[Syd Smurf]

I received this cool supposedly "Inflatable Smurf" today but what the sellers forgot to say was that the Smurf has a hole at the top of the right ear. This really sucks as this smurf looks really cool when completely blown up but even in the auction ad pic (see below) it is slowly deflating and does stand for a few seconds before enough air runs out and then falls over. The sellers claim ignorance but I can see glue where they obviously tried to fix the hole. I am really not happy about this and have already left positive feedback when it arrived earlier today before I actually checked it.

In the pic below the right arm seems to be right up against the ear where infact it doesn't naturally go anywhere near the ear like that.

Does anyone know if these things can be repaired?



Dyar

[Bunno Smurf]

There are puncture repair kits around. I think you can get clear ones so that would probably be the best bet. Either that or try some silicon (liquid nails stuff). My dad fixes all leaks with silicon...he once fixed my leaking hose pipe in my old car with silicon.

[misszell]

a lot of times when you by a new swimming raft or inner tube it will come with a clear patch to fix any leaks......so im sure you can buy one by itself......in the stores look by all the swimming toys

[Syd Smurf]

Thanks for your opinions ......I think I will go and get some liquid nails and see what that can do for me....Mrs Dyar is quite excited as she wants some to make icing on some cinnamon buns ....I hope she means the crafty ones she's been making and not our afternoon tea.

I thought of the swimming type patches but since it's right in the centre where the head meets the ear I don't think I could cover it properly with a patch unfortunately.

The markings on this smurf are: Peyo Sepp BP Australia

I am guessing it's reasonably old but would of been nice to have it hanging from the smurf room somewhere.

Dyar

[eggie smurf]

Hope your liquid nails does the job

[bradley]

That is a shame Dyar.
I actually saw this auction and thought it looked very cool.
And I actually nearly placed a bid on it until I saw your username and you were bidding so I thought, oh well to it and good luck to you. He really looks great but it is a shame that he has a hole. The auction said it had been in storage for many years. Hope you can fix it. I hate it when things like this get holes and deflate. We used to have christmas ones. A santa and deer but they are long gone. Punctures suck.

Goodluck with fixing him.

Brad.

[Syd Smurf]

Thanks Brad.....I will let people know how I go once I get some liquid nails...it would be a shame if this turns out to be trash. One thing I did notice is that they tried to glue the ear flap over the hole as there are glue residue around the area.

Dyar

[SA Smurfette]

He's cute Dyar

I hope you manage to repair him

Raelene

[downundergal]

Hi Dyar,

I know what you mean about the clear patches, they'd probably be good on a flatter more even section, i'd try silicon, not sure about liquid nails, but good luck though, maybe go into a clarks rubber shop, or a pool shop & ask? sure they get queries with repairs to blow up pool furniture/toys?



Leanne

[Syd Smurf]

Might be worth trying Leanne...thanks for letting me know.....I will just have to point out that it's a inflatable smurf figure.....if I go in there saying my blow up doll is damaged they may be burst out in laughter.

Thanks

Dyar

[downundergal]

LMAO Dyar

Actually, I think you should say that, just for the reaction

good one & good luck!



Leanne

[Guest]

Dyar, i am not so sure you want to fix him, i think you want him to go down on you again ! heheheheehe ( sorry )

[Syd Smurf]

Well it does go up when I blow him.....but you didn't hear me say that

[Guest]

LOL Dyar

[SA Smurfette]

Raelene

[Fram]

Dyar, I haven't found out yet what are the starting and ending years of the SEPP - Peyo collaboration, but I guess that this blow-in-the-dark Smurf is from aound 1985.

[Syd Smurf]

Not sure Fram...there is no year mentioned on the smurf but the auction ad did say that they had it in storage for 20 years....so if that is an acurate statement then it would have to be around 1985.....I don't know a lot about the SEPP collaboration at all.....if you know anything or anyone else then please tell me what you know.

Dyar

[Fram]

Basically, as far as I understand it, SEPP was a kind of predecessor of IMPS, with the difference that it also worked for other artists (mostly, or perhaps exclusively, from Dupuis, the editor in those days of the Smurfs and other comics). I don't know if Peyo went from SEPP immediately to IMPS or if there was something inbetween. I'll try to see what my oldest IMPS things are and what my most recent SEPP stuff is, but if my memory doesn't fail me, then 1986 was still definitely SEPP, and 1992 was definitely IMPS.

[Fram]

And with that post, I'm once again a Pop Rocky (or was it a Rock Poppy) Smurf. Viva me!

[Fram]

I can now confirm that IMPS existed certainly as early as 1988, as the 30 year jubilee Smurf from 1988 was an IMPS issue.
So either 1986-1988 was the cutoff between SEPP and IMPS, or there was a period that both worked for Peyo.
Some websites still bear the mention Copyright Peyo SEPP licensed by IMPS, so perhaps SEPP is still the copyright holder and IMPS is the promotion machine behind it (or in front of it)?
I don't have any more information or sources for it for now, I'll post it here ifI would get to know anything else.