The Original PropsTwo distinct “breather,” or re-breather, props were created for Thunderball. The first was a hero version designed for close-up shots, used by Sean Connery and held in his mouth during the film’s iconic underwater sequences. The second was a slightly scaled-down version, engineered to fit inside the cigar tube that conceals the device as part of the story.
Both versions were produced by the EON prop department at Pinewood Studios. They combined purpose-made machined components with carefully selected everyday items, most notably miniature gas canisters adapted from a popular brand of soda siphon. These siphons were a familiar household item in Britain during the 1960s, before the widespread adoption of pre-packaged soft drinks.
The ReplicaFactory Entertainment’s replica was developed through close study of surviving original props held in the EON archives, along with period blueprints and production drawings. The central body of the replica is precision-machined from solid brass, while the canisters are cast in a heavyweight alloy. To complete the presentation, a custom cigar tube—machined from durable aluminum—is included, allowing you to replicate the ingenious concealment method seen on screen.
The replica is completed with a display stand, acrylic cover and numbered limited edition metal plaque. A Certificate of Authenticity booklet is also included.