How a Camera Flash became Star Wars’ Most Famous Prop
Props from the Star Wars film series are legendary and instantly recognisable. Even if you’ve never watched the films, you’ll likely be familiar with Darth Vader’s helmet or Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber. What many people don’t realise is that these iconic props were created on a tight budget, often using vintage objects found in unexpected places.
In a curious twist, a now highly collectible piece of photographic equipment became one of cinema’s most iconic weapons. The result is an unusual overlap between two communities: die-hard Star Wars fans and vintage photography collectors.
The surprising origin of the lightsaber
When production began on Episode IV – A New Hope, director George Lucas wanted everything on screen to look weathered and real. To create this sense of authenticity, set decorator Roger Christian hunted through London’s antique and second-hand shops in search of unusual materials.
In a dusty photography store on Great Marlborough Street, he found a 1940s Graflex camera fitted with a 3-cell flash handle. It had just the right industrial feel and shape to become the base of Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber. With a few modifications, including blue projection material to create the glowing blade effect under lighting, it was transformed into one of the most iconic props in film history.
Lot 335. A Pair of Flash Heads. Estimate: £80 – 120
From scrap bin to museum showcase
One of the original lightsaber props made by Christian cost just US$15 to create. That same prop sold in 2012 for US$250,000 to the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle. It remains one of the most valuable film weapons ever auctioned.
When photography meets film fandom
As Star Wars became a global phenomenon, vintage photography collectors found themselves competing with film memorabilia enthusiasts. Graflex flash handles, once a niche collectable, began to disappear from the market, snapped up by fans looking to build replica lightsabers. Today, even an unmodified Graflex can sell for hundreds or even thousands of pounds.
Some workshops now specialise in adapting Graflex cameras to match the on-screen lightsaber in every detail. A few even create models commissioned by Disney, with prices for these premium builds reaching US$15,000. With the reappearance of Luke’s lightsaber in The Force Awakens and other recent films, demand has only intensified.
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