The
Handlink
From a thin piece of clear acrylic to a holographic projector, here are all the handlinks!
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Thanks
to:
Please take a look at their amazing Handlink replicas in our Replica section on this page and visit their website to order your own!
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Special thanks also to Matt Dale, who's research for his "Beyond The Mirror Image" book series has provided significant information on these handlinks.
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enlarge when clicked.
Handlink Main Menu
Concept Art | Prototype | Screen-Used Props | Stand-in Prop
2022 Revival Handlinks | Episode Images | Replicas
The Handlink
The Handlink is a device used to open and close the Imaging Chamber door, give info from Ziggy to the Observer while in the chamber, move the hologram image, and make all kinds of holographic effects.
There were at least three versions of the Handlink during the running of Quantum Leap. The first version, introduced in the first episode of the series, Genesis, was flat, was about 1/4 inch thick, made of translucent black plastic, had black data screens, and had a few buttons. The second version, first seen in The Right Hand of God, is thicker, made fully of black plastic, has more screens or lights, and more bright buttons. It had silver strips at top and bottom and red flashing graph like bars lights near the center.
The third version, first seen in The Great Spontini, was bulkier, and made up of several colorful cubes. A frustrated Al once referred to it as a "rotten pile of Gummy Bears." (See note below in "Trivia" about this handlink's first appearance.)
The Handlink is carried mostly by Al Calavicci, since he is the Observer. However, it has been used by Sam Beckett in the episode The Leap Back, Gooshie in the episode, Killin' Time, and Edward St John V when Al's fate changed temporarily in the episode A Leap For Lisa.
Despite being a sophisticated piece of future technology, the Handlink rarely worked properly unless it was jostled or struck by Al. When it was struck, it frequently made a sound similar to a cry of distress. Evil Hologram Zoey also carried a handlink, although hers was far slimmer and more compact than Al's, possibly a shout-out to "girl power" over the clunky, masculine "Al-Link." After Zoey became a leaper, her observer Thames carried a different handlink model, once that he carried in his palm and had a shape similar to a paperweight.
Trivia
In Season 3, Al was first seen carrying the newest handlink in the episode The Boogiem*n without warning or explanation. Then, several episodes later, in The Great Spontini, Al had the old black handlink again. After banging on the black handlink too much, Al appeared later in the same episode with the multi-colored cube version, indicating that the old one was permanently broken and needed to be replaced. "Spontini" was filmed before the three previous episodes but aired out of filming order, even though it was intended to be the first appearance of the new handlink.
Apparently, Bellisario liked the later design of the handlink so much that when Sam went home in The Leap Back, the entire interior of the Project matched the same glowing-cube design aesthetic, although it seems unlikely that a Project which already looked like that would have had the earlier handlinks which didn't match at all.
One Handlink was left in Crown Point, Indiana in the year 1945 during The Leap Back. When Al and Sam switched places, the Handlink traveled and stayed with Al, who was the Leaper. Sam got a new Handlink as an Observer to Al. When they switched places again, the Handlink Al was carrying was left in the leap location. It is unknown what it's current status is. It was last seen being handed to Suzanne Elsinga by Al. Source
A History of the Handlink!
Watch this 9-minute guide to every handlink in the original series.
Then read below for photos and select info on each version of the iconic handlink to Ziggy!
December 1988 Blueprint
Recognize this early concept art? It became Evil Leaper Zoey's Handlink!
This was produced to be the successor to Version 3 of the calculator style handlink. It was passed on in favor of the Gummy Bear style.
Back in the early 90's prototype electronics were not very sophisticated, and even less so for movie props. The original "Ziggy" was 2 pieces of acrylic plastic, with colored graphics tape, and a couple of self blinking LED's run with a hearing aid battery. For season 2, Global Effects (Then known as Diligent Dwarves Effects Lab) was asked if they could build something a little more sophisticated. A few months before this, the owner received a call from an Aerospace electronics firm, who was looking for work outside Aerospace, to keep their company going, and wondered if the entertainment industry could use their services.
