Helix - in response to the SWFUK podcast - updated

I really enjoyed the SWFUK Podcast, especially the section on Helix. I made collecting Helix one of my priorities from early on and I wish now that I had forked out on some of the (then) higher prices because now Helix has gone through the roof. I don't have it all but I have a nice selection.

In addition to the information on the podcast; Helix Stationery arrived in U.K shops in late February or early March 1978. Helix like all of the Star Wars ephemera producers deliberately waited until January and February until releasing their produce, except for Letraset who made a fortune in the months leading up to the film with its first three transfer sets. Heinz launched a "Spectacular Star Wars school set by Helix" offer on its cans of baked beans with 8 grilled pork sausages in February.

There seemed to be a correlation with Letraset, with Helix producing only items to draw with and Letraset producing items to write and draw on.

The Death Star pencil sharpener was probably multi-coloured because it was simply a globe pencil sharpener given a re-paint. As the machinery was set up for full colour, it would have been a waste (and be not as fun) to simply make it grey.

Helix first advertised its products in Star Wars Weekly later in the year (I don't have the issue to hand), ready for the new school term and replicated the campaign in 1979. We're not talking about items that were only for sale in the 70's. I remember Helix Star Wars being on sale in the eighties and maybe early nineties, which was overstock either at Helix or individual stores. It is probably down to collectors picking up this stock, that examples exist in mint condition today.

The pencil top display box is common because Jason Joiner found a stack of them while he was on holiday in (I believe) the Channel Islands in the mid 90's. That man has the luck of the devil and it also shows that Helix Star Wars was available outside of the U.K. I bought mine from Jason and I expect every single one that has come up for sale is from his find.

As the podcast pointed out, there was not any stationery of any kind produced in the U.K for The Empire Strikes Back. I assisted James Simmons with an article on Star Wars stationery for the U.K. Star Wars Fan Club fanzine in the 1990's, where we combined our knowledge.

I'm pretty confident I have collected the entire run of H.C Ford Star Wars/Return of the Jedi Stationery including all of the shop display boxes, although I need a stack of pencils to fill the individual tins - yeah I'll need some luck there. My "holy grail" is an unused big boxed Return of the Jedi stationery set, which was far too expensive for me to buy in 1983 (I have an empty box). Originally there was a single sheet of red cardboard inside, to which various items were vac-formed (does anyone out there have such a beast?).

Craig.

Fantastic Craig,

Thanks for all of this information.

Do you know the rarity of the following or if examples exist?

Vinyl Pencil Case Shop Display (I know of 2)

Die Cut Eraser Display (I know of 1)

Maths Tin Display (I know of 0)

Death Star Sharpener Display (I know of 1)

R2-D2 Shop Advertisement Display (Cant even find a picture)

Once again- big thanks Craig, you got me real excited to uncover the mystery of these.

Best Wishes,

Grant

I echo this. These are the kind of posts we'd hoped the podcast would generate.

I had one of those pencil sharpeners and only recall it because of the unique design.

That's a wonderful response Craig and a really interesting read.

If you have any pictures of these items would love to see them.

Thank you for your response it's great that the podcast can get everyone talking about the things we have covered.

Here is the first comic advert:

That's a great pic of the first Helix ad.

I really wish I had some more information on Helix than I covered in my other post. I don't know of a display box for the maths set tins – but anything is possible. All of the display boxes bar the one for the pencil tops must number in the ones and twos.

I think many people will remember some Lucasfilm reference pictures of Helix emerging a few years ago but my Google search can't locate them. I copied the pictures at the time but my wife blew up our old computer and I don't think that I have them anymore.

My Helix collection is locked away at another location but I don't have any genuine "wow" items except for the circular R2-D2 ruler display box. I have a single Death Star pencil sharpener which I swapped for an loose Barada figure about a hundred years ago - the guy thought I was being such a mug.

It's great that Helix is generating some love among collectors (except for the prices) – perhaps the H.C Ford items will become as popular in time.

I found some reference pics of my H.C Ford collection, which I simply love to bits.

Craig.

Great post Craig.

