20126

There are 2 posts tagged 20126 (this is page 1 of 1).

Do you collect Smurf Keychains?

Smurf keychains also known as keyrings have and remain as popular as amongst collectors.

In 1966 Dupuis released five Smurf keychains made by the Exin Co. These included Papa Smurf, Normal Smurf, Gold Smurf, Angry and Prisoner. All with the same stance with their arms and legs outstretched like a snowflake. Dupuis is better known as the founder of the Spirou magazines in Belgium.

I don’t believe Bully produced any Smurf keychains. I have never seen any on their promotional posters. However I do have a Smurferman keychain but this was likely made after Bully’s time in the 1970’s.

Gymnast #20020 from the UK and Rollerskater #20126 from the USA

In the 1979 Wallace Berrie catalogue a big pitch is made for their keychains. “Another Smurf exclusive from Wallace Berrie & Co.! A happy new look in keychains containing 24 of our most lovable Smurf characters including Papa Smurf and Smurfette. Smurf keychains can be your key to your sales”. The suggested retail was $1.50 per keychain.

Many of the promotional Smurfs made by Schleich were also made as keychains. An example of this was the Dutch footballer #82650 released in 2000 to coincide with the European Football Cup hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands. It was sold as a regular Smurf and a keychain.

However not everyone likes a Smurf as a keychain and would prefer a regular looking Smurf. Evidence of this can be found on a Smurf’s head where they eyelet had been screwed into Smurf’s head.

Fake Promotional Smurf Keychains

Recently a series of Pirate themed Smurf keychains have been found promoting the charity Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB). Most collectors believe these to be counterfeit. The Smurfs are genuine but the keychain promoting ASB is questionable. Typically ASB used the First Aid Smurf #20054 to promote their good work.

Lastly I have several Smurf keychains that I am certain we’re never officially released this way. I am not bothered by this because I display all my keychains in a large, glass fishbowl near my front door. In my opinion, displaying my Smurfs in all different ways is what I enjoy doing.

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

Rollerskater Smurfette

Here’s a list of everything you should keep in mind when searching for Roller Skate Smurfette and not all are obvious!

First released by Schleich in 1981 and sold until 1994, with article number 2.0126. It was also first made in Hong Kong in 1981 and was sold by BP Australia, BP New Zealand and Wallace Berrie in the USA until 1984. Wearing a short white dress, red-wheels roller-skates and her blond hair is in pigtails. While both her arms are stretched out either side of her.

The white shoes may have two red horizontal or diagonal lines on each shoe. This is representing a shoelace.

If made in W.Germany or Portugal the red rollers will be smooth, sometimes referred to as continuous.

If made in Hong Kong the red rollers are more defined.

All have a plain white dress and white underwear except for one where she is not wearing any underwear.

The one without underwear is highly sought after and has © Peyo hand etched into the right thigh. If seeking one, without the underwear ensure that you cannot see the outline of the underwear under the blue paint. I am unsure of the original origins of this one, though most likely made in Europe.

Her golden blonde hair are in pigtails with a red ribbon. Again the colour of her hair may vary depending where it was made. Lighter yellow hair commonly indictates it was painted in W.Germany or Portugal whereas darker golden yellow hair indicates it was painted in Hong Kong.

Roller Skate Smurfette was also briefly made and painted in Sri Lanka, so it is possible to find this Sri Lanka markings or with a black paint dot under the rollers. The Sri Lankan made one is similar to the Hong Kong made ones, all made around the same time.

The China made one, is quite different to all the others available. She has completely red roller-skates and no eyelashes, which makes her look a little freaky in my opinion. This Roller Skate Smurfette is a little harder to find.

Due to the popularity of Roller Skate Smurfette many fakes have also been made. These have included a Spanish fake with a dark pink skirt, with silver roller-skates, a Mexican fake made out of a yellow transparent material and no doubt there are many more.

Roller Skate Smurfette is still as popular as ever and can be found fairly easily. When it was first sold by BP Australia it was available for just 99 cents!

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B