Hey everybody, I'm not sure if this is a fuzzy memory or not  but I like many of you had the most memorable Star Wars Christmas circa 1977.  I was only 5 at the time and I'm not sure if the item I'm remembering is from that year or shortly after. Anyways I remember a lightsaber with a hollow plastic tube with a flashlight to light up a color tube that when you swung it it made the hollow tube end lightsaber noise. My older brother and I destroyed them within a week but I tried to find my recent memory on eBay and Google pics but could not definitively pinpoint the item... Can anyone confirm this item for me? Is it a unicorn item because I live in ohio where lots of items where made? ( as I found out on toy hunter on tv recently) I will always remember that Star Wars Christmas, I still have all my toys except the lightsaber and solos gun. My brother and I even sent in our 5 proof of purchases to get boba fet in the mail!  Excited for disneys attempt...

You may be thinking of the Kenner 1978 inflatable light saber which was very cool I had one as well I was 11 when the movie came out oh the memories .

Here is a photo of it hopefully it helps


And a link to Ebay where you can find them
Ebay link removed as per forum rules

Thank you for the reply, I did see the inflatable ones but that wasn't it. I remember the plastic bending and denting when we fought (which was non stop, lol). It had a lightsaber handle with stickers that took d batteries (maybe c) that lit up a tube. It had a color disk over the light. It was an opaque plastic tube that when the light turned on it looked like a red lightsaber. For all I know maybe my father made them for us, he has passed away so I can't ask.

now I think I know which one you mean they had so many different toys back then it's hard to keep them all straight lol. They had one that they called "The Force" lightsabers in green and red with a more solid tube that came out in the 1980's here is a photo I liked this one more then the blow up one myself. I believe they also had some collapsible blade ones as well.

There was also 'The Force Beam' (which I had in '70's).







:welcome:to TIG btw.

Nice pics of the Force Beam, Steve


Here are two vintage ads for the UK Force Beam, distributed by Loydale. I noticed yours is distributed by Jack A. Levin and Assoc.
Ist ad is mine, 2nd Stef's. Both from 1978.
Love the cheesy artwork on these  







and welcome to the forum Robdogg3

Wow you guys nailed it, as soon as I saw the pic of the force beam I knew that was it! The advertisement that had the chain offer on the back was familiar, I can remember seeing that as a kid, wow! Now I have to find one and surprise my brother with it thanks guys!!!!

As I looked closer it looks like the force beam chain advertisement was from Europe, fuzzy memories yes but I remember staring at all my Star Wars stuff and coming across a chain offer.... after all it was 37 years ago:)!

I'm pleased that we were able to help you.

As a child I thought my saber was the real deal like all of my other Star Wars toys. It was only as an adult when I saw the licensed sabers that I began to question what I had (it took quite some time to find out). Like yours, mine was quite heavily abused and unfortunately I can't recall what happened to it. I'm now tempted to seek one out.

I think you started something now Robdogg3, I am also wanting to get one like I had when I was younger as well lol

I just found both types on Ebay here is the link they are not cheap though

link removed.

Hi Larry, I removed your link. I already removed an earlier one, too. Sorry, no eBay links to any live auctions on TIG

Paul (ArtooDetour)

ooops sorry about that thanks

I had that same toy when I was a kid too :-) I'd been searching for one for years and finally managed to find one for my collection this past year.

They do pop up from time to time on eBay but not as frequently as the Kenner saber does. From the searching I've done finding one with the tube intact doesn't happen as often as I've seen just the handle part for up auction. I played around with the idea of getting the handle then finding an old plastic golf club tube to replace the missing part but tracking one of those down proved to be even harder to do and these days they seem to only come in black plastic.

The stupidly expensive one on eBay has been listed at its Buy it Now price for months so it obviously isn't worth what they are trying to get for it. The tube and handle might be in great shape but it's missing the sticker and hand guard -- from the auctions I have seen the hand guard is usually missing. It does have the end cap which is nice as those can be hard to find too. I've seen one or two variations in what they used for the end cap/tip and you can also find them with a similar flat cap in red plastic or with a rounded cap that matches the tube.

I'm kind of surprised that there isn't more interest in this toy as, apparently, a lot of us owned one. I guess because it isn't a licensed product --and frankly it is on the cheap side-- it doesn't attract the interest that the Kenner toy does.

Good luck on your quest, I hope you find one soon!

Cheers,

Dave

I seem to remember the end being open so when it was swung it made (sort of) that light saber noise. Lol it was so real at the time. Thanks again everyone. The search awakens....

I just checked out the one on eBay... $100. Man it's even unused with the color disc still taped to the handle! That's a bit more than I should spend especially after the holidays. The kid in me says buy it but the mortgage man over my shoulder says hold out for a lesser version! Lol.

Make offer option on eBay ?! I put in an offer, I'll let you know how it turns out. Now if I can find another maybe I can challenge my big brother again only this time maybe I'll win:)!

made offer and got it! $55. Still a bit much but I got it!

Congratulations on getting it!

Awesome, well done!

Congrats  When you can post pics in a few days get some pics up here.

Well just an update.. I got my Force Beam lightsaber and it was just as I remember for the most part. I made a hilarious vid to show my brother and when I swung it hard to make the whoosh sound the blade flew off! Lol. A lil super glue and I was back in business.
The obsession grows, I have since purchased a signature series FX Aniken Skywalker light saber. I have to say it's one of the coolest things I've ever seen LOL. I have since bought Darth Vader and am now looking into others. My question to the forum would be how many did they make and what is the rarity I think I saw only 1200 count Dooku's made?

Congrats

The SWCA has a list Light Sabers