Do you ever wonder what ever happened to some of the smurf merchandise that BP Australia produced back in the early 1980’s. Things like their hand puppets, jigsaws, fridge magnets and endless other bits and pieces. I know I do!
Perhaps I like to think of myself as an avid smurf historian collecting these important pieces of merchandise just so one day I can say to people that “oh yes I remember this” or “by the way I actually have one in my collection”.
One of the most adorable and treasured pieces I have in my collection is the Safety Smurf Card Game. This was produced by BP Australia back in 1981 to teach young children about safety. A total of nine cards were produced each with their own individual safety message and colourful picture. Simple messages such as Sunburnt Smurf – “do not stay in the sun too long” and Tree Smurf – “never climb too high”.
To complement your Safety Smurf Cards, was a blue yo-yo. Again both items were designed to easily fit into your pants pockets ready for Show & Tell at school or to show your mates in the playground. If Yo-yo’s weren’t your kind of thing, BP Australia also produced many other pieces of merchandise such as hand puppets, pencil cases to marble sacks.
For the good intentioned parents, BP Australia also produced things to help educate children such as money boxes to teach children about saving their pocket money. Obviously saving up to buy more smurf stuff! Along with this kitchen items were also extremely popular with families. Items such as BBQ aprons and place mats were also very popular.
Collecting smurf memorabilia can be a lot of fun especially some of the stuff produced back in the late 1970’s to early 1980’s. I have a real soft spot for BP Australia smurf merchandise as these are the toys I craved when I was little kid. Some of the BP Australia merchandise maybe temporarily lost but hopefully not lost forever.
Keep on Smurfin
Kath B