Back in the day when Schleich first started producing Super Smurfs something unthinkable was happening. Some called it deceptive others called it misleading. So how would you respond if you just brought yourself a Super Smurf only to find it isn’t the same as what was shown on the box.
Between 1978 to around 1983 Schleich produced a box with Super Schlumpf!! printed on the box in black bold letters. All Super Smurfs from 40201 Bobsled to 40232 Log Car can be found with this style of box. Upon looking at the picture of the Super Smurf on the box to the actual Super Smurf inside the box, it was quite surprising how many differences could be found. Allow me to give you some examples:
Skier – pictured with green skies on the box and actually came with silver skies.
Car Driver – pictured with a gold steering wheel on red car and actually came with a yellow steering wheel.
Fencer – pictured with yellow foil guards and actually came with golden foil guards.
Lawnmower – pictured with a brown lawnmower and actually came with a yellow bladed lawnmower.
Fireman – pictured with a silver helmet and actually came with a light blue/grey helmet
Cyclist – pictured with black tyres with white spokes and actually came with grey tyres with white spokes.
Both in the UK and the US the same pictures were being used on their prospective boxes between 1979 to 1983. I would have thought that Wallace Berrie would have used their own pictures considering their smurfs were being made in Hong Kong and quite often painted with different colours than their European counterparts.
Between 1983 to 1991 Schleich changed the details on the box to Super Schlumpf Smurf!! It was displaying details in German, English and French but in most cases the pictures were not changed.
To be honest I was quite amazed that there was not more fuss about this at the time. Maybe there was, I just could not find anything substanal. It definitely keeps us poor collectors on our toes.
Keep on Smurfin
Kath B