[André]

Hi,

I wanted to ask you a question?

Do you know what these 2 coat of arms represent?

[Smurfysmurf]

do you have more information? I.E. are these likely to be family names related or city related or something completely different?

[Smurfysmurf]

This might help

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/i ... at+of+arms

I am at work or I would go thru all of them myself

[André]

It has to do with the torchbearer. Maybe???? Then I think you would be able to guess one of them???

[Simon X]

Here is some information.

This is a close-up of the smurf's logo:

[André]

That is a great closeup Simon!!

But now to the second question. It is said this is a promotional for the belgium ski team for the olympics in 1980. But then how come it is so common??? And how come this already existed in 1978 and probably before that??? If it was only made for the belgium team in 1980, you would not get it in 50% of all old lots???

So what does the 2nd coat of arms represent on my first picture??? One is the belgium lion.

[Simon X]

This link may help.

A newspaper in Schwäbisch Gmünd uses this logo as well: See here.


Small tip:
You can use Google Image for questions like that. Just upload your photo and Google will find similar pictures.

[André]

Ok,

you know these search-web-computer-tools Simon!!

I thought I would make it hard for you??

So it is actually the Schwäbisch Gmünd coat of arms, they used all the way to at least 1972.

My guess is that, that was the reason they put that symbol on the cheast maybe already from the start when making this. For me it seems more logic than putting the belgium lion on it already in 1977/1978???? Just a guess and a funny thought though!!??

One german collector claimed in the SCCI that it rather was the Bavarian lion compared to the belgian. probably also that because it was used so early also in Germany???

[André]

It is funny also that the Gmünder stadtzeitung still uses that coat of arms??? Or is only the picture on the internet Simon??

[André]

Already on this german poster Gerda has, with all the early colourvariations, you can see the emblem torchbearer.

[Smurfysmurf]

Actually, the coat of arms for Schwabisch Gmund is different

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schw%C3%A4bisch_Gm%C3%BCnd

[André]

Yes Maureen,

That I believe is the one they use today.

I am talking about the one used for Landkreis Schwäbisch Gmünd all the way to 1973. But as you see some still uses that symbol??? And this was close to that. Actaully it was as late as 1969 that Herlikofen got togther with the Schwäbisch gmünd????

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landkreis_ ... Gm%C3%BCnd

Here for is a closeup on the torchbearer existing already before they made the mold for the digger and rendevouz. I am sure this also was among the first ones and I have it without the schleich printed with the emblem.

Off course it still could represent something else, but I just think it is strange connecting it to the belgium ski team in 1980???

[André]

Das Wappen wurde dem Landkreis Schwäbisch Gmünd am 19. April 1955 vom Innenministerium Baden-Württemberg verliehen.

I only use schoolgerman but it seems the coat of arms connection to the region is correct???

[naish510]

Hi, the emblem for me is the lion of The Flanders.
In Belgium we have a Dutch part and French Part.
The Dutch part were i live has the Flag with the Lion on it.
The French part has a Cock in the flag.
So for me is the emblem on the smurf the Lion of Flanders !

[naish510]

Here is the flag of the Flanders : De leeuw van Vlaanderen

[bundleofkent]

Andre I think you have it........it is clearly coming from a German company in 1978 who happen to have a similar emblem to the Flanders LIon. Although smurfs are originally Belgian, I think this torchbearer is German!!

Congrats

Martin

[André]

I agree with you Christy. Off course the coat of arms you show is the belgian lion, but the thing I mean is that it seems very strange if that was the first reason.

I am also sure it was used for the olympic ski team in 1980, but I am pretty sure that was not the reason they put that emblem there in the first place.

And already when this first was written in the SCCI letters, they immediatly got an amswer from a german collector in the next letter, that it was a german emblem. Most likely because you get this all the time in old lots from Germany??? And also the fact that the very very first picture we have of the torchbearer have this emblem. Also then in the german catalogue 1979. Actually almost all early german pictures shows it with the emblem. I think he was very close to the correct answer, or had the correct answer. In the beginning it in some way was meant as a german emblem??

But I think the belgian ski team picked this smurf up in 1980 since it had the similair or almost identical coat of arms.

However there are no doubt that this emblem also was used by Schwäbish Gmünd, exactly the place where this smurf was made!!???

[André]

One interesting thing is also the markings on these. You can find them with both Schleichmarkings and without.

This also tells us this was used early, before they added the new printed logotype, Herman Schneider started with in 1978.

So with the markinginfo, pictureinfo etc., we can clearly say this variation existed 2-3 years before used as a mascot for the belgium Ski team!!

So it was definatly NOT made for the ski team in 1980.

But off course it could have been made for Belgium ski team in 1977/78 instead, or as I said for other areas???? I just find it very interesting that Schwäbish Gmünd were it was made used almost the exact same coat of arms as the Belgium Flanders used!!

[Tintin]

Hi

I always thought it was the Lion from Belgium Flanders.
But now that i hear that Germany ( Schw Gmund ) got a Lion to.............

Never really understood the sign.

Tintin

[Smurfysmurf]

Personally, I find it easier to be believe it's the Belgium lion and not a German coat of arms....not only would it make more sense to put the Belgium coat on arms on one of the smurfs instead of an outdated county emblem..but it looks to me that the lion on the smurf is yellow just like the Belgium one.

In the newsletter, the writer thinks it's the Bavarian lion, so he clearly was speculating as well.