December 21, 1995 Release # 96-051 WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, International Silver Company of Boston, MA, is voluntarily recalling about 33,000 "Tree Shaped 7 Light Votive Holder" candle holders. The candle holder contains small glass pots that may overheat and shatter. The same product was sold by another company and was previously recalled on December 18, 1995.International Silver Company received seven reports of the glass pots shattering, including one where a consumer's leg was injured. The tree-shaped, wire candle holders, measure 12.75 inches high and 13.75 inches wide at the base, and is silver plated (item #991194751). The candle holders are packaged with four green and three red small glass pots in which votive candles can be placed. Major retail department and gift stores sold the candle holders nationwide from September 1995 through December 1995 from $19.99 to $24.99 each. Home Shopping Network also sold this votive holder and has begun a campaign to notify its consumers.Consumers should stop using the candle holders immediately and return them to the store purchased for a full refund. For more information, consumers living in Massachusetts should call International Silver Company's Risk Manager at (617) 568-1590 and consumers living outside Massachusetts can call toll-free (800) 667-5743
December 21, 1994 Release # 95-051 WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, Krups North America Inc. of Closter, N.J., is voluntarily offering stickers and corrected operating instructions for about 1,472,000 model number 963 Espresso/Cappuccino Machines. While these coffee machines were distributed to retail stores nationwide from 1985 through 1992, some of the machines may still be on sale. To date, Krups has received 57 reports of the carafes on the coffee machines shattering, injuring 15 people. Consumers should note that the letters "min" on the filter holder locking mechanism do not refer to the strength of the coffee, but rather to the position of the filter holder. If the filter holder is set far to the left of "min," steam pressure may build up with enough force to cause the holder to fly out of the coffee machine. This can happen when the filter holder is moved while the machine is in operation. If the filter holder falls down, it can hit the glass carafe, causing the glass to shatter. Flying pieces of metal, glass, plastic, coffee grinds and hot coffee can cause serious cuts or burns to people standing nearby.Consumers should rotate the filter holder to the "max" position and call Krups at (800) 526-5377 to receive a sticker to put over the "min max" position and revised instructions on how to properly use the machine. Krups is offering a $5 rebate good for any Krups products to consumers who request the sticker and instructions.Krups espresso/cappuccino machines manufactures after 1992, which are marked "Lock," are not involved in this recall
September 20, 1994 Release # 94-134 Washington, D.C. - CPSC, USA Maxam Inc. (also known to the public as Wholesale World and Tech Mart) of Houston, Texas, is recalling approximately 230,000 extension cords. CPSC testing found that the cords' wires are undersized and the cords' plugs were put together improperly. The cords can catch fire or shock people. The recalled extension cords were sold in the following lengths: 6 feet (item PA-1106S), 9 feet (item PA-1109S), 12 feet (item PA-1112S), 15 feet (item PA-1115S), 18 feet (item PA-1118S), and 21 feet (item PA-1121S). The cords were sold in cardboard sleeves labeled in part, "***ft. *** TECH man *** MADE IN CHINA *** Extension Cord ***125V***." The individual cords, which may be labeled "Made in China," were distributed to retail stores in New York, Florida, Georgia, California, and Indiana from June 1992 through January 12, 1994.Consumers should stop using these dangerous extension cords and return them to the stores where purchased for a full refund. Consumers may also return them by mail for a refund to USA Maxam Inc., 5610 Savoy, Houston, TX 77036.Neither CPSC or USA Maxam Inc. is aware of any injuries involving these extension cords. However, a recent CPSC study estimated that in 1987, 4,600 fires involving extension cords resulted in 70 deaths, 230 injuries, and $42 million in property damage. These extension cords were discovered during routine CPSC marketplace surveillance
September 19, 1994 Release # 94-128 Washington, D.C. - CPSC and Melitta North American of Cherry Hill, N.J., urge coffeemaker owners to check whether they own a Melitta Aroma Brew Automatic Drip coffeemaker model ACM-10S. About 175,000 of these coffeemakers sold before Feb. 1, 1994, have hinges on the plastic filter holders that may have been damaged in transit or in use. Damaged hinges can cause the coffeemaker filter holder to unexpectedly swing open during brewing, spilling hot water or coffee on people nearby.CPSC first learned of this problem from a complaint and coffeemaker sent by Ralph Nader. Subsequently, the commission learned that at least three people have been burned from spilled liquid. Melitta and CPSC worked in close cooperation to evaluate these incidents and identify appropriate remedies.The coffeemakers, available for between $30 and $35, were sold nationwide in retail stores from April 1993 through January 1994.The coffeemakers involved are white, black, teal, or plum with the word "Melitta" printed on the filter holder and "MODEL ACM-10S" engraved on the bottom of the coffeemaker.Melitta reports that some Aroma Brew's filter holder hinges may have been damaged in transit or by a consumer improperly opening the filter holder when cleaning or disposing of coffeegrounds. Consumers are asked to immediately stop using these coffeemakers and call Melitta at 1-888-635-4882. Melitta will send a free filter holder replacement kit and installation instructions. The new filter holder contains a stronger hinge pin to keep the filter securely in place during brewing.All Melitta coffeemakers sold after February 1, 1994, which have redesigned filter cone hinge pins, are not involved in the replacement program