Question about hoof marks on G1 ponies

[Beth3346]

I know that a lot of earlier ponies (Year 1-3) have Hong Kong on their hooves.  In year 4, 5, and 6 it looks like some have Hong Kong and some have China. I'm confused because my Summer Wings seem to have a mix of Hong Kong and China.  My Little Flitter and High Flyer are stamped with Hong Kong and my Buzzer is stamped with China. So are there two versions of each Summer Wing pony?

Thanks for your help

[hathorcat]

Yes, there is a shift in production....

Hasbro clearly were using HK factories exclusively for the first few years and then in Year 6 there is suddenly a mix of factory sources - where HB start using both HK and Chinese factories - whether this was for monetary reasons or simply that the volume of sets in years like 6 and 7 was so vast and varied they needed additional suppliers is unknown. However, the fact that towards the end of production all ponies start to be Chinese is a suggestion that the shift was financial as clearly when the number of sets and, probably volume of ponies, lessened HB seem to have stopped using HK factories and started using Chinese ones exclusively for the mainstream line

There are quite a few sets that cross over - Summer Wings, Loving Familes, Brush n Grow, etc, etc

[Baby Sugarberry]

I believe there are two versions for each of the Summer wings? I have in my possession two pairs for sure - Lady Flutter and High Flyer both exist as HK and China produced. 


They are subtly different - the HK's are harder plastic, with more transparent wings, and duller body colors.  Eye paint is darker too.  The China's are softer plastic, more vibrant colors, lighter eye paint, and more opaque wings.  For High Flyer, HK has blue outer edges on the wings, while China has teal.  Could be sun damage possibly, but it looks quite even. 

[Beth3346]

Thanks hathorcat and baby sugarberry that clears things up for me

[partypony566]

Sounds like the two have quite a few variations between them!

[mlp4me]

The differences can be subtle...
Top is China (bigger symbols, more vibrant) and Bottom is Hong Kong (and unfortunatly a re-hair)
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I've only found Mommy Sweet Celebrations in China and HK as well.

How about some more picture examples??

[reanna-mator]

Yep, some Flutter ponies have this too. I noticed this (then) curious fact when I was cataloging my girls!

[TheBeatlesPkmnFan42]

... that just made my collecting even harder. Now I'll have to search for these variants.

[Baby Sugarberry]

I'll take some pics of my pairs tomorrow - sun's down right now. 

[HavACrumpet452]

I don't remember which is which right now but one factory seemed to have smaller more crisp symbols while the other often has blurry edged symbols.

[Baby Sugarberry]

as promised, pictures! 


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~~~~~~~~~~~~ ^ CHINA ^ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ^ HONG KONG ^
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~~~~~ ^ HONG KONG ^ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ^ CHINA ^


Should have put them in the same spots, my apologies, derp.  Anyways, you can easily see there's quite a bit of variation between the two pairs. ^_^


(And they are in need of a good bathing, dirty little flutters~! I swear, they must sneak out a night.)