THIS IS IT GUYS AND GALS......The first Skywalker lightsaber prop replica prototype, that lead to the first issuance of a Star Wars license for this product category by Lucasfilm Ltd., that was prototyped and produced by the pioneering licensed film and television prop replica company, Icons Authentic Replicas. That has often been compared to the ambitious "Tucker" Automobile company.
In the summer of 1995, Icons Authentic Replicas was formed by five individuals : Douglas Conway, James Latta, Mike Moore, David Elkouby and Lance Davis. A 6th partner joined Icons in 1996, Michael Rogers.
In the fall of 1995, the first five partners began formalizing the founding of Icons and researched, developed and fabricated an extensive and unprecedented line of 1:1 scale film and television prop replicas. These were produced in total secrecy. The banner licensed property that Icons was most hoping to procure was obviously the blockbuster science-fiction franchise, Star Wars. In Lucasfilm Ltd.'s 18 years of overseeing the issuance of licensing to licensees of Star Wars merchandise, they had received over 1,000 licensing proposals submitted by various individuals, businesses and corporations relating to proposed prop replica licensed product-lines. Icons was well aware of this fact, due to Jim Latta's then close relationship with Star Wars aficionado and author Stephan Sansweet, who at this time, was still not an official Lucasfilm employee.
Icons endeavored to separate itself from the pack, per say, by striving to create a very comprehensive, formal licensing business proposal, complete with extensive emphasis on unique marketing, sales, merchandising, packaging and distribution strategies, together with extremely well-made and authentic 1:1 scale prop replicas, fabricated by actual film and television special effects prop fabricators. Icons access to extraordinary movie and TV professionals in various fields gave them a competitive edge that other prospective licensees would find difficult to match and or excel. What Icons developed in the way of proposing licensed Hollywood film and television prop, miniature and wardrobe replicas, over a decade ago, to this day has not been equaled or surpassed. The Walt Disney Company stated that in its long history of merchandise licensing, the Icons licensing proposal that was submitted to them, accompanied by prototypes was the finest they had ever received from a prospective licensee.
A pioneering company that inspired and altered the way, the entire licensed entertainment merchandise industry researches, develops, manufactures and distributes limited-edition collectibles, to this day. The often bitter-jealousy of lesser, unimaginative, dishonest and shallow individuals, often gets in the way of giving adequate credit where credit is due. Regardless of the controversy surrounding the collapse of Icons in the spring of 2000, the evidence of this legendary company's great influence and positive contributions is evident in every area of the film and television licensed merchandise arena.
In the summer of 1995, the Icons dream began to take hold. A dream that would change the lives of everyone associated with it. A dream that was often realized and reached the pinnacle of success, and a nightmare that descended into the deepest pit of despair.
As part of the licensing agreement, Icons needed to immediately provide five finished product samples of Star Wars Skywalker 1:1 scale lightsabers. The five units had to be manufactured by Icons and all be exactly similar in design and fabrication. The Skywalker lightsaber pictured here is #1 of the 5 requested by Lucasfilm Ltd. at this time. This exact lightsaber was archived at Icons from 1995 until 2000.
Like the other 4, it is very different from the final, mass-manufactured Skywalker lightsabers produced by Icons in their Sun Valley and North Hollywood, California locations. Firstly, the body was made out of an original Graflex 3-cell photoflash unit handle. As it had been fabricated by fans of Star Wars for many years. Thus, the end of this Skywalker lightsaber does not have the official Lucasfilm Ltd. stamp on the butt-end of the "D-Ring" clip area. The other customization pieces on the unit, were hand-machined and fabricated, one at a time, to create the authentic look of the original Star Wars Skywalker lightsaber used in the production of Star Wars. The saber's handgrips are made of cast polyurethane resin from the same masters that were used to create Icons injected plastic handgrips later seen in the final mass-manufactured versions.
Another extremely unique item that is included in the collection is the first plexiglas display case ever created for a licensed Star Wars lightsaber. It is depicted in the above photograph. The narrow plexiglas display case containing the Skywalker lightsaber is much different from the standard released version sold to the public. This display case has never before been seen by the public.
This specific Skywalker lightsaber was shipped to Lucasfilm Ltd. as one of the five manufacturer's prototype samples, and then returned to Icons to be referenced for the mass-production assembly-line of Star Wars Skywalker lightsabers.
Just above is an original 8" x 10", full-color studio photograph of the Star Wars Skywalker lightsaber, used in the Tri-fold brochure and advertisements, known as the "executive desk-model" photograph (one of Lucas favorite). Note : this was an important part of Icons marketing strategy, to appeal to older, and potentially more affluent collectors.
And finally, some "test proof comps" of the first Star Wars Skywalker lightsaber advertisement.
Amazing find fred
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