Helix Death Star pencil sharpener

[hiflyman]

Hi,

I hope you don't mind, i joined the forum to ask a question about an item i have on sale on ebay, which has gotten more attention than i anticipated and made me wonder why, and so i thought this forum was a good place to ask.

The 1975 Helix Death Star pencil sharpener was part of a stationary set i had a a child, and sorting out items from my youth to raise a few pounds and see them go to a new home where they can hopefully be appreciated once again, as my kids are unfortunately not interested.

So if anyone can shed some light on what makes the helix item seem so popular when there are many many other Star Wars items out there it would be good to know, thanks. maybe i was wrong to list it (or ask opinions on this forum?) but with a couple of days remaining and people offering me buy it now cash, i'm thinking what makes a tin 2" pencil sharpener so interesting, there must be hundreds or more sold back in the 70's

Thanks

 

[edd_jedi]

The seller contacted me through eBay for advice, I won't post the auction link, but here is the item in question:

I don't know much about them so if anybody else can help...

 

[poncho]

Craig stevens Podcast info

http://www.starwarsforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=21077

 

[ScruffyLookingNH]

Nice piece and very, very sought after. Personally, I think they're cool in a 20 quid kind of way, but these are selling for anything between £150 and £250 now, dependent upon condition and how many people want one on eBay on the day. I guess they don't hold a special place in my heart because I don't remember them like I do the scented erasers or pencils, etc. Never recall even seeing one of these as a kid.

If this is as mint as it looks then I wouldn't end the auction early. I would expect yours to go for around £200.

 

[x-pack]

Nice item but I agree with Scruffy - nice in a £20 sort of way. Still, some items are surprising, and this is one of those 'outside the box' lines that have exploded recently. Stationary is hugely popular at the minute.

Good for you mate 8)

 

[steve obi wan]

Nice item , but a very small collectors market .

Expect £150 to £200

 

[palitoyjunky]

I too really love it and wanted one I was prepared to go all out and pay as much as £50 for one a couple of years ago :shock:
Then I found out what kind of money they can go for so said no thanks :lol:

 

[hiflyman]

Thanks for the replies.

And thanks to poncho for the heads up on the podcast - wow that was a long podcast.. but very interesting. The Helix discussion is right at the end, and it was interesting to learn that they were one of the first companies to register for product licensing in the uk, and the school products was for the u.k market only. Described as one of the "odd ball" items with its disco colours, but probably like many school kids who bought a set (or probably their parents did) it provided many hours of entertainment sharpening the star wars pencils to an inch of their lives before testing the pointy bit on an unsuspecting friends hand instead of paying attention in class, only be then hit by a board rubber sent hurtling from the front of the room by a teacher that always seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. Good times, fun days. Makes me wonder if i have kept anything else from my early star wars fan days, still a few boxes of old memorabilia to go through. I know, or i seem to recall the case, erasers, rulers and other bits sitting on my desk under the star wars issue 1 poster, but i suspect that went in the bin as blue tack used to go hard and seep through posters on the wall, and was a b---er to get off. I have come across an item from my space 1999 period - a grey stungun with four lazer beams, well flashing lights, and it still works, boy that brings back memories.

Problem is when you start delving into the past and thinking about happy times you start to think if selling was the right thing to do, sigh.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

 

[jedi_mister]

I had one of these as a kid. Remember fiddling around with it in class and got my finger stuck in the hole. Almost lost my finger getting it back off, the metal edges were really sharp. Definitely wouldn't pass European trading standards today

Hope to get one again one day just for nostalgic reasons which is most probably the same for other people and why they go for silly money. Heart over head.

 

[mumbo]

Last one sold for £321.97 :shock:

Cool piece 8)

 

[Jez]

Problem is when you start delving into the past and thinking about happy times you start to think if selling was the right thing to do, sigh.

So keep it and join us! You already have a great start!
It really is a great piece of history.
Thanks for coming on

 

[Mr-shifter]

Anyone who wants to come on here for valuations advice, selling info or anything else needs to read this as a shining example of how the forum can help people out.

Good luck with your sale. Hope your mind is now at rest as to what you have.

 

[SublevelStudios]

This was my grail piece for some time - hardly ever came up for sale and when they did I kept getting outbid. Finally got one a few weeks back for £150.

It's easily one of the coolest and most iconic pieces from the 1977 Helix range, and very sought after for the reasons some of the other chaps have mentioned, nostalgia. But also because this piece would never be made like this today, it would never get beyond submission stages - look at it! It's a rainbow coloured Death Star! More like a disco ball :lol:

These are now fetching very serious money, as previously mentioned, last one sold on ebay for more than £300, and that was faded. One sold on Vectis before that for £200-odd plus fees.

nearly all the Helix stuff is sought after, it's one of the best looking vintage ranges out there in terms of packaging and design with exclusive artwork not seen anywhere else.

I would seriously consider keeping it, anything that survived your childhood should be treasured, especially a piece like this!

 

[SublevelStudios]

£330.

That's the second one this year so far to reach that price.

Congrats on the sale.