Online sources differed to some extent on details of the Tussauds Dalek’s history, but it soon became clear that the prop had suffered over the years. This graphic illustrates the situation I found: blue indicates surviving original parts, and red highlights parts that are replicas. Basically, the underlying structural components have all survived, but parts that attach to them have been replaced.


The loss of so many original parts would ordinarily render such a prop of little interest to me, and I did actually decide against having anything to do with it, until I realised the Tussauds Dalek could provide a fantastic opportunity to try something new: restoration.


Normally, regarding old props I would be very firmly of the “preservation over renovation” view. However, the Tussauds was a special case: the prop had already been stripped, repainted, and worked on so extensively over the years that I would be free to do as I pleased without fear of harming any original features. The opportunity to work on restoring a genuine Dalek prop would certainly be a rare privilege, so I placed a bid in the online auction and awaited the outcome.


A few days later, I became the new owner of the Tussauds Dalek. Another few days passed before delivery, but then I finally had my very own genuine TV Dalek and the fun could begin.

Over the next couple of years, I literally took the prop apart (many times), and examined it in the minutest detail. My dissection of the Tussauds Dalek would have been considerably more difficult without input from several sources far better versed in Dalek lore than I will ever be, so special thanks are due to Simon Ayers, Dan O’Keeffe and Jonathan Wrigley, and Jon Green at the dalek6388 website for their valuable advice. Thanks are also due to Chris Johnstone, Reuben Kyte, and Jon Lynch for assistance on more practical Dalek matters.


A very detailed history of all the Dalek props is given at dalek6388, but to follow the story of the Tussauds Dalek this simplified timeline of the main Dalek construction phases should be adequate:


1960s

Although designed by BBC employee Ray Cusick, construction of the props was contracted out to other companies. The first Daleks were built under the supervision of Bill Roberts at Shawcraft Models of Uxbridge - four in 1963, another two in 1964, with one more in both 1965 and 1967.

These props are known as Shawcraft Daleks.


Shawcraft also constructed around a dozen modified props for the Dalek feature films of 1965 and 1966.

These props are known as movie Daleks.


1970s

Seven new Dalek props were commissioned from Clifford Culley at Westbury Design in 1972 - initially static dummies, some would later be modified to accommodate an operator.

These props are known as goons.


An unknown number of replica Daleks were produced in the early to mid-Seventies for display at Doctor Who exhibitions.

These are known as exhibition Daleks.


1980s

The BBC made many more Daleks in the 1980s, mostly from a new and simplified mould - these are of little relevance to the Tussauds Dalek as it had already been sold before most were produced.

Shawcraft Dalek

movie Dalek

exhibition Dalek

goon Dalek