Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Did The Design For Darth Vader Come From An Old LES Oddities Shop?
By
Jen Carlson
Published Feb 19, 2012
Modified Feb 19, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Feb 19, 2012
Modified Feb 19, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Luke, I am your Father Time
While scanning through this 1946 issue of Modern Mechanix, we noticed something that looked incredibly similar to Darth Vader, who wasn't created until much later, and didn't appear on the big screen until 1977. In the issue, it states:
In a little place no larger than a vestibule on Manhattan’s Lower East Side waterfront is one of the oddest clock shops in existence. It’s a veritable museum, crammed to the ceiling with thousands of clocks, many of them over 300 years old and representing practically every nationality in every shape and size. The shop was started in 1892 by Fred Jensen, a young immigrant watchmaker from Denmark. Today, four generations of Fred Jensens (Junior, III, and IV) spend their time putting aged timepieces, into working condition, and dreaming up new and ever more complicated clocks.
This clock was described as a "100 year old oriental warrior clock... the eyes and teeth light up." Interesting, Vader was also a warrior, who also had parts that lit up. Sure, the clock doesn't have a cape (at least not one that's we can see in the photo), but even the "clothing" around the arms looks similar to the Dark Lord's:
The original Vader design started with a concept by Ralph McQuarrie, and finished by sculptor Brian Muir, neither of whom lived in New York City... but who's to say they didn't visit. Something to think about, at least until we can locate the whereabouts of this clock and unmask it.
At the very least, there was some very early Steampunk action happening on the LES in the '40s.
Tagged
clock
clock shop
Darth Vader
flashback
history
LES
star wars
steampunk
warrior
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 16, 2026
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .