Blue Cavern

The Abilis is a genuine promo shown in the 1993 IMPS catalogue.

But I have no idea about the new ones showing up in lots???

After some research on the web, I think Abilis was a french firm whose business was cleaning.
There is a french flag on the right arm of the Abilis judoka.
If I understood right, Abilis has been bought by the dutch group Vedior and then sold in 1999 to the danish group ISS.

Just to confuse things more, maybe, I've got a judo smurf with the same markings as the Abilis promo, but without any of the Abilis promo markings. Just a plain one. Also no hole in the head where a keyring would have gone. Any ideas? No cavity number on it as with the Abilis ones. Christy and Dyer both have this one as well.
Cheers,
Tommo

All I can think on this one Tommo is that they were destined to be Abilis, but did not get the Tricolour or the Abilis logo added...

They are not "canon" ie in the official Schleich smurf series as they are not made by Schleich........

Martin

How do you think these would have been sold Martin?

I'm presuming the unmarked ones were just in batches Sent in from China?

Can't imagine they were sold in isolation in shops, surely there would have been some IMPS promotion (apart from the promotion they gave for the Abilis per se)??

So, as the size/shape of this promo is slightly different, therefore a new mold must have been made for this one? Do you thinks that it would have still been produced/painted by Schleich even though their name isn’t on it or a completely different company? I can see how the promos would have been available, but these ones without the print and key ring? Do you they were given to Schleich to mix in with theirs?

Hi Tommo,

don't think Schleich wd have had anything to do with it- bit like the McDonalds smurfs (were there were also new molds made eg baker, gift....) and the Grand Bazaar guy

"Peyo" must have the ability to usurp Schleich if they want to use a mold for a promo....maybe part of the contract??