[André]

I have 2 questions to you regarding the 2 supersmurfs made in Hongkong which in the beginning were sold with a rubberband.

I think I have all markingvariations of these HK supers.

[André]

First question about the trapeze super.

Do you think this super ever was sold like in the poster and on the box. See first picture from W Berrie catalogue 1983.

The first variation of this smurf was sold without the loops that holds the swing. I have this with the rubberbands. Markings W Berrie.

If you switch these rubberbands to the first variation bands in the catalogue you could double the value according to DSK. So my questions to you.

Were these ever sold like that? And are there a first markingvariation with only made in Hongkong and not W Berrie?

[Tintin]

Hi Andre

Sorry, i can't help here i am afraid !!!

Tintin

[André]

Now to the question regarding the rocking horse.

This one was sold earlier and therefore the first variation is marked only made in Hongkong, not W Berrie.

The first variation sold with the rubberbands also don´t have the hole for the bridle on the horse. When they added the hole they did this to be able to assemble the bridle. So only the one without holes goes with the rubberbands. Same with the trapeze. When they added the loops they did this because they added the swing so no loops on the tree with the rubberbands.

The rocking horse was sold without W Berrie both with holes and without.

My question regarding this is.

Was the first variation ever sold with glued rubberband to the head? Off course then the horse also has to be the variation without the hole for the bridle. I mean before they added the plastic bridle.

I have one of these with glued rubberband and first markingvariation without the hole. But this one I bought a few years ago from Hungary so I assume it very well could be a homemade variation!!

One reason for that they glued the rubberband could be because it was hard to fit to the horse and smurf together.

So was this variation ever made??

[Tintin]

Hi Again

Sorry it seems i spoke before my turn...........
Can't help with this one either.

Tintin

[Gerda]

All I know about these is that the rubber band gets very brittle l with time and I suppose once it goes people can put anything in it's place to make the super look more complete. That is my guess on the yarn version you have pictures as it really does look like a pieced together project! AS for markings my rocking horse has made in hong kong 1981 peyo schleich on both the smurf and horse. My trapeze has W berrie co hong kong 1983 peyo on the smurf and base of trapeze.

[bwalters]

I have an answer for you. I have no Clue. lol My original Trapeeze Smurf came with rubber bands, that disenigrated several years ago. So I bought another off ebay about 10 years ago. and while it does not have the yarn. It does have a diffrent variation. The ropes are not rubber, but part of the mold.

[André]

All I know about these is that the rubber band gets very brittle l with time and I suppose once it goes people can put anything in it's place to make the super look more complete. That is my guess on the yarn version you have pictures as it really does look like a pieced together project! As for markings my rocking horse has made in hong kong 1981 peyo schleich on both the smurf and horse. My trapeze has W berrie co hong kong 1983 peyo on the smurf and base of trapeze.

I agree with you Gerda that many collectors and sellers replace the rubberband when it breaks or gets in bad shape. So many of these rubberbands are probably not the original ones.

For example my rockinghorse does not have the original rubberband, because that one was broken and I added one one the picture just to show approximatly how it was sold. I believe you have the original rubberband Gerda in your boxed one. The rubberband has a matte red colour. For me in this case the horse without the holes are very nice though and a "must have" variation. My horse with glued band is most definatly a homemade one but are there genuine ones? I have my doubts. My Trapeze super with rubberbands on the other hand came sealed in original box and I believe they are genuine.

Regarding the markings on these ones.

Rocking horse made in Hongkong:

1. Without holes on horse and sold with rubberbands only for 1-1,5 years. Markings made in Hongkong on both horse and smurf.
2. With holes and plastic bridle with only made in Hongkong on horse and smurf. Also sold for about 1-1,5 years.
3. With holes and plastic bridle and added W Berrie markings on both horse and smurf. Made until they stopped making these in 1985.

For the rocking horse super there are also germanmade variations.

The Trapezemold was only made in Hongkong.

1. sold in US in 1983/84 without loops and with rubberbands first 1-1,5 years. Marked W Berrie etc.
2. Same marking with loops and without rubberbands sold only for a few years also before they stopped making these in 1985/86.

After this they blocked the HK markings on this mold and marked in Germany instead. This was sold until 1991 and can be found with and without CE markings on both smurf and tree. And the black dot is common on these so they were sometimes painted outside EC and sold inside EC.

So 2 german markingvariations of this super are possible.

[Lia]

Great André, thanks! exactly the info I needed!

Lia

[Lia]

I finally found the rockinghorse with rubber band. The seller ( perfect reputation and an expert on smurfs) had never opened the box and the band is in perfect condition. So the rubberband is attached in the hand of the smurf.