"Nubs" on the back of the helmet. you know, inside the slots?

[slave1pilot]

Here's is what I am talking about;

Bear with me, I might be on to something, and I might not.
I believe they are Endodontic drills (or files, reamers, broaches, etc) used for Root canals
This makes sense because the Borden Connector and the Dental expander are also orthodontic tools.
look at these pics of some modern ones

as you can see above, they have different sizes with corresponding numbers on them

and here is one in a tooth for scale;

this one has the numbers on the head (like on the helmet) and also has the vertical lines as opposed to the horizontal

And look at this one!!!

 

[slave1pilot]

see these with the numbers on top?
i know it's small, but they are there

 

[Fett 4 Real]

GREAT SCOTT! I think you finally found the missing link...I used to know some people at a dental office...hmmmm some must be a dentist here

 

[slave1pilot]

They are also called "Engine files"
and yes, they do come in metal instead of plastic

 

[deadland]

Oh man you are so on to something with this and it so makes sense with all the other dental equipment that they have used.

 

[72555]

honestly those things on the helmet look more like bike tire valve caps from an older model bike just painted up a bit

 

[BooBoo Fett]

honestly those things on the helmet look more like bike tire valve caps from an older model bike just painted up a bit

I don't know. That would have to be one heck of a tiny valve stem


Nathan - Nice work professor. I think you nailed it!

 

[Mojo Fett]

Hey Nate, very cool info! This theory definatley holds up...
Let's keep this going!

 

[terminal fettler]

Very interesting! Definitely not valve caps, they are too big. Even vintage style Woods valve caps are too big... But the dental tool makes perfect sense...

 

[BGHunter]

Im going to the dentist next week ill try to snag some and i know they use them coz i had them in my mouth the other day , still i couldnt get a borden conector from her so she should come thro on this

 

[Fett 4 Real]

yeh weve been over a few other things valve stems included the thing were looking for is like half the size

 

[Evilhemmes]

hey guys this looks right they do look the size of a endodontic root file size number (15 is that the number on the back) , finger plugger, barb broach ect im a dental technician (ex dental nurse), the grips look to run the parallel direction but they would have used older versions and in my time in dental (14 years) i havent seen these run parallel like in the last pic but could be a manufacturer desgin, and yep the others are orthodontic tools and appliances, the expander is what we would make for a child needing an fixed ortho or removable appliance (Quad helix,skeleton screw,arch expansion screw ect) and the borden connector sits in the handpeice coupling Nut & Connector (DCI). i was going to do a boring tutorial with me casting up helmet tusks (borden connector) out of chrome showing the process involved but havent had time at work as we have been so busy knocking up false teeth ect. ill look around and phone some dental companies see if i can track some down that the grips run downwards not accross but i would say that they changed it and the ones running down eventually were phased out as the others offered better grip. I'll have a crack at mocking one up with a across grip and turn it into a downgrip and cold cure acrylic it up.

 

[Art Andrews]

Wow! I was "meh" right up until this photo! Don't know if that is it or not, but the similarity is striking! Congrats on getting everyone fired up!

And look at this one!!!

 

[Syntax]

I'm going to agree, I think you are on to something.

It stands to reason that the modern models represented would have morphed from the model of Fetts. Just have to find some old drills now, haha.

 

[Lucksy31]

GREAT eye!! But to me, The ends of the "nubs" look rounded on the actual helmet. The actual drill versions look like they are flattened on the ends. Also, the grooves going down the sides ar of the helmet nubs ARE parallel(long ways). Does anyone have a pic of these drills with the grooves running long ways??

 

[slave1pilot]

so...
I went through the gallery and grabbed as many pics as i could find of the greeblies
I made a collage

almost all are the ROTJ helmet, but the Bright Red ones are from the PRE-PRO

Do they all say "15"?

 

[Fett 4 Real]

no doubt that your right they look like the pic you posted just an older version for sure

 

[deadland]

I could not agree more looking at those and what was more than likely available in the 70's I would have to say that you are dead on. Even with the photos that you provided with the current drills some of them are not that far off.

 

[slave1pilot]

I also found this drawing of the reamers/files/drills;

Granted, it's just a drawing but it gives me hope about the vertical ribs.

 

[Fett 4 Real]

well u gotta figure they have to be ribbed that way to be turned by the drill