Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

Arts & Entertainment

Gadgets Are Forever: Check Out These Real Bond-Esque Spy Tools

By

Ben Yakas

Published Nov 11, 2012

Modified Nov 11, 2012

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Ashtray concealment for Minox-A camera: MI6 gadget makers machined this aluminum ashtray (with reverse threads) to conceal a small Minox-A camera. When used, it would be filled with dirty cigarette butts and could be left in an agents home or office. Such concealments were of critical importance since intelligence officers had to provide their agents with the ability to conceal a covert camera in their residence.

 

Gothamist

View all 13

By

Ben Yakas

Published Nov 11, 2012

Modified Nov 11, 2012

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

First: if you haven't seen the superb latest James Bond film, Skyfall, you should go do that. But for everyone who has already thoroughly enjoyed Javier Bardem's metrosexual blonde villainy and Daniel Craig's impeccable suit-wearing abilities, there's an easy way you can keep the spy high going. And all it involves is a trip to Times Square.

The "Spy: The Secret World of Espionage" exhibit at Discovery Times Square is highlighting lots of spy artifacts from the vaults of the CIA and FBI, which includes several Bond gadgets as well as six of the real artifacts from the Argo operation. Check out several of the tools above.

The exhibition also features vintage spy technology like WWII-era code-making machines, as well as some more unique intelligence inventions, like Robot Fish "Charlie," a remote-controlled robotic catfish (yes, a robot catfish) and the Insectohopter, a robotic dragonfly used for aerial surveillance in the 1970s.

Tagged

bond

james bond

manhattan

spy

SPY: The Exhibit at Discovery Times Square

Times Square

original

Ben Yakas

Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE arts-entertainment

How the Village Halloween Parade keeps its soul

A visit to the community-driven pre-parade puppet preparations.

By

Hannah Frishberg

Published Oct 28, 2026 at 12:38 p.m. ET

'You Can See Everything' … as long as you go to Staten Island

Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary has been selling out across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Tickets to see the film, however, are very much available in other boroughs.

By

Sonia Rao

Arts & Entertainment

'You Can See Everything' … as long as you go to Staten Island

Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary has been selling out across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Tickets to see the film, however, are very much available in other boroughs.

By

Sonia Rao

Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain

By

Sonia Rao

In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff

By

James Ramsay

A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings

By

Hannah Frishberg

Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .