Is Sledgehammer Smurf too violent?

I was surprised this week to learn that Sledgehammer was never released in the US. It is thought that Peyo felt that Sledgehammer was too violent for American children. Sledgehammer can be found in a walking stance with a large sledgehammer behind his back. In the early comics it was not unusual to see Brainy being clobbered over the head with a mallet or sledgehammer to shut him up.

I have a question for anyone who grew up reading the comics, did they ever consider hitting someone over the head with a sledgehammer to shut them up? I would like to think that people saw this as a humorous thing not a something to be taken to serious.

Things to look out for in Sledgehammer

The Sledgehammer figurine (#20096) was first made by Bully around 1977/78. In the beginning the sledgehammer was painted a light brown colour. This version is considered very common and is easy to find.

Around 1984 Schleich was able to start adding their own markings to the smurf and started painting the sledgehammer a darker brown. If you look close enough on some of these you will see that the Bully marking has been blocked out and the Schleich marking has been added.

There is also a version of Sledgehammer that was made in Sri Lanka. As there were only 24 smurfs made out of Sri Lanka, these ones are always worth collecting. Not like the other Sledgehammers the markings are not found under the feet but on different parts of the figurine.

In 1995/96 Irwin Toys released Sledgehammer with China markings. So this was possibly the first time Sledgehammer was released in the US. It is found with lovely matte paint colours.

Fake or Genuine

Every now and then you may come across a yellow Sledgehammer. More than likely this will be a repainted fake and is not genuine. Schleich has confirmed that a small number of test versions were made. The yellow hammer part on the authentic variation is yellow PVC and therefore was never painted. How can anyone actually see this would be extremely difficult, in my opinion. So if you see a yellow Sledgehammer, don’t pay a lot of money for these as they are repaints!

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Log Car Super Smurf

Collecting Super Smurfs can be tricky at the best of times. Just because it was sold with a box doesn’t always mean you get the complete or the corresponding Super Smurf. Then, there is always the little differences to be found. Log Car, first released in 1983 is one of the best examples of this.

In basic terms a Super Smurf is a smurf with detachable accessories and its own cardboard box. Over the years, depending on the manufacturer or distributor, a number of boxes were also produced. In most cases, there were also minor changes made to the accessory.

Log Car (#40232) was first made in 1983 and sold until 1999 by Schleich. It was also made by Wallace Berrie in Hong Kong and was sold in 1983 and 1984. Later in 1996 Irwin Toys released a version made out of China. This was sold for the first time on a blister card not with a cardboard box! The last version of Log Car was given away with the French magazine Je Collectionne les Schtroumpfs in 2005.

As you see Log Car has been a long journey having been made by different manufacturers and sold by different distributors. Very little changes were made to the smurf used for Log Car over the years. This same smurf was also used by Tricycle (#40203) and Yellow Car (#20910). The Smurf is wearing his customary white trousers and hat. On his white hat sits his racing goggles.

Schleich version

It also has a dark brown crank with ring connection, completely dark yellow Candles (unpainted), dark brown wheels with small hole connection (without Axles) and unpainted seat.

W. Berrie version

The Log Car has a white crank inserted directly into the car, white candles, the wheels are attached by an axel that runs underneath the car, yellow car seat. Typically found with a darker brown log car.

China version

Both the smurf and car can be found with markings – Made in China Schleich S Germany Schleich S © 1982 Peyo CE. The official documentation lists the markings are the same but a closer inspection of the smurfs shows they are different.

There are at least two different versions to be found with China markings. The Irwin version can be found with a mushroom with white spots whereas the Je Collectionne les Schtroumpfs version has a red mushroom with no spots. There is also difference with how the wheels connect to the log car.

My thoughts on Log Car

I have always like this smurf, as it is a good illustration of smurfs having fun. This smurf can be popular for kids wishing to play with their smurf toys and just as popular for those who like to collect smurfs because of the many variations to be found.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Smurf Skatebaorder

Does this smurf look familiar to you? If you were like me, I first came across this smurf without his skateboard leaf and was intrigued by why the smurf had a hole under each foot. It wasn’t until much later that I saw a picture of this smurf with his leaf skateboard that things started to make more sense.

The Smurf Skateboarder was one of the first five Super Smurfs released by Bp Australia in 1980. The Smurf Skateboarder (#40204) can be found wearing a red shirt, white trousers while riding his leaf skateboard. Like a lot of toys, it is easy for things to go missing. So more than likely the Smurf Skateboarder would lose his skateboard and its owner would be none the wiser.

The Smurf Skateboarder was a popular Super Smurf throughout the world. It was initially made out of Schleich’s headquarters in West Germany in 1978 until 1986. During this time it was also sold by National Petroleum in the UK.

