my mum. I do remember “Remembrance…” though. What a joy to find out some of the first Dalek was in that special story. I found more joy in your video than I am in the current series. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

You're very kind Rob. Much appreciated.

[@reebsvids]

I was lucky enough to have Dalek 1 at home for a week back in 1981. It was to be used at our local school fete, and as we lived very close to the school it was delivered to us for safe keeping. According to the gurus at the Dalek68-88 website it was the top of Dalek 1 and the skirt of Goon 2, a later built series prop. I has 13 at the time and spent the day of the fete inside it operating the dome, plunger and ray gun to the sounds of the Dalek speeches I had edited on to cassette tape from the BBC Records release of Genesis Of The Daleks LP. I’ve still got pictures of me with it, both standing beside and sitting in the skirt section like Davros. Then a few years on, the same top section (Dalek 1) now coupled with Skirt 7 appeared in the Five Doctors. I’m told the skirt section of Goon 2 which it was married to when it was with us, was used as the exploded base in the Five Doctors where you can see the creature inside. I must get down to Beaulieu to see it once more, 43 years on! Great video Chris, many thanks for uploading it.

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Hi Paul (I think it's you after seeing some 1981 pics of you in 1981 on Dalek 6388's site!). What a great memory! Thanks so much for sharing it. I haven't been able to upload a new video changing the end information. Unfortunately it's no longer at Beaulieu. The display, with a Tardis, the Whomobile and Bessie came to a close. My replica Genesis Dalek (see my other videos) remains, with Bessie and Sarah Jane's Metro, as Lord Montagu felt it looked 'more original' than 1-7! But if you're down this way, get in touch with me and I can arrange a private viewing. I'm easily found on Google and on social media. Thanks again for your lovely story.

[@Marley854]

Great video, thanks for giving such a detailed look at the prop! It would be great to see the Robots of Death head you mentioned if you do more videos showing your collection

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Many thanks for commenting. Yes, I realise now I should have started recording every decent prop while I had it. Happily the Voc Robot head, and top tunic/chest-back plates are still with me, so that'll be the next video.

[@richtheobald4390]

Thank you for the tour of your pet Dalek!

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

My pleasure. It was a bit slow in parts. Glad you liked it

[@yuantheblue]

This was such a neat glimpse into an iconic DW piece. Thank you for showing us!

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Thank you for your kind words

[@jamestschaikowsky3072]

Thank you! This brought back so many happy memories of growing up in the 60's and 70's. Even though it was of course experienced hiding behind a sofa. An amazing piece of history!

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Many thanks James. Sorry it's a bit slow in places. It's my age! I'll never be a social influencer earning millions!

[@dametrot]

OH wow !!!! How glorious ! Thank you so much for making this and it’s absolutely fascinating to see inside!!! although I was one of those many people that visited MOMI And did indeed speak into the microphone inside the Dalek, of course never realise at the time that i was inside such an historic prop! so I was extremely relieved and happy to hear that the prop had been reunited and beautifully restored , and it’s very awesome to see inside it .

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Thanks for your kind words. Best wishes

[@colinslater2947]

Very interesting. Thank you. I loved it when they finally overcame the stairs problem by flying. Brilliant.

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Thank you for your kind words

[@stevepanozzo3716]

This goes some way to answering some crucial fan questions, so thank you, Chris! All these years, and *nobody* has ever done this, until now. That said, I would love to see a short feature focusing on how the controls worked on the Daleks - the eyestalk with the working iris, the telescoping sucker arm and the gun. Seeing the painted-over eyeball (with that bloody "pupil"), the manipulator arm so rigid and the "firing" mechanism from the gun inactive are real let-downs, destroying a lot of the illusion that the Daleks were "alive".

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

I agree Steve. I have a replica 'Genesis' Dalek (currently on display at Beaulieu) which has the 'firing' gun rod, telescopic plunger arm and a proper eye. The Remembrance props were over simplified. And I hate the later dome rotation system of drilling a hole through the top! It led to the outer neck baskets getting pushed further and further up on the few original props still being used, spoiling the look. But still lovely to see them back during Sylvester's tenure.

