[André]

Hi everybody,

again a question for you.

In this information found on bluebuddies it says that there were 4 or 5 figurines made for the National promotion when they started. Made in HK? Or painted in HK? Do we know which these figurines were? Probably made in 1977/78.

From Bluebuddies:
"National Benzole faced far greater demand for Smurf figurines than they originally anticipated, and looked for ways to reduce production costs. Hong Kong was chosen to manufacture the four or five figurines for the National Garage promotion. Production costs were reduced, and all seemed well.

That was until, in 1978, The Smurfs and National Garages were embroiled in a lead paint scandal that captivated the nation. TV news reported kids licking the toys and getting sick. Apprently, the Smurfs painted in Hong Kong did not meet British safety standards - and in fact apparently contained illegal and toxic levels of lead. In addition to stopping Smurf giveaways at National Gas stations, the scandal even birthed the song "Lick A Smurp For Christmas (all Fall Down)" by Father Abraphart & The Smurps (aka Jonathan King), a parody song that scored relatively well on the pop charts.

The National Smurfs had to be "fixed", and fast. It was decided that this could never happen again, and a system was introduced to verify that Smurfs met quality control and safety standards. All new Smurf figurines had a "paint dot" that was a quality control signal showing that the Smurf figure was safe. In addition, each paint dot was color-coded to represent the country it was painted in - so each figure could be traced to the painting source.

Finally, on October 4, 1978 The Times newspaper sounded the "all clear" - Department of Health testing revealed that the Smurf figurines were safe, and the National promotion would continue - except that now every figure had a paint dot that could be used for quality control to determine where it was painted.

Dots on Smurf figurines have been essentially used as a "quality control" mark in every batch of Smurf figurines up until the 2005 series, when the dots were finally retired - finally closing the book on the "lead paint" Smurf scare of 1978. "

[Smurfysmurf]

This may be hard to find out, unless we find a British collector who kept his/her smurfs from back then.

I don't remember right now and am too lazy to look it up on here, Andre but do you remember when the first smurfs "made in Hongkong" appeared?

[André]

I have a pretty good guess which these figurines could be, but it could be wrong??

My guess is Normal, Astro, Spy and Sunbather.

Regarding the HK markings I am almost 100% sure how these were made, meaning in which order.

I will get back with pictures and explain why later.

[André]

The story is something like this.

In around 1977 Schleich made a few new smurfs only marked W Germany and Peyo. These smurfs were Normal( used as gold also), Shiver, Prisoner, Lute and a new Smurfette. I don´t know why these were not marked Schleich. Could either have someting to do with that they were used as promos or with the Bully license????

Since Bully in 1977 started selling new smurfs Schleich made after the break, meaning in 1976/77, these companies must have worked together in around 1977. With the sales of the smurfs in Germany. In 1978 on the other hand Bully stopped selling Schleichmade( the old molds) smurfs and probably Schleich got the molds back then.

[André]

The first HK made smurfs were sold also in Europe. They had the emblemmarking and also marked Peyo. These did not have any cavitynumbers and were not marked Hongkong.

[André]

two of these early HK ones have cavitynumbers, but this was because Schleich sent the W Germany molds to Hongkong for those two. As you see in this case they blocked the W germany marking.

And this also tells us that Schleich used this marking before they started making smurfs in Hongkong and also before they stopped with the emblem after 1978.

[André]

This type of marking you also find on all these figurines without cavitynumber.

[André]

After this they started adding cavitynumbers in the molds, meaning they probably got better molds???? with more cavities??

This is the 100% sure first cavitynumbers used in the HK molds. Large "mirror-reversed" numbers.

During this year they still used the emblem, so these molds were made in 1978.

[André]

So when W Berrie sold these smurfs in 1979 all the first ones were already made in 1978 and also most likely sold also in other countries. That also explains why they are not that hard to find in Europe.

All these except the doctor ( Schleich S marked and made in 1979) have the emblem.

There are 2 of them with a very special marking though. I have no idea why only these 2 are marked like that. It is the Prisoner and the Coin. Made before they stopped with the emblem meaning in 1977/78.
I think that marking is the best marking Schleich ever have used!! I don´t think this marking was used in Europe though, since it is not that common.

6110 normal
6111 moon
6112 winter(shiver)
6113 spy
6114 Drummer
6115 Traitor(prisoner)
6116 mechanic
6117 guitar(lute)
6118 sleeping(sunbather)
6119 money
6120 postman
6121 icehockey
6122 clown
6123 doctor
6124 singer
6125 gift
6126 painter

[André]

For the doctor and 6127 Emperor they used molds made with W Germany markings and changed them.

[André]

Before selling smurfs in US through W Berrie in 1979, these were also made. With the same type of marking. Now with Schleich S meaning made in 1979. Again still using the same large cavitynumber.

All these have this marking. On the picture you see how the number 1-4 looks like.

6128 not hearing
6129 jugde
6130 mirror( vanity)
6131 flower
6132 gymnast
6133 latern
6134 papa

I also think that when W Berrie sold them in 1979 Hongkong was added on all smurfs???

[André]

By following these markings you also can see that some, for example this soccer, was made already in 1979. But then sold by BP in Australia in the beginning. This is the first HK-marking on the soccer with the large number one on the heal.

Also you see the exact same made in Hongkong marking. This marking was made in two pieces. One with made in and one with Hongkong. Therefore when they put them together after eachother, you sometimes get a larger gap between made in and hongkong! For example on the gymnast.

[André]

I am not going to add all markings but as you see you can follow the markings like this and then tell when the molds were made.

Here you have the marking they used when adding these 3 new smurfs in early 1980.

6141 Laughing
6142 Crying
6143 Sleepwalker

[André]

My last picture will be of these smurfs, showing the type of paint many of these HK smurfs made in 1979 can have. Many times spraypainted. I have smurfs made late 1979 which are spraypainted HK smurfs.

But I think the smurfs got spraypainted after the 1978 leadpaint scandal in UK so maybe they tested new types of paint???

Many times you see this white "dust" on this paint.

[Tintin]

Hi Andre

Now i know what you have been asking me ..............
Thanks for the explanation !!

Tintin

[André]

here you have an example of the marking used on the HK molds made for 1979. Large numbers again and same made in hongkong marking. On the emperor( originally a W Germany mold) you can see this gap between the Made in and Hongkong.

the Hanglider was also made early. Same markings.

I have to add this also. It was sometime during 1978 they changed to the Schleich S marking, but since I can´t give months I hope you understand I use year when talking about these markings. But as when they added the date( clockmarking) recently they did this in May. So with this I mean that many of these markings could have been changed some time during a year. So the timelimit is within a year.

But the order they were made is correct.

[André]

Another thing maybe not exactly in this topic, but intresting.

The first marking of the HK icelolly is the one with the marking on the back. I have the other marking under the feets with blue and white ice lolly but mine is a repaint, eventhough from Australia.

the early ones are unpainted white on the icelolly.

You can see the red under the white here.

[André]

Closeup on the repaint.

[Smurfysmurf]

Makes you wonder why somebody would repaint this one...it's not that rare

You still amaze me with your logical and inquisitive mind

How is the website going?

[André]

Thanks Maureen,

the website is going slowly forward! I have prepared all variations possible for the normal, with years, but I will not have time to add them this week. I was hoping to add them last weekend, but got stuck with eura spain and Hongkong-markings research!

I also add notes all the times for the others. Like Frank gave me the missing Brainy in the Brainythread. I knew that one existed but did not have any picture. So I am working on it but have not added many things yet because I want to add them in correct order.

So it will be great when I soon have more time for the website.