Doctor Who has been a major cornerstone of science fiction for almost 58 years, with plenty of time-traveling adventures across televisions, audio dramas, novels, comics, and even a film. The Doctor is often known for using a trusty sonic screwdriver, a multi-purpose tool that can unlock doors, activate machines, and perform other various tasks.
Not all problems require the use of the sonic screwdriver, however. From improvised devices to futuristic technology, the Doctor and their companions have learned to make the most of objects around them to solve their problems.
Timey-Wimey Detector
The Timey-Wimey Detector was a memorable device originating from "Blink," one of Steven Moffat's most beloved episodes in the series according to IMDB. Pitched by the 10th Doctor as a machine that "goes ding when there's stuff," it was a multipurpose device that could detect temporal anomalies and boil eggs from a distance, cobbled together from various bits and bobs.
The fandom fell in love with the Timey-Wimey Detector's randomness, considering its creation a highlight of the 10th Doctor. It proved so popular that a similar device appeared in The Day of The Doctor, the 50th anniversary special of Doctor Who.
The Doctor's Pockets
Whether foiling the Daleks' latest inane scheme or saving planet Earth, the Doctor's usually prepared for anything - even if they themselves don't realize it yet. Despite differences in costumes, all incarnations of the Doctor share one important clothing item: a coat with infinitely large pockets.
Within their pockets, the Doctor has a variety of handy tools and miscellaneous junk. Over the years, their pocket's contents have included yo-yos, wire, spoons, magnifying glasses, and other oddities.
The TARDIS Food Machine
Many fans of Doctor Who have asked themselves how the Doctor and their companions manage to keep themselves fed while staying aboard the TARDIS. The answer comes in the form of the TARDIS food machine, which resided within the onboard kitchen.
Upon selecting a code, the food machine would dispense a tiny nutrition bar that could taste like any food in existence. While the food machine primarily serves as a running gag, the 10th Doctor once used it to outsmart a creature known as the Glutonoid.
The Time Ring
Also known as a time bracelet, the time rings were the classic counterparts of the modern era's vortex manipulators. They were commonly used by the Time Lords, with the 2nd and 4th Doctors using them to return people to their proper time period.
While the rings started off as larger devices, they eventually became compact enough for 7th Doctor companion, Bernice Summerfield, to use as wedding rings when marrying Jason Kane. They have since gone out of use in the main canon to make way for vortex manipulators and other methods of time travel.
'Bessie'
Shortly after regenerating, the 3rd Doctor found himself exiled to Earth with no way to use the TARDIS' traveling capabilities. Instead, he found himself behind the wheel of a bright yellow Austin roadster lovingly dubbed 'Bessie.' While working with the organization known as UNIT, the Doctor used Bessie to drive to wherever he needed to go for that episode instead of taking the TARDIS.
Bessie wasn't only a fancy means of transportation, however. The Doctor could also control Bessie using a remote controller, which helped him apprehend the Master in the village of Devil's End.
The Whomobile
Bessie wasn't the only car driven by the 3rd Doctor. After the introduction of beloved companion Sarah Jane Smith, the 3rd Doctor had built a hovercar, known as 'the Whomobile,' that ran on carbon dioxide gas. The Doctor used the Whomobile as an alternate means of transport besides Bessie, and it was also able to fly.
In reality, the Whomobile belonged to Jon Pertwee, the man behind the 3rd Doctor. He showed it off on an episode of the children's show Blue Peter, where he revealed the car was street legal and that he had it commissioned himself.
The Vortex Manipulator
Frequently used by characters such as River Song, Jack Harkness, and the Doctor's best friend/enemy, the Master, the vortex manipulator has proved a pivotal tool for characters looking to catch up with the Doctor. It serves as a rudimentary time travel device, created by 51st century Time Agents, used to quickly hop from one time period to the next.
The Doctor themselves don't use a vortex manipulator, and for good reason: it's much more dangerous than traveling in the safety of the TARDIS. The vortex manipulator leaves the 's at the mercy of the Time Vortex. While it's good for getting from one place to another, using it too much is not recommended.
The TARDIS Key
The Doctor's TARDIS has always worked in mysterious ways, leaving some fans to question the logic behind it. Even its key seems to contain fantastical properties, operating as a homing beacon for the TARDIS. The Doctor could use the TARDIS key to call the TARDIS from far away, as well as locate it when it disappeared.
Some of the Doctor's most loyal companions, including but not limited to Sarah Jane Smith, Rose Tyler, and River Song, were eventually gifted their own TARDIS keys as a sign of trust. The TARDIS key has come to represent not only a splinter of the true power of the TARDIS but also the everlasting bond the Doctor makes with their friends.
Psychic Paper
While classic Doctors made use of the psychic paper's helpful properties, it did not fully integrate into the Doctor's regular toolkit until the new series premiered in 2005. Whenever shown to someone, the psychic paper would take on the form of whatever the other person wanted to see.
Primarily, the Doctor has used psychic paper to fake credentials, claiming to be everything from a royal inspector to the Imperial Consul. It could also project psychic messages to and from the Doctor in lieu of a distress signal.
Jelly Babies
Tom Baker's 4th Doctor was amongst the most likable of the Doctor's incarnations, and he brought an unorthodox tool with him on adventures: a bag of Jelly Babies. Jelly Babies are a popular British candy originating in the 1800s, but the Doctor doesn't just use them to stave off sugar cravings.
Jelly Babies are a versatile tool, with a variety of uses for every situation. Whenever the Doctor needed to lure away guards, bluff enemies with a 'deadly weapon', or baffle his friends, he could always reach for his never-ending white bag of Jelly Babies.