Original Stormtrooper today
We produced the originals for the first Star Wars ANH film back in 1976 and are still producing fantastic products more than 30 years later. Read our story below!
Star Wars Memorabilia
After working in the movie props business during the late 70's, Andrew Ainsworth spends the next 25 years successfully designing and producing watersports products. Andrew recalls "We were back in the house in Twickenham which we'd rebuilt after the fire. I was being hassled for school fees (how life changes). On top of the wardrobe were a few remnants of a past era - yes - Star Wars characters. Almost without my knowledge they were dispatched to Christie's for a Christmas auction. Even I was surprised when they fetched $60,000. With the school fees paid and the phone vibrating itself off the wall with enquires, it occurred to me that there might be justice in the world after all."
ANH props in storage
While at Shepperton Studios Andrew meticulously kept all moulds on racks in an organised manner and all with protective skins moulded and left on them until further use. Andrew explains "We used to sell the same props, or derivatives of, several times over, as new production companies came and went. This was standard practice at all studios and in fact the 'prop stores' are without a doubt the most fascinating insight into movie history. The word `prop` means property. The items we retained from film productions were our property and it was our business to reinvent them or sell them again for the production of lesser movies or maybe ads."
After finishing with the film business and requiring valuable space, Andrew decided one day in the early eighties to have a clear out. Out went the Stormtrooper armour moulds, but hekept the protective skins for reference. He also kept the moulds for the helmets as they were better made, in pretty good condition and possibly one day may have a use.
Dusting down the moulds
We are happy to report that the moulds are in excellent condition after their near 30 year sleep in the props store. They have been well looked after! We have carried out some minor renovation work on the moulds to ensure that the helmets we produce today are as close to the originals as possible. We are confident that our customers will treasure these helmets for years to come.
Andrew continues "We mean exactly what we say 'The Original Maker, The Original Moulds'. I make each helmet by hand using the original moulds* I made in 1976 for ANH. Helmets from us here at Originalstormtrooper.com are truly unique as they are first generation facsimiles of the on-screen designs and feature the same idiosyncracies as the original helmets. Invest in our helmets and armour and you acquire a piece of movie history."
*apart from the Battle Spec helmet which is partly CNC machined.
