Blue Cavern

I have wanted the Smurf Windmill since first seeing it on display at Ben Franklin in grade-school. At the time my brother and I thought of it as the "holy grail" of our smurf collections. We never seemed to save enough up (or would end up blowing it on a bunch of smurfs!) to get it, even collectively.

So, after almost thirty years, I finally win one on Ebay. I've been saving up for one...and got it at a pretty good price. However, upon opening it (can you say "kid at Christmas"?) this morning (I tore open the package), I smelled...to my horror...cigarette smoke! Now, this can be remedied, and I know the smell will eventually wear off (and I'll wipe it down)..however, I am missing the side porch railing (not the long back one, but the shorter one)...it's the short hand-rail one with the holes so the little pegs for the side rails go in.
Also, isn't it supposed to have a handle or key on the back for the gears to make the mill turn?
Anyway, if anyone has the short railing piece and not using it, I'd be happy to buy it from you! Also, is there supposed to be a "key" or something for the back knob to turn the gears? I've looked through all three of my books, but there's no photo of the back!
On the bright side, I'm more than thrilled to have one! I will be shooting a short flip camara film today and posting it later of my current Smurf display..I'll post a link this evening.
THIRTY YEARS WAITING! I know, many of you..or most..have probably not waited so long. But with kids, and a wife, a mortgage and two cars...my smurf collection, though much loved...grows slowly. I now reward myself after a great work week (and a certain level of sales made) by buying smurfs or smurf collectibles. It's a way to keep it growing and keep that magic of smurf collecting going!
Best to All,
Chris

Hey there!

I felt the exact same about the windmill myself! Was one of those on my 'to do' list that always kept getting missed!

Anyway, can't help you with the railing, but the wheel on the back is kind of a black sticky out thing? That prob doesn't help..

..in honesty, just really related to your post and wanted to type a reply!!

Azrael,
I appreciate the reply!
Get this! I'm taking the windmill off my display to measure where the railing should be...I hear a rattling sound coming from inside the roof...I open it up..and THERE IS THE MISSING RAILING!!!!
It just happened, weird! So now I'm just missing the little turning thing on the back? I checked out another ebay auction as well over the last minutes since I posted...looks exactly as you describe..
at least that's all I"m missing...I'm very thankful!
The smoke smell is almost completely gone. I'm not personally angry about it..my aunt smokes and I grew up around her...I just don't want smoke in my house..and definitely not around my collection.
So, if anyone has the turny thing on the back....let me know!

I don't think I have that one spare, Chris but if I happen to come across one I let you know

It's good to know that the smoke smell is gone. I don't like it either on my smurfs, but noticed that it will go away right away so it never really bothered me, unless it was so bad that it makes me want to faint. Trust me, it has happened before

I haven't been looking for my first windmill as long as you have, but when I won mine I was very excited as well, so I can understand your excitement, too

Can't wait for pictures of your display....the windmill is one of my favorite smurf buildings

I had a second windmill which I was going to put up on ebay last year but when I checked to see if all the pieces were there I was also missing the short rail

It's one of my favourites too. Congratulations on getting your windmill Chris!

Conratulations on getting your windmill Chris, I'm really feeling your excitement, great stuff

unless it was so bad that it makes me want to faint

Must really stop reading this forum so late at night when my sight becomes blurred . It makes you guys say the funniest things (sorry Maureen, please forgive )

Hi Chris; I have an old windmill which two of the vanes got broken 30 years ago I have just kept it just in case one of my other got broken also. Let me make sure I understand the rail that you need. There is one really long one on the back, one about three inches long on the side and two shorter ones about two inches. I have both the three and two inch ones. I have all the working parts except the hande you speak of. I just re-read all the post and see that you found the rail but bat2000 I have one.
I would have to say this is one of my favorite buildings also. I have 4 good ones and the one I mentioned that got broken. Chris I have the instructions for it if you want them. I can copy them and mail it to you if you wish. Let me know.
P.S. there are two of the really short one's I only have one. These hook to the house and extend to the rail you are talking about and rest on top of it.

Hi All; I decided to take a pic of the back showing the handle and the three rails. there is suposed to be a ladder on the knoched thing if you look really hard you can see it I am holding it in my hand. . Just a touch of brain damage.
Dooh forgot to attach the pic.

Nice picture Bill.

This picture gave me the opportunity to show the differences between the old grey windmill with the handpainted stones and the sparypainted one on your picture Bill.




The old one don´t have this shape to hold the ladder. So this is a pretty "big difference" on these 2.

/André

Wow! I didn't realised there were 2 versions of these. I've only got the newer yellow one.

Hi Andre'; Yes I have both versions but last one I bought was missing the two windows and I took them from the one in my pic to put in my box.

Hilary,

this is the one without the CE markings.

I think Dyar has one with the CE-marking and handpainted. I don´t know if that one has the part that holds the ladder in place or not.

The spraypainted one I think always is CE-marked.

So it could be 3 different grey ones and then you have the yellow and the kwak-version with CE-markings. 5 all together.

The windmill actually has a W. Berrie articlenumber but I have not seen any Hongkong-made windmill or a Hongkong-printed box. If this exists there are 6 versions.

/André

You got me curious Andr'e I have 5 windmills and didn't know which versions I did have. I have the new yellow one in the pokadot box. three of the ones in my pic and then the older one in your pic. but it doesn't have painted rocks. The notch is not there on it.

Hi Andr'e; Sorry I cleaned the one I thought was the one like your today. It is just like the one in my pic. Its aprox 30 years old. My wife Step son and I all smoked I don't think my step daughter did. Got rid of them about 18 years ago. That was for the wife not the step kids.

Hi Bill,

Does the windmill without the painted rocks have the CE-marking?

I am not sure when they changed to the ladderholding part.

How many of the grey windmills have different markings?

Do you have any with hongkong-markings?

/André

I've got the motorized one and noticed that it does not have the 'bandages' on its sails. There are a few other little differences too.

Still not had the bottle to plug it in yet.... mine may ACTUALLY start smoking!!

I've got the motorized one and noticed that it does not have the 'bandages' on its sails. There are a few other little differences too.

Still not had the bottle to plug it in yet.... mine may ACTUALLY start smoking!!

Send It to me I will test it for you.
Andr'e I figured out that I didn't have the one without the painted rocks. Its just like the one in my pic.

Chris,

This auction has the missing knob for your windmill
http://cgi.ebay.com/SMURFS-Parts-LOT-98 ... 240%3A1318

good luck!!

Thanks for all the help, everyone! I know this is an old thread, but I have to report in that my excitement at having this windmill has remained the same since I got it!
Unfortunately, I didn't check up on this thread in time, Gerda...I'm sorry I missed out on that auction!!


Thanks for helping, though!!!