[@lizmerrett1111]

Awesome Chris please do make loads more about props it's amazing t.o see the inside Great job and thanks

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Thankyou Liz. Will do!

[@iankenrick]

the chase was in 1965 a year before the troughton era began

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Yes indeed Ian. A few others noticed my error too. But it was too late to remake the video. I've put a correction in the description. Thanks for watching 🙂

[@ChristopherBarnatt]

Brilliant video, thanks for posting.

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Many thanks Christopher 🙂

[@stevemayandleilaroehead870]

It was at Llangollen? I think I may have seen it, there was a half dalek when we went! I wonder what happened to the squashed dalek, looked like an early one too :)

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Hi Steve. Yes, this was that 'half Dalek' at Llangollen (more of a 3/4!). Not sure about the 'squashed' Dalek. Where was that?

[@infinitymasksandsculptures5301]

Thank you Chris, an absolutely fascinating video. More please 🙂

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Thank you for your kind words. I'll be shooting more prop videos over the winter. Best wishes.

[@infinitymasksandsculptures5301]

@@TheChrisBalcombe I look forward to watching your new videos. With regards the Dalek colur variants, I think that the grey colour scheme from Planet of the Daleks and Genesis. As a kid in 1975, I would wait all week for the next episode of Genesis, and to think your Dalek was one of the grey Daleks that I was transfixed by fascinates me immensly. Thank you.

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

@@infinitymasksandsculptures5301 Yes, I know that same feeling! Thank you again.

[@MrSontaran3]

Well done Chris, this was fascinating! Been watching and enjoying Who ever since Episode 1 in 1963, and have always loved the Daleks ;D

[@ponchoman49]

Wow that was really interesting and informative. Its amazing this prop survived this long

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Many thanks indeed for your kind words

[@stupot1093]

Fabulous video

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

You're very kind 🙂

[@andiholman2543]

This was excellent. I was aware that Mike had reconstructed the ex MOMI walk in Dalek but had no idea of it’s provenance. Are you aware of any discussion surrounding the restoration? Specifically if any of its previous incarnations were considered or was it always going back to its renegade livery given the presence of all the original parts. Bet most of its current weight must surely be in paint alone that’s accumulated over the decades. Great mini doc. Absolutely loved it, thanks for sharing 😊

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Personally I'd love to see it taken back to it's Genesis days. But too much had been repaired/altered over the years, and we wanted to keep as many original parts in place as possible. So there were no choices discussed at the time of the 'reunion'. It could be taken back to the Peter Davison era look (as the arm boxes had been repaired/enlarged by then), but it would need a new upper band and new slats, plus a new neck and eyestick, plus all the hemi covers would need to come off (some are covering badly damaged original 1960's hemispheres). You're right about the weight. Decades of repairs, layers of paint and the addition of new 'bumper' materials -from rubber to metal etc. - have piled on the pounds! Who knows what the future holds! Thanks for your kind comment.

[@jeffwalker7185]

Excellent video. One slight correction - The Chase was a William Hartnell era story. It was the story that saw the departure of Barbara and Ian.

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Absolutely right Jeff. I really should have worked from a a script! Sadly my basic video editing didn't allow me an easy fix once another viewer had spotted my error some weeks after I'd posted the video. Glad you enjoyed the rest of it 🙂

[@exewingfundraisers883]

Great video, very infprmative, thank you for making and showing it.

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Very kind. Thankyou 🙂

[@awesomedude255]

This was amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this piece of history. Do you have any close up photos of the different bits that you could possibly share?

[@chrischatfield8550]

WooWsa I found that mesmerising ......Thank You ...........great history and Brilliant its survived and in such a beautiful state now 🙂

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

You're very kind Chris. It's a little slow. But I'm not one of those bright young Social Influenzas 🙂

[@owenrichards1418]

Thank you for telling us about this!