I love this stuff - sadly out of my price range now. I remember some of the stuff back in the day

Here is the maths, pencil top, pencil case and sharpener displays:

That advert is one of the best sources of Helix info that we have - good to see it here. We're lucky Helix placed such an emphasis on advertising!

In addition to the maths set tin display box, I have never come across a display box for the erasers in someone's collection or advertised for sale.

It would be nice to find that these items have been preserved somewhere.

Craig.

Simply Sci-fi said:

I have never come across a display box for the erasers in someone's collection or advertised for sale.

It would be nice to find that these items have been preserved somewhere.

Craig.

Click to expand...

I spoke to someone who has one last weekend. He told me he bought one 20 years ago for £15. Trusted and respected collector/dealer. Maybe I can get a photo from him when I see him next month.

This is the only other picture I have of the Die-cut erasers counter display box:

Great to see this stuff, reminds me of being in Junior School again.

I had the HCFord blue Stationary Set with Luke and Leia, my brother had the red set - R2 and C3p0.

I also had a Maths set to encourage me to do better at Maths.........didn't work I still can't add up very well :lol:

I just love all of the classic Star Wars stationery. I agree memories of school days is a lot to do with it.

That eraser display box - wow. That's on my want list.

Craig.

I just love all of the classic Star Wars stationery. I agree memories of school days is a lot to do with it.

That eraser display box - wow. That's on my want list.

Craig.

Yeah man- then you'll have to fill it

One step at a time!

We need to get Paul Bullock onto this forum, he owns a crapload of Helix gear. Ill pm him over at RS.

I really enjoyed the podcast, guys.

I was listening in the background so might have misheard but I think you mentioned something about there being no ESB branded stationary in the UK. There was tin pencil cases made by Metal Box Ltd with ESB pictures and logos. I think they mentioned Made In UK on them but I'm relying on memory there. They also made squareish, er, metal boxes.

Good point about the tins by Metal Box Ltd in 1980. The trouble was that although they were made in the U.K, they were exported for the American market. We didn't get them in our shops, except perhaps in very small numbers. Unless others have more info on the subject?

Metal Box Ltd was not listed in the U.K press kit for The Empire Strikes Back as being a producer of merchandise in conjunction with the release. The only "cash in" products that were made after the film hit the screens, were quick to produce items such as the sticker set, childrens' night wear and bath set. I don't think that the Metal Box line could have been produced quickly as a "cash in."

I don't personally remember seeing the Metal Box items in the shops and I was looking pretty hard at the time, unless I was just unlucky!

Craig.

Simply Sci-fi said:

Good point about the tins by Metal Box Ltd in 1980. The trouble was that although they were made in the U.K, they were exported for the American market. We didn't get them in our shops, except perhaps in very small numbers. Unless others have more info on the subject?

Metal Box Ltd was not listed in the U.K press kit for The Empire Strikes Back as being a producer of merchandise in conjunction with the release. The only "cash in" products that were made after the film hit the screens, were quick to produce items such as the sticker set, childrens' night wear and bath set. I don't think that the Metal Box line could have been produced quickly as a "cash in."

I don't personally remember seeing the Metal Box items in the shops and I was looking pretty hard at the time, unless I was just unlucky!

Craig.

Click to expand...

Ah right. I can't confirm I saw them here either. When I did see them as an adult collector they had an instant pang of familiarity to them but I'm aware of False Star Wars Memory Syndrome! I did buy one from a 'loft-find' kinda guy in the UK once as part of a lot for what little that's worth.

Hi everyone, I've got a display box for the Helix Pencil Cases and a display box for the Helix Maths Set that I've decided to sell, probably on EBay, but I was wondering if you all might be able to tell me just how rare are these now and what sort of prices do they command? They are a bit used, and the Pencil Case box has a tear in its side but that was caused by the shop owner, who didn't open it correctly for displaying purposes (it seems it was never actually opened properly as it should have been!) ... I'm guessing by what I'm reading here they may be pretty rare and worth something, even if they're not in new condition but any advice or info would be most appreciated ... Thank you.

If anyone's interested I could upload some photos?

Cheers and thanks