A Classic Star Wars Bootleg Toy – May the Force Beam be With You
During the 1990s, a phase of fervent enthusiasm for vintage Star Wars memorabilia consumed me. It was a time when my wallet seemed to have a perpetual emptiness, as I embarked on a quest to amass as much of the classic Star Wars merchandise as possible. My obsession was a whirlwind of purchasing figures by the boxload, collecting various vehicles and playsets in all their advertised glory, and even obtaining a selection of lightsabers, each with its unique condition and story.
Yet, amid this whirlwind of acquisitions, there remained an elusive treasure that managed to evade my grasp: the notorious Force Beam lightsaber knockoff from the 1970s. Despite my dedicated hunts and ceaseless searches, this artifact remained tantalizingly out of reach.
The Force Beam, a peculiar relic of the era, had captured my imagination with its offbeat charm and nostalgic aura. Its status as a knockoff of the iconic lightsabers added to its intrigue, making it a coveted piece for collectors with a taste for the peculiar and the obscure. However, my endeavors to track down this unique piece of Star Wars history proved fruitless, leaving me with a mixture of fascination and frustration.
Though my wallet may have felt lighter during those wallet-emptying years, the hunt for vintage Star Wars collectibles injected excitement and a sense of adventure into my life. While the elusive Force Beam lightsaber remained an enigma, my passion for the hunt and my appreciation for the rich tapestry of Star Wars memorabilia continued to burn bright, creating lasting memories and stories to share.
The Force Beam was out before other merchandise hit the market and was basically a flashlight on a plastic sword. I love this ad because it is just a mashup of Star Wars stuff and seems so blatant a ripoff in retrospect. Despite this, or maybe because of it, I still want one of these, but I have not had much luck tracking one in decent condition. If you are curious as to what they looked like, the Star Wars Collectors Archive has posted some photos of the Beam in all of it bootleggy glory.