Controller questions

[tap]

I'm trying to restore my childhood Master System to like-new condition and I had a question about controllers.

My family had some of those little plastic nubs you could screw into the controller's d-pad growing up, but I've since lost them.

Did those little plastic nubs come with the system, or was that an accessory you had to buy extra?

Also, did all of the controllers come with the little plastic cover that goes over the hole (that you would screw the nub into, if you were going to use one of those)? About half of the controllers I have are missing those covers, especially the oldest controllers (the ones with the wire coming out of the side instead of the top).

Finally, do those little nubs just screw in? I have a single controller with one still attached, and that sucker does not want to come out.

[Centrale]

The thumbsticks came with the system in its earliest years, at least in the U.S. All the controllers had the plastic covers. And yes, they screw in.

I got my SMS for Christmas '87, and tried out the thumbsticks briefly but found them uncomfortable. Still, I thought it was a class move to provide the option. The later control pads without a cover, just smooth plastic on the d-pad, they don't quite look right to me. But I reckon it's just what I'm used to.

[tap]

I've never even seen one of the late era controllers with the smooth d-pad in person.

Sounds like I've got my work cut out for me if I want to finish this project. Any idea where I can find some of those covers or sticks? I'm not having any luck online.