When the Handlink project came up, this seemed like an ideal fit. The company had access to some very sophisticated equipment and chips, that the average movie electronics guy did not. So the were given the wishes of the shows producers, of a prop that could display written text as well as a series of flashing light patterns. But, it had to fit in a shirt pocket, and be about the same size as the shows current prop. (The one run by a hearing aid battery) It also had to look similar, so as not to give away the change of props.
This prototype features a 2-line LCD screen, a number of LED's, with a dozen program selection buttons, all run off of an "EPROM" chip. The prop could also be programmed with a laptop. The prop uses a "J" battery. Now all of this was "Star Trek" level of stuff when compared to the normal movie prop electronics of the time. But a producer didn't think it was that impressive, they just thought it was too big, and therefore "B.S." So the guys packed their bags, billed for the work done to date, and never delivered the prop. It had been banging around Global ever since, being used as a "Remote" for various shows. Source
We get to the Quantum Leap production office on the Universal lot and the 3 or 4 producers walk in. We set up and we show them how with this new "Ziggy" you can:
Program the blink pattern of the 15 LED's in an infinite number of patterns
Program any of the 12 buttons to operate any function
Program the 2 line LCD readout to display anything you want!!!
and do this all with a laptop, on-set in minutes!!!!!
and it still fits in a shirt pocket!
Well I went to the producers and said we could do it and it would cost $2000. Well this wasn't outrageous cost for a prop, but pretty high for a TV show prop. But given all this thing would do, I had been stunned when the electronics guys said it would be so cheap!
Read the full story from the designer here.
Screen-Used Prop Handlinks
Calculator Styles | Gummy Bear Styles | Evil Leaper Handlinks | Moe Stein's Device
This version was only seen in one scene in the episode "Genesis." It was a single piece of 1/8" clear acrylic with printed graphics. It is not thought to have had actual electronics embedded in it. This version appears once, in the scene where Al is speaking to Sam as he fishes by the river.
Image thanks to T R Solano
In the third episode of the series, "The
Right Hand Of God",
this version makes its' debut. It was made from amber acrylic, with
orange and white graphics on the front. Three led lights blink in
sequence below a small LCD display.
This version was used in the rest of season one and six episodes of season two, one of which was "A Portrait For Troian." Troian was the 11th episode in season two, but was filmed originally as part of the season one block.
This version was used in the rest of season one and six episodes of season two, one of which was "A Portrait For Troian." Troian was the 11th episode in season two, but was filmed originally as part of the season one block.
32 years later, it was spotted in a set photo for the 2022 Quantum Leap revival series pilot episode, although not shown on-screen. Enlarge the photo above and look for it in the Radio Shack window!
This version of the handlink would make its' last appearance as a regularly used handlink in the season three episode, "The Great Spontini." In the episode, Al whacks it multiple times and breaks it. "I think I killed it, Sam." From then on, he would permanently use a replacement, fondly dubbed by fans as the Gummy Bear handlink.
It appears one last time in the season
five episode, "Lee
Harvey
Oswald." Gooshie is carrying it down a corridor at Project Quantum
Leap
as he speaks with Al.
Owned by Gene Crowell
Owned by patch011
This version of the handlink gets it's name from a comment Al makes in "The Leap Back" as he tries unsuccessfully to use the handlink from his unexpected leap into 1947. He presses buttons repeatedly at the beginning of the episode as he cries, "Come on, you rotten pile of gummy bears!"
Owned by Deborah Pratt
Owned by Deborah Pratt
Owned by Deborah Pratt
Be sure to watch the video produced by Cosplay Light and Sound featuring our friend and supporter, Morgan Feldon, at the top of this page. In it, he details how to tell the two handlinks apart and approximately how many times each could have been used on-screen.
In the
fifth season episode "Play Ball",
one of the handlinks was damaged and
two pieces of solid acrylic were attached to cover up the holes. In the
images in this section, you can see this damage in the one owned by
Deborah Pratt.
You can see the solid yellow block in this screencap near the top.
Watch this 5-minute guide to even more Handlinks from Quantum Leap.
