Blue Cavern

Hi,

it is always interesting to hear how different we all collect. In different stages, what´s important, etc. We all started with a few smurfs and then probably just wanted one of each. And then it escalated???

So how do you define a variation?

Here is how I do.

For me a variation is something made intentionally by the manufacturer. So for example painterrors are not a variation eventhough many times off course worth keeping. The reason I don´t count it as a variation is that then variations are endless.

Painting: But if the manufacturer painted the smurfs in a way in the beginning and then changed the way it should be painted for some reason. Then it is a variation because it is painted like that with the intention of selling it like that.

Paint: When the manufacturer change between different types of paint it is a variation, but if the paint is miscoloured because of light or other things it is not a variation, but as before could be worth keeping anyway.

Cavitynumbers: different cavitynumbers are no variations because the manufacturers intention is that they should look exactly the same. All cavities are slightly different and if we would count them all as variations the numbers would be endless. Just take the bundesligasmurfs as an example. Then you would try to find cavity 1 to 4 of each team meaning about 100 bundesligasmurfs. And for some Bullysmurfs there are 8 cavities. For me cavitynumbers are veru interesting when trying to find out how and then smurfs were made, but they are no variation.

Markings: if a marking has been changed intentionally by the manufacturer it is a variation. So actually also the handetched CE-marking is a variation, because the manufacturer added it there. Though it in that case would be extremly hard to say exactly which ones are possible.

Dots: Those are also added to the smurfs intentionally and therefore are variations.

What do you think?

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For me a variation is something made intentionally by the manufacturer.

Everything else is a bonus I'd love to have ( paint errors, proto types) but I would not include them in a catalog as variation. In other words..there have to be enough available for it to count as variations for me...for example the purple angry for me is a prototype and not a variation because from all I know Schleich never "mass-produced" it.

I don't count cavities as variations (yet)..but I can see myself getting swayed to doing so eventually

For me,a variation:

- different markings
- different colors, but ònly if intended so by Schleich
- different type of paint
- different mold
- different fake smurf from Poland, Spain or Mexico, however I don`t
regard the spanish CNT as fakes, simply too beautiful!
- ( if I get different dots, I keep them too)

Lia

I agree with your examples Andre. I've stopped short of cavity numbers as the amount of normals I've still to collect (I've reached about 1100, with about another 1200 still on my list to collect which will increase once I add more paint dots and hand etched CEs) would increase significantly. When I went into Mini Fifi in Notting Hill to check the smurfs for the clock stamp marking I did get a look as if I was mad. Collecting cavity numbers would take me to the brink.

That´s my thought also Tommo

Just think if you had to buy and display 4 of each of the new smurfs sold now.

If you look at this picture of a Schleichmold you see that the mold is one piece. That piece was made at the same time. The intention from the manufacturer when making this mold is that all the cavities inside should look the same. They are not meant to be variations.

On many of the early molds the markings could be on different sides of the shoes or other places because of how the mold was made. But still they were made at the same time and the intention was that they should be the same. The differences was bigger in the older molds and today I don´t think there are so many differences in the cavities in a mold??

The reason for the different numbers are that Schleich could "close" a cavity if they noticed that something was wrong with that figurine. It is a easy way to see where the problem is in a mold. Just like with the date( clock-)markings today, so you can see where in the progress a mistake was made.

But the cavitynumbers are fantastic when trying to figure out when molds were made and if a markingchange have been made. For example the W Germanymolds which were remarked Hongkong. See second picture.

I just love the first picture of the process making Aerobic-smurfette. I wonder if the singlemolds to the left are the first molds they make in the "prototype-stage"( no markings at all), before making the larger one to the right with 4 cavities??

[quote= "Andre " & "Smurfysmurf"

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For me a variation is something made intentionally by the manufacturer.

Yes, I agree with the above definition.

I do need to confess that after reading a lot of André's and Lia's posts, that I now spend more time looking at the Smurfs markings, and in a shop you do get strange looks from people when you seem more interested in the Smurfs bottom than its face!

Here is another example of what can happen to smurfs.

The loose indians I bought when they were just released I put i a plastic bag because of lack of space to display then. Unfortunatly ( for them) they ended up in the bottom of the box with a lot of smurfs over them. What happens is that the shape of the soft parts easily changes. The shape of the paddle and the spear has been bend and then stays that way. This especially happens if you get them when they are new, you know when you can smell the fresh paint . Because then the material has not harden so much and can still easily be changed.

If you compare with the ones stored in the displaybox where they are safe from changes like that.

These are NOT variations for me. Just like old smurfs leaning forward, arms higher etc they many times looks like that because of storage. Same with paint or material colours changing because of storage or light, they are no intended variations.

But they look funny and could sometimes be worth keeping. I have a beersmurf with his beercan held high and forward because of bad storage and that I really like.

I just hope you learned your lesson, Andre

Looks actually funny though...I do keep these differences but would never ever call them variations...I just keep them because I am always looking for excuses to keep smurfs

I just hope you learned your lesson, Andre

Looks actually funny though...I do keep these differences but would never ever call them variations...I just keep them because I am always looking for excuses to keep smurfs

I envie you collectors who have a smurfroom where you can have everything displayed. I just need get rid of one of my kids so I can use that room for smurfs.

Maureen, the best way is off course to display them directly, both for the paint and the shape.

I think Bill wrote something that Peter at Mushroom village had said about how the get them back to the correct shape though???

I don't have mine displayed either, Andre..I keep them in small drawers now though...just because it's easier to find them

Not sure if Pete ever explained how to get them back into shape..but I know he used to sell stuff that supposedly cleaned them up very well and got rid of the black markers