Smurf
By...Eric Thorell...
Here is my shot at trying to add up these Guys. While there are only TWO
basic head variations, the Smurf "A", has more possibilities that you may
have imagined! I have attempted to start at the beginning and work my way
to most current. So everyone, get out your Smurf Boy's and see if you have
anything not listed! Hopefully we can get this dispenser up to date! :-)
I have not included painted eye variations. There are just to many
different "googely" eye variations on these guys. The important thing is,
there are TWO major eye variations. Generally, the older 3.9's (footed and
no foot) have the small beady eyes, while the newer 4.9's have the larger
pupils.
Smurf "A" ("stick out ears")
1. 3.9 N/F Red, White, Blue stems. Austria(IMC 8), Yugo(IMC 5)
a) Red squared candy button, milk white rounded candy button w/protrusion
front left, milk white candy button w/protrusion front right.
Semi-translucent single leaf inner sleeve.
b) White hat, blue face(somewhat close to DW #41),black painted
tongue(varies in size), black painted eyebrows on brim of hat. Painted
eyes. Copyrite Peyo 1986 on back bottom of head or NO copyright info at
all. No thumb tab.
2. 3.9 N/F same as (#1) above, except WITH thumb tab, and face is a shade
or two lighter, and all with copyright info on back of head.
3. 3.9 Thin foot Red, White, Blue stems. Austria(IMC 8)
a) Milk white rounded candy button w/protrusion back left, milk white candy
button w/protrusion back right. semi-translucent "yellowish" single leaf
inner sleeve.
b) Head the same as variation 1b above.
4. 3.9 Thin foot Red, White, Blue stems. Austria(IMC 8), Yugo (IMC 5)
a) same as 3a above, plus red rounded candy button w/protrusion.
b) White hat, blue face, NO painted tongue, black painted eyebrows on brim
of hat, painted eyes, Copyright Peyo 1986 on back bottom of head. Thumb tab.
Basically what the above says: The n/f Smurf boys come with two different
style heads. The oldest being the darker blue, with no thumb tab. These
same heads can also be found on the 3.9 thin foot stems. The n/f's and thin
foots also can be found with the slightly lighter blue head with the thumb
tab. So, including the 3 stem colors, there are 6 different n/f's, and six
different thin foots. Still with me? ;-)
As a note, the next Smurf I will insert here is the "infamous" Red hat
Smurf. I have heard differing viewpoints on this dispenser, some say it was
never produced, that it was an error Papa Smurf with his beard
missing...some have said, yes, it was produced for a country I can not
remember off hand. Either way, it's out there. I have only one of these,
however James Day's Guide lists it as 3.9 w/f, and n/f(really?!), and 4.9
w/f. All with red stems. I will only attempt to list the one I have..can we
get the specifics on the others? Anyone?
5. 4.9 thick foot, Red stem. Austria(IMC 8)
a) Semi-translucent rounded candy button w/protrusion back left. White,
single leaf inner sleeve.
b) RED hat, blue face, black painted eyebrows on brim of hat, Copyright
Peyo 1986 on back bottom of head. Large black pupils(eyes)..uncertain as to
how they are put on.."appear" painted, and are not perfect, one looks one
way, other looks another way, and are somewhat "jagged". Thumb tab.
6. 4.9 thick foot, red white blue stems. Hungary(IMC 1), No country of
origin (IMC 1,IMC 5).
a)Semi-translucent rounded candy button w/protrusion back left.
Semi-translucent rounded candy button w/protrusion back right. White candy
button w/protrusion back right. Semi white single leaf inner sleeve. With
the nubs inside the back spine of the inner sleeve, or without the nubs.
b) White hat, blue face, black eyebrows on brim of hat, large black eye
pupils(yes, these too are of varying sizes and position, to a small
extent).Copyright Peyo 1986 on back bottom of head. Thumb tab.
7. 4.9 thick foot, neon yellow, neon orange stems. NO country of origin
(IMC 5)
a) White rounded candy button w/protrusion back right. NO nubs inside the
back spline of sleeve.Semi-white newer 4 leaf inner sleeve.
b) same as 6b above.
Smurf "B" (redesigned head)
8. 4.9 thick foot, neon yellow, neon orange, yellow. No country of origin
stems. (IMC 1)
a) Semi-translucent rounded candy button w/protrusion back right. With the
nubs inside the back spine of the inner sleeve, Semi-white newer 4 leaf
inner sleeve. Partial thumb tab.
b) White hat, blue head. Copyright PEYO 1997 left side of hat. Decal facial
features.
Oh man! I have a headache! If any of this made sense to any of you, take a
look at your Smurfs! Especially, the newer 4.9's..I think there must be
more stem colors out there.