Smurfee Ice Lolly

Does anyone remember Smurfee Ice creams by Peters Ice Cream? Back in 1979 in Australia, the Smurfs and the Smurfee Ice cream exploded onto the scene.

In the late 1970s, early 1980’s Peters Ice Cream made all sorts of weird, wacky flavours of ice cream. Smurfee was promoted as a ‘double-barrelled delight’. Vanilla on one side and berry on the other side. You could break them into two, to share or enjoy it all by oneself. All, for just 18 cents.

So how did BP Australia convince Schleich to change the colours? Instead of red and white, the Ice Lolly in Australia was painted blue and white. One might say it was a promotional toy without any logo or branding. A simple small colour change to the ice lolly, not the toy. Very clever.

History of Ice Lolly #20053

However, BP Australia wasn’t the first company to use Ice Lolly Smurf to promote ice cream products. A German company called Scholler did this around 1978. With this version, the Ice Lolly Smurf carries a flag with a Scholler sticker on it. Sometimes on both sides of the white plastic flag. Schleich was always keen to use their Smurfs to promote well-known companies.

Nobody knows how many Schleich made. The toy is still easy to find today, forty years on. One only needs to check for a hole in his fist where the flag would have been. Or under the Smurf’s feet for the markings. When the markings started to include the year, the hole in the fist also disappeared.

Schleich sold Smurf from 1980 to 1986 and 1990 to 1997. The popularity of Smurf throughout the world also saw countless fakes, replicas and homemade versions. On the Blue Buddies forum, a collector claimed there were 163 variations of Ice Lolly. I have no doubt this could be true.

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

The Sophisticated Tuxedo Smurf

In 2020 there were concerns there would be no new Smurfs. I couldn’t bear the thought. The longer the year progressed, the more it looked likely. But this is what happened in 1985 when Applause pulled the plug on the Smurfs. Tuxedo Smurf was one of six Smurfs impacted on the drastic action by Applause.

In 1985 Applause, formerly known as Wallace Berrie promoted their Limited Collectors Series. The advertisements displayed all the figurines as sketches and not actual figurines.

In January the four new Smurfs was released as planned. The four new Smurfs for April arrived in May. In July two more new Smurfs then nothing. What had happened to the other six Smurfs? No announcements, just frustrated collectors.

Back in 1985, this was before the internet U.S Collectors must have felt very confused and annoyed. We now know what happened to these Smurfs. Best of all these Smurfs have become very sought after by collectors throughout the world.

Tuxedo Smurf #20216

Sold for only three years (1985, 1986 and 1991) Tuxedo Smurf was a casualty of Applause’s actions. Wearing a red bow tie and cummerbund with a white suit, with a one-hand tucked into his trousers pocket and the other on his chest. This Smurf looks rather sophisticated.

Schleich also made their version of Tuxedo in 1985. With the Schleich version, it was made in West Germany and painted in Portugal or Sri Lanka.

Oddly enough, Applause did manufacture their version of Tuxedo Smurf made in Hong Kong. I always thought it was strange that there is no reference to Applause on the figurines. How many of these sold by Applause is anyone’s guess. My guess is not many.

Rare as Tuxedo Smurf is, it’s still worth collecting. Be careful though some people confuse Tuxedo Smurf with Groom Smurf. Groom Smurf wears a top hat and blue bow tie with a red flower below. So really, they look nothing alike.

He also looks nowhere near as sophisticated as Tuxedo Smurf.

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

Indian Smurfette

What determines a variation? Is it a colour or mould difference? Or is it up to the collector to define what a variation is? I have been trying to identify what are the variations with Indian Smurfette, #20167.

I have over seventeen Indian Smurfette figurines. Each one is different. But I like to think that of every Smurf figurine.

Both companies appeared to have used a similar mould. Schleich used caramel coloured PVC for their Indian Smurfette. Applause used as a white coloured PVC.

Schleich was not afraid to use different coloured PVC when making Smurfs. Compared with Smurfs from Hong Kong which typically used a white PVC complemented with shiny paint colours.

You will find more paint variances of Indian Smurfette with the West German ones by Schleich. Compared to the ones made out of Hong Kong by Applause.

Due to the global demand for Smurfs, Schleich invested in manufacturing hubs in other countries. But due to lead paint scare in 1978, Schleich introduced paint dots to their figurines.

It is not unusual to find Indian Smurfette with West Germany markings but painted in Portugal or Sri Lanka. A mustard paint dot indicates painted in Portugal. The paint used was duller referred to as matte by some collectors. A red paint dot indicates painted in Sri Lanka. This paint used was bolder, referred to as shiny by some collectors.

Because the Schleich mould was a caramel base, this meant only a portion required painting. For Indian Smurfette, it was her yellow hair, the white hat with a red feather, face, blue legs and brown jug.

Compared with Applause who used a white mould which required the entire figurine painted. Often a dark, shiny yellow paint colour for hair. Bright mustard paint for dress and moccasins. Dark red on the feather.

Things to consider when collecting variations

Applause only sold Indian Smurfette in 1984. Schleich sold Indian Smurfette between 1984 to 1986, 1993 to 1995 and 2000. Because the Schleich variation was available for seven years, there are more variations. Collectors can’t get enough of mould or coloured variations.

Indian Smurfette was made using one mould and creating many different types of variations.

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B