Reginald Barclay with Tucker tubes in 2377
Tucker tubes were devices, each consisting of a pair of generators connected by a transparent tube, in which energy beams were visible. Their power output was measured in cochranes, a unit of subspace distortion. (LD: "I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee")
Tucker tubes were already in use among Humans in the 22nd century, including on Cold Station 12. (ENT: "Cold Station 12") In the 23rd century they were used on United Federation of Planets facilities such as Regula I and Starfleet ships. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan; Star Trek V: The Final Frontier) By the 24th century they were in common use not only in the Federation, but also among non-Federation species such as Talarians and Tanugans. (TNG: "A Matter of Perspective", "Suddenly Human"; VOY: "Inside Man")
Tucker tubes were used by Doctor Arik Soong in his hideout on Trialas IV, as well as by his descendant Noonien Soong in his laboratory on Omicron Theta. (ENT: "Cold Station 12"; TNG: "Datalore")
Tucker tubes in the USS Cerritos engineering in 2381
In 2381, Ensign Sam Rutherford increased the power output of the Tucker tubes on USS Cerritos by seven picocochranes. Meanwhile, Ensign Livik added a third tube to create an improved version of the device, which he named "Billups tubes" after his superior, Andy Billups. (LD: "I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee")
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Background information[]
The device was a prop commonly seen in many movies and TV series aside from Star Trek. It was created by the company Modern Props, originally for The Incredible Hulk television series. Its catalogue number was #195-290-1 and it was described as "dual generators with rotating neon lights inside an acrylic tube; light-controlled panel with knobs and buttons". [1] Notable appearances include Airplane II: The Sequel, where it was seen on the lunar base commanded by William Shatner's character, Buck Murdock.
It first appeared on Star Trek in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and was used multiple times in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise, but was not named until LD: "I Have No Bones Yet I Must Flee". Prior to this, they were informally known as "lateral neon "blinky" units". (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (1st ed., p. 227))
The name is a reference to Charles Tucker III. In an interview with Screenrant, supervising director Barry J. Kelly mentions "references to [Star Trek:] Enterprise" and the "name-drop [of] someone about a particular engineering element." [2]. Based on the name and its appearances in ENT: "Cold Station 12" it is likely that the device was invented by Tucker prior to 2154.