Box Back and Side (click to enlarge)
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Box Back and Side (click to enlarge)
ROTJ Box (click to enlarge)
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Catalog Description:
STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI Made for realistic battle action play! Starting with The VEHICLE MAINTENANCE ENERGIZER, used to repair ships hard hit by enemy fire! Comes with 8 hydrospanners, 2 energizer hoses with suction cups and readout cylinder. The TRIPOD LASER CANNON comes with "energizer" unit and hose, has movable tripods, and a cannon that makes machine gun sounds when turned. The RADAR LASER CANNON swivels, turns, clicks, and even "blows apart" into 4 pieces. Each toy sold separately. Action Figures sold separately. Ages 4 and up. Source: 1983 Kenner Toy Fair Catalog |
Description:
First issued in 1982 along with the Vehicle Maintenance Engerizer and Radar Laser Cannon, the Tri-Pod Laser Cannon survived on shelves all the way through 1984. Its popularity was surely due to its cool design, as well as to the fact that it actually played a prominent part in The Empire Strikes Back. The toy came with a few components, including a hose and energizer box.
Although the original ESB issue of the item isn't incredibly common in unused condition, the later Return of the Jedi version is probably the most common vintage Star Wars toy. Cases full of unopened examples still exist, a fact which means that sealed Tri-Pod Laser Cannons are pretty easy to come by. It also means that they aren't worth a whole lot.
In the late '90s, Hasbro issued a new rendition of the Tri-Pod Laser Cannon. It differed noticeably from its vintage counterpart. For one thing, its "legs" were longer and much thinner.
First Issued: 1982 (ESB packaging)
Re-issues: 1983 (ROTJ packaging, with 3 accessories on back)
