It’s easy to get confused when collecting smurfs, especially when there are two smurfs that share the same name. Even though there are two smurfs that play the trumpet, both smurfs are distinctly different – thank goodness. 

The first trumpet smurf was produced by the manufacturer Bully in 1974 and is generally referred to as Trumpet Player. Like a lot of early smurfs produced by Bully these can be found with only © Peyo marking on the arm or with Bully © Peyo hand etched markings under the feet.

Another lovely quality feature about these early Bully smurfs is that they were made out of a softer PVC material. If you ever get the chance try squeezing one in your fingers and then try squeezing a Schleich made smurf and you will feel the difference. 

The Schleich version is often referred to as Trumpeter and is one to keep an eye out for especially if you like to collect smurfs based on their markings. This smurf has the mould year as 1974 but was not sold until 1978 by Schleich. It also has no © Peyo marking instead it has large C in a circle.

The first version was produced with reddish orange pants and playing a yellow trumpet. Shortly afterwards Schleich changed  the pants to white and also started adding the © Peyo marking to the smurf.  When I first came across the Trumpeter with reddish orange pants I thought that the previous had painted the pants himself. But after a little research I found that this was a genuine version produced by Schleich. 

The Trumpeter version sold in Australia was made Hong Kong and can be found playing a mustard coloured trumpet. This version can be found with © 1974 Peyo diagonally on his trousers and Schleich S on his arm. Later the markings were moved to under the feet, more than likely when Wallace Berrie started selling Trumpeter in the USA around 1981. 

There are big differences between this 2.0072 Trumpet Player Smurf and 2.0047 Trumpeter Smurf to be aware of when searching for these smurfs. Trumpet Player is standing with his feet together and his eyes are wide open and Trumpeter is in more a walking stance and has his eyes closed!

In my opinion both trumpet playing smurfs are worth collecting because they are quite different from each other.  

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B