[André]

When BP stopped with the smurfs in Australia, it seems the HK-molds was only used for the US smurfs. Therefore they started marking them with W Berrie then. BP did not want any W Berrie marking on the smurfs they sold I assume????

In 1984/85, when the demand dropped in the US and Schleich had many extra HK-smurfs in stock and production they sold many W Berrie marked smurfs in Europe though.

[André]

Actually when comparing the box I would date it to have been made 1980/81. So maybe it could have been used in other countries??

[Smurfysmurf]

Who told you it was sold in the UK?

I was speaking about the smurfland display in the first picture, not the playset A lot of English collectors have this display and you find it quite frequently on the UK ebay so I was confused how it fit in with the clues:)

The BP playset is very rare and your explanation does make sense as always. A good indication that it probably was not sold in the UK is that nobody from our UK members seem to have it and we know some of them are lifelong collectors who got some of their smurfs during their childhood

[André]

Yes Maureen. I have also seen that alot in UK. And some collectors tells us it is marked England. But I can not find that information.

But I can tell you the display was made in England by Formtex Plastics Ltd in Brentford( mine is labelled). So it was probably a UK smurfland item originally.

[André]

Here is the BP pictures from one of Stefans catalogues. It is from Holland. I don´t know if it is 1969 or 1979??

[Lia]

I don`t know either, but perhaps I can please you with some pictures of Dutch BP items?

at least,the stamp is from 1969

Lia

[Lia]

suikerzakjes

[Lia]

flight tickets

[André]

Lia,

do you know which years BP sold Schleichsmurfs in Holland?

Not the early years from 1965 to 1969. But later in the late 70s or early 80s.

[Lia]

I`m not sure, everyone always mentions "the seventies" ???
However, I guess, it`s around 1978 - 1979? The smurfs were very popular in those years.

In 1977, Vader Abraham made his famous smurfsong and I think,the BP jubileesmurfs ( 75 year) were from 1979, correct?

So the free smurfs, given at the BP petrolstations , were probaby in the last years of the seventies ( but I`m not sure)

[Tintin]

Hi Andre

It must have been the late 70 .................
There is really a lot from BP with smurfs on them.
Even the blue captein is a product from BP if you look at this.

Tintin

[Tojo]

That is very interesting Tintin

[André]

Thanks Lia and Frank,

I had not seen that flag Frank. Fantastic!!

For me that makes sence. I think Europe was a bit earlier than the rest of the world. Not surprising since the smurfs were made in europe. So I would guess both Holland and England was early. Also Pierre told us in a thread that he got the got his first smurfs bought in South Africa in 1978 when he was five. So we know the smurfs in UK were sold by National( part of BP) from 1978. I would guess Holland was earlier or approximatly the same years?? South Africa was next and I assume 1978 or 1979 could be correct. Australia and New Zeeland was in 1979 as far as I know. My guess is that that Australia and New Zeeland was the last countries where BP stopped selling smurfs. I know the 1981-made smurfs were sold in BP Australia, which meand they most likey stopped 1981/82. Many items I have also have "smurf trademark of BP Australia 1981" on them. Also 1982 goes very well with when Schleich started marking their Hongkong-made smurfs with W berrie.

However I think the smurfs were sold in australia after this also, maybe also in BP stations?? But the difference is that, then BP did not have the trademark-rights for the smurfs in Australia. So for example the Australian sockels can be marked W berrie, like the congratulation-sockels.???

If anyone has more information let me know since I don´t know the whole story and only guessing some parts!!

[André]

A bit more intresting information regarding the BP accessory petrol pump.! At least for me!!

As you see the box is a completly new box. No stickers. Also it is, just like the National box, mentioned that it contains a BP smurf.

One funny thing is that the BP smurf pictured on the box has a lilac BP-sign. I don´t think it was made like that though. But that could off course tell us that the smurf with BP-emblem did not exist when the box was made. Because then they mast likely would have used that smurf.

Also the box don´t have any articlenumber and no window on the backside. Benny have a variation I have shown on my website without articlenumber. The funny thing is that the first petrol pump-box was made with articlenumber. So probably they removed the articlenumber because they used the backside of the box for both variations. They are exactly the same. Therefore we also can date the box to aproximatly 1980/81.
And also most likely the BP-smurf was made around the same time???

My guess so far is that this playset was only sold in Australia and maybe New Zeeland. Because I think it was sold in around 1981/82 and then as far as I know know only Australia and maybe New Zeeland sold smurfs in BP stations???

Another intresting thing is that this box was probably the first box with german, french and english on the front. The other ones was made in 1983 and then it said smurf playset, instead of smurf accessory.

[Tintin]

Hi Andre

Great box you find there !!!
Very rare
Seems a lot of us have had a great 2011

Tintin

[Smurfysmurf]

What are the markings on the smurf, Andre? Is it the same as the markings on the "normal" BP smurf?

[Ritter_Schlumpfenherz]

Hi Andre

It must have been the late 70 .................
There is really a lot from BP with smurfs on them.
Even the blue captein is a product from BP if you look at this.

Tintin

@Frank: I highly appreciate the information, you've given. I didn't know that before.

[André]

What are the markings on the smurf, Andre? Is it the same as the markings on the "normal" BP smurf?

The playset is mint and have never been played with. And since it is directly from the BP station owner in Australia, and with this story it is a 100% genuine item.

The smurf has the same marking as the one Stefan showed in the cleaner thread. I assume that loose BP attendant could have been sold in other countries also???

Both box and bp smurf, I would date to very early 80s.

[Smurfysmurf]

Thank you, Andre...the markings are exactly the same as those on my BP promo cleaner one

[steveparkes]

WOW Andre, I wish I had spotted that auction - fantastic to see it in your pictures.

I don't think this was ever released in the UK, I am sure I would have seen it as a kid in the 70s, I collected most of the UK supersmurfs and playsets back then, and even if I didn't have the box still, I am sure I would have kept the BP cleaner smurf..but neither were in my collection.

It's funny cause alot of people I talk to about smurfs over here think they were sold at BP stations and I have to correct them and say it was National stations. Do any other UK collectors know if smurfs were sold at BP stations? I for one don't remember them being.