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

It's no longer on public display Owen, but at least via the internet, people can still see it. Thanks for commenting. Glad you enjoyed seeing the prop.

[@Tolkaia]

Very interesting! Thank you!

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Thank you so much 🙂

[@projectdalekmark]

Thank you, Chris, for this fantastic video. Did that polyurethane plunger do the trick? If you need the correct bell shaped plunger for his remembrance appearance just let me know. I'm overjoyed you have one of my plungers on a magic pice of history. I hope to get a pair of of my resin beakers on the first film drone prop JK's just done a Fantastic restoration of, too. If you ever get the time could you send me a picture of classic monster with your new plunger on. I'd love to see it. Interestingly the bottom plywood return on the shoulders there are not the original but put in place for 'The Five Doctors'. You'll notice it follows the interior of the bands & not the fibreglass shoulders as per the originals. This was likely due to the original Shawcraft wood being chewed up beyond repair with the locating pegs damaging it. The new plywood is screwed directly to the shoulder bands which also gives the prop extra height. The neck may also be a complete swap from a goon. At least I think it is...

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Hi Mark. 1-7 is currently sporting your excellent copy rubber plunger! Plus I found another original 1960's version which an elderly couple had bought back in 1963!

[@projectdalekmark]

@@TheChrisBalcombe Blimey! Keep that one safe. Out the sunlight is best. I'm on the hunt for a 70's cone shaped plunger. I do have a cast to copy from but I'd still like to own my own.

[@AceManPlays0]

Thank you for this video, very interesting

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

You're very kind. I think I should have given it a bit more pace. It's my age!

[@grant24678]

What are some examples of incidences of when The Dalek Operators can be seen.

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Great question! Off the top of my head: Planet Of The Daleks: Watch the Dalek bringing Jon P down in the lift to the cell. Genesis Of The Daleks: Watch the scene in the invaded city when one Dalek approaches another to recall it to Davros. There's quite a long list, but I won't bore you!

[@craigwilliams6734]

Absolutely fascinating Chris! FYI, out of the four original Daleks made by Shawcraft, two Daleks had the two rows of globes 1/2” higher at the back…I have no idea why this happened. This was also the case with the film daleks and later TV props. I am a bit confused about the middle section because these props originally had aluminium straps/belts on spacers to “hold off” from the body. PS: The old Shawcraft building is still there at 69, Rockingham Road in Uxbridge which I sometimes drive past!! 😜

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Hi Craig. Thanks for commenting. The mid-section metal band is still there, probably with the original wooden spacers. But for 'Remembrance', they chose to put dark grey foamex into the gap, to match the other newer-build Daleks look. That's why it looks like a solid band. Hope that helps :-)

[@craigwilliams6734]

@@TheChrisBalcombe Cheers Chris, that all makes sense now…you are a very lucky man indeed! I am planning to build my own Dalek next year in between the Lambretta projects!! (And life in general!!). ATB - Craig

[@jacksugden8190]

The only Daleks I liked were the 1965 film versions, as stated, this one was in one of the films, looked nicer on a tall skirt and mini headlights, liked the blue/silver colours used at the time.

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

The first time we saw Daleks in colour! They did look great, I agree. And I also preferred the 'drone' colour scheme of silver and blue. My Dalek, built around the same time as the second movie, was made solely for the BBC, so never used in either movie. But it shares the 'wonky balls' arrangement on the rear of the skirt. Thanks for commenting.

[@tracyleewilliamson4727]

A W E S O M E !!!

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

Thanks Tracy! 🙂

[@splat-trainproductions]

I wish this prop was still in its original 1960s condition and colors instead of this boring grey and black paint with an inferior eyeball.

[@TheChrisBalcombe]

So do I. Particularly hated the Remembrance eyeball.

[@colinslater2947]

Very interesting. Thank you. I loved it when they finally overcame the stairs problem by flying. Brilliant.