Then read below for photos and select info on more versions of the handlinks seen in Quantum Leap!
Concept art (1988)
Zoey's handlink is made of orange
translucent acrylic with black screen printed icons on the front three
tabs.
There
is no known image of the actual prop, so we have used episode images
here. It appears to be a clear acrylic inverted pyramid with colorful
gems attached. Fiber-optic lights are used to illuminate it.
(Screencap from "Future Boy")
The prop (pictured right) is a repurposed non-functional gummy bear handlink painted over with primary colors.
"According to my gyrograph, we are aboard a futuristic cruise ship in the year 1987!
-- Captain Galaxy, "Future Boy"
When this first
appeared in an ebay auction in March 2006, some fans thought it to be a
fake. However, this was used during the production, although not
on-screen. It was created by HMS Creative Productions and used as a
stand-in to set up shots. It features five blinking lights and a toggle
switch to turn it on/off. It is made of translucent acrylic in pastel
colors. It sold for $2,000 on ebay.
In 2022, this prop reappeared when Martin Gero, showrunner for the Quantum Leap revival series, posted a video of this handlink in operation. (Seen above, right) This would be used on-screen in the revival series!
In 2022, this prop reappeared when Martin Gero, showrunner for the Quantum Leap revival series, posted a video of this handlink in operation. (Seen above, right) This would be used on-screen in the revival series!
2022-2024 Revival Series Handlinks
Concept Art | Disc Style | Tablet Style | Return of the Gummy Bear
For more information and photos of 2022 series replicas, visit our 2022-2024 Handlinks page.
This disc-style handlink
prop measures approximately 3 inches in diameter and approx 1 in in
height.
It features blue illumination in a ring around the edge and an orb in the center.
It features blue illumination in a ring around the edge and an orb in the center.
Production Design - Margot Ready
Prop Master - Dean Wianko
Concept Art - Ray Lai
About a year ago we were wrapping up this little hero prop for the Quantum Leap reboot pilot. There was several concepts getting to this version as the show wanted a sleeker modern look while still giving a nod to the Handlink from the original show.
One of the interesting challenges was all the internal electronics were visible through the translucent body. Custom boards and very intricate wiring was needed as we considered the placement of several LEDs (front and back) as well as batteries and other components all operated by remote control.
First spotted on the desk of Steven Lilien
in early 2022.
Bryan Wynbrandt (center) also showed it off.
Bryan Wynbrandt (center) also showed it off.
From the original television series 1989-1993
Handlink Replicas
ReplicaProps.com
Brad Bowlin | T R Solano | sliderquinn99 | HologramIAm | More Replicas
This Handlink is for sale. More designs coming soon.
Over 100 tiny smd led lights
Touch sensitive stainless steel sensors which control lights and sounds
An amplifier, driving a miniature loud speaker similar to those used in mobile devices
The old J type battery has been replaced with a modern rechargeable battery.
A micro usb charge port has been thoughtfully positioned along the bottom edge for stand-up recharging and display mode.
A sound package that replicates all the sounds heard on the show and interaction that matches the original. Tap on the touch sensors and hear the various beeps, pops and squeals. Whack your palm on the side and hear Ziggy whine.
All this, mounted to a printed circuit board.
Over 12 years have gone into the development of this prop. Progress can be seen in the photos on the Replica Props facebook page here. The Quantum Leap Handlink was featured throughout the series in many different forms. This version is modeled after the prop in the episode "Play Ball." It is made from Laser cut acrylic parts to resembled the original prop in a screen accurate manner. Inside, is a custom electronics package. The electronics simulates the flashing lights and sound effects as displayed on the show. There are touch activated stainless steel rivets that allow you to activate a variety of sound effects. The lights can also be controlled. One of the touch pins controls the speed at which the lights blink, which was common to see in the show. There is an accelerometer that senses a light impact, triggering familiar sound effects. The sounds are played through an 3 watt amplified speaker for clear and loud effect. There is a usb port on the bottom of the prop for recharging the battery. The unit can be left on while charging for display purposes.
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