The Smurf Skateboarder was also produced out of Hong Kong and was sold by BP Australia, Wallace Berrie for the US market and more than likely by BP New Zealand.

Points of difference

The W.Germany made one has the markings under its feet – W.Germany Schleich S © Peyo. There are no markings to be found on the actual leaf. However on the leaf there are two holes, though I am unsure why.

Due to the quality measures introduced to smurfs being sold in the UK, it is possible to find with a mustard paint dot under the smurfs’s foot.

The Hong Kong version was sold in Australia and can be found with Hong Kong markings under its feet and skateboard. There are no holes found on the leaf. Generally the smurf is found with extreme dark blue skin either in a shiny paint colours.

Around 1982, Wallace Berrie started adding their own markings to the skateboard. So it’s possible to find two different Wallace Berrie markings – Made in Hong Kong W.B.Co Schleich S © 1978 Peyo and Made in Hong Kong W.Berrie Co Schleich S © 1978 Peyo.

The Smurf Skateboarder is a Super Smurf that should be part of every smurf collection. Not only is it a fun looking smurf to display but it’s part of smurf history.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Smurf with Knapsack

When was the last time you went on a wander? (not to be confused with wonder) Regardless what you call this smurf, Traveller, Wanderer, Tracker, Smurf with Knapsack (#20088) etc, this smurf is one for the ages. A simple design that has stood the test of time. We find this smurf, wearing his customary white trousers and hat while carrying a stick with a knapsack over his shoulder.

The Smurf with Knapsack was first produced by Bully in 1975. Back then Bully would produce posters with hand drawn sketches of their smurfs they were selling at the time. The Smurf with Knapsack was first shown in 1976 with a brown stick with white knapsack with red spots and was referred to as Wanderer. I don’t think they never produced a figurine like this, which is a shame.

The figurine was only ever produced with an orange stick and knapsack. In the beginning the length stick was about 7cm and this was later reduced to 5.5cm. The other small difference that can be found is with the knapsack. Some of the earlier knapsacks appeared to be flatter on the bottom and the later ones were more rounded. Both small but notable differences!

You may also come across with Wanderer with a yellow, white or green stick and knapsack. This is accessory is from the Jerry figurine (Tom & Jerry).

After Bully lost the licence to manufacture smurfs at the beginning of 1980, Schleich continued to make and sell Wanderer right up until 1986. A version was also made out of Hong Kong but oddly it was never sold by Wallace Berrie or BP Australia. Perhaps it was sold in New Zealand?

Markings

For those who like to collect smurfs with different markings, there are not many to be found with this one. It can also be found with a mustard or red paint dot.

Collector’s Tip

When looking to add Wanderer to your smurf collection, ensure that his mouth is closed and that he is holding the stick with his right hand. Butterfly Catcher (#40209) holds his net over his left shoulder and has his mouth open.

Perhaps we all should take a leaf out of this smurf’s book and go for a wander (or should that be wonder?)

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Smurf with little pink pig

For a short time in the late 1970s or possibly in the early 1980s the ‘Viel Gluck Smurf’ was produced. For this they used Congratulations Smurf (#20067) holding onto a cute pink (PVC) piglet. What I would like to know, is there a way to distinguish the genuine one from a fake one? Or was this smurf never sold by Schleich in the first place.

Facts we know:

Congratulations smurf was first sold by Schleich in 1980 and continued to sell it through to 1986. Congratulations was never sold by BP Australia or Wallace Berrie for the USA. So as a result it was never made out of Hong Kong, it was only ever produced out of West Germany.
In 1981 Schleich released a blue triangle pedestal with Congratulations holding a pink little piglet. The imprint on the pedestal – Herzlichen Glückwunsch und viel schwein im Neuen lebensjahr*.
Schleich also produced another pink triangle pedestal using the same figurine around the same time. The imprint on the pedestal – Schleich Wünscht Viel Glück Im Neuen Jahr!!**

What we don’t know for sure:

Back in 1981 the smurfs were in high demand not just in Europe but around the world. Schleich was also producing not just smurfs but another toys such as their ‘Mini’ animal range. One such animal was a pink piglet.

Now in Germany a pig is a symbol of good luck. Viel Gluck means good luck in German. The symbol of a pig is also quite often associated with Christmas in Germany. So in many ways it would not be hard to add a ‘mini’ range piglet to a Congratulations smurf.

What I think?

I have two versions of Good Luck Smurf, with each one holding a different kind of piglet. I have never thought of them as genuine but I would never call them fake either. Therefore in my opinion they are just simply adorable.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

*English Translation: Congratulations and a lot of pig in the new year of life

** English Translation: Schleich wishes good luck in the New Year !!