Sonic lorgnette
The sonic lorgnette was a type of sonic device that was used by Paternoster Gang member Strax. It was mainly used to observe a person's anatomy, though it could also be used to scan the subconscious as well as a person's current age and expected lifespan. The device had a series of small round lenses, through which the examination could be conducted. Each of these components lit the area being analysed and could be twisted into place. The lense that scanned the subconscious was yellow whereas another ring, which allowed x-rays to be taken, was green. When operational, the device made a series of whirring noises. While x-rays were being taken, the person's internal anatomy was actually illuminated, with a green light.
Once, in 1890s London, Strax used his sonic lorgnette to examine Clara Oswald. He first applied it to check her left eye, which he mistook as her mouth. The device repeatedly beeped when he began inspecting her subconscious. (TV: Deep Breath)
Behind the scenes
The sonic lorgnette was one of three props (all of which were sonic devices used by the Paternoster Gang) that resulted from a Blue Peter competition. The lorgnette was designed by an eleven-year-old boy from Hampshire named Arthur. Steven Moffat, who helped judge the competition, commented, "You feel you want to pick it up and hold it, but it's also about the other side of his life because – of course – Strax is a nurse and this allows him to examine his patients and see what’s wrong with them. I think it will be very funny seeing Strax's big clumsy hands holding that." [1] The stage directions from the script of Deep Breath referred to the device as "a hi-tech multifunction lorgnette device (Blue Peter)," excluding it being mentioned as sonic in nature.
