Consumer Products Recalls

Explosion/Projectiles

Poisoning

March 9, 1979 Release # 79-011 Bench Grinders To Be Repaired WASHINGTON, D. C. (March 9) -- Montgomery Ward and Co., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), today announced that it is continuing a voluntary repair program to correct a potential shock hazard in certain Wards' Powr-Kraft model TGB-5102A six-inch bench grinders. This additional notice of the voluntary repair program is being issued in hopes of receiving a better consumer response. The program was first announced by the manufacturer, McGraw-Edison Co., on August 29, 1978. A protective sleeve that insulates an electric lead wire may wear through on some units if in contact with the motor shaft. Severe shock could result if the bench grinder is not properly grounded and the user is grounded or is touching a grounded metal object such as a water pipe. The repair program applies only to Powr-Kraft model TGB-5102A grinders with a "77F" date code embossed on the nameplate and to certain units with the same model number that were purchased after June 1973, but show no date code. Units with the "77F" date code that bear an orange inspection sticker on either the unit or its packing carton have already been inspected and are not subject to this repair program. The grinder should not be used until it has been inspected and reworked. For instructions on having the units checked and repaired free-of-charge, owners of the grinders should write to: Bench Grinder Repair Program, C/O National Service Manager, Portable Appliance and Tool Group, McGraw-Edison Co., 2nd and Vine Sts., Boonville, MO. 65233. To verify the model number, consumers may contact CPSC's toll-free Hotline at 800/638-2772

Battlestar Galactica space toys Replaced by Mattel NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 11, 1979 Release # 79-001 Mattel Announces Toy Replacement Program HAWTHORNE, CALIF. (January 11) -- Mattel, Inc., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), today announced that it has voluntarily initiated a "Missile Mail-In" campaign to reduce the possibility of accidents which might occur in connection with four of its "Battlestar Galactica" space toys. Each of the four toys is sold with a set of small red plastic missiles which can be launched from each toy. Although all of the products meet or exceed all existing and ration proposed safety standards, there have been instances of accidental swallowing or aspiration of a missile including one reported death of a four-year-old child. The "Missile Mail-In" plan offers parents and children the opportunity to mail all of their remaining small 1-1/4 inch red plastic missiles to Mattel and receive in return a free "Hot Wheels" car. Missiles should be mailed to: Mattel Mail-In P.O. Box 813 Hawthorne, California 90250, along with the consumer's name and address. To encourage immediate response, this program will expire on March 1, 1979. The missiles accompany Mattel's "Colonial Viper" (No. 2531), "Colonial Scarab" (No. 2534), "Colonial Stellar Probe" (No. 2533), and "Cylon Raider" (No. 2532) space vehicles. Mattel and the Consumer Product Safety Commission stated that the Mail-In program was initiated to remove the possibility of an accident and to inform parents of the need to caution children regarding small objects of any type which might be put in the mouth. At the same time, the offer of a free "Hot Wheels" miniature car is intended to compensate for any loss of play value due to return of the missiles. In addition to the mail program, Mattel announced that it has redesigned the four "Battlestar Galactica" toys for 1979 so that, missiles cannot be launched from the body of the toys. Retail and wholesale inventories of the 1978 product are currently being exchanged for the redesigned toys. For further information, consumers may call Mattel toll-free on 800/421-2826; California residents call collect to 213/644-2752. Letters may be addressed to Mattel, Inc., at 5150 Rosecrans Avenue, Hawthorne, California 90250. To verify model numbers, consumers can call the toll-free CPSC Hotline on 800/638-2772.

Poisoning

Choking

Explosion/Projectiles

Explosion/Projectiles

November 22, 1978 Release # 78-094 Amana Freezers WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 22)-- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Amana Refrigeration, Inc., Amana, Iowa, today announced that 96,000 owners of Amana side-by-side refrigerator-freezers made between February 1969 and September 1974, have been contacted by the company and given instructions for modifying the units to eliminate any possibility of shock hazard. In its first announcement of the possible defect made jointly with Amana in August 1977, CPSC described the voluntary repair program for about 240,000 units. According to Amana, it has exhausted all available lists of consumers to contact concerning the modification program and wants the remaining owners to get in touch with the company immediately. The Amana models to be modified are SR17, SR19, SR22, SR25, SD19, SD22, and SD25, whose serial numbers begin with the letters IS, E, B, L, A or C. The appliances in question can be positively identified by checking the model and serial number on the serial plate located behind the removable black grille at the lower front of the unit. The possibility of a shock hazard is caused by a defective hinge wire assembly which powers the butter-keeper heater and anti-sweat heater. CPSC has learned of 41 shock incidents to date. Anyone owning one of the 144,000 units that have not yet been modified should immediately furnish model, serial number, name and address to Amana Refrigeration, Inc., Amana, Iowa 52204. If consumers are unable to contact Amana directly they should call, with the same information, CPSC's toll-free hotline at 800/638-2772

Vehicle Accident

Smoke Detectors Recalled by BRK Electronics NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 6, 1978 Release # 78-089 Pittway-BRK Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 6) - The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced an agreement with the Pittway Corp., Northbrook, Ill., doing business as BRK Electronics, whereby Pittway has agreed to pay $100,000 in settlement of a civil penalty action which the Commission had decided to file. The agreement was negotiated between Pittway and CPSC staff and accepted by the Commission on Nov. 1. The Commission's action against Pittway concerned the company's alleged failure to report a defect in the BRK SS749 series smoke detectors which could cause such products to fail to operate and, in certain instances, to catch fire. The defect consisted of incorrectly rated resistors used in the SS749 smoke detectors produced by the BRK Electronics division of Pittway from March 1974 to September 26,1975. The Consumer Product Safety Act requires a manufacturer to notify the Commission immediately after learning of a defect which could create a substantial product hazard. In agreeing to a settlement of this matter, the Pittway Corporation has neither admitted nor denied violating the notification requirements of the Act. The company has cooperated in voluntarily carrying out an extensive program to recall the approximately 115,000 smoke detectors involved. Thus far, approximately 60,000 smoke detectors have been returned. The company has agreed to continue, and to intensify, its efforts to locate the remaining smoke detectors. The units subject to this recall are 110 volt AC-powered detectors which sold for a suggested retail price of $39.95. No battery-powered detectors are involved. Some models were manufactured with ordinary power cords (line cord) which plug into wall outlets, others have pigtail leads (hard wire) for installation directly into electric wiring. The detectors were marketed by BRK, American Machine & Foundry (AMF), I-T-E Imperial Corporation (I-T-E) and Sears, Roebuck & Company (Sears). They have the following model numbers: BRK SS749AC (hard wire) SS749ACS (hard wire) SS749L (line cord) SS749SL (line cord) AMF 2000AC (hard wire) 2000ACL (line cord) I-T-E ITOl-AC (hard wire) Sears 9-57049 (hard wire) 9-57047 (line cord) 9-57048 (line cord) Homeowners who suspect they have one of these smoke detectors are urged to check the model number on their unit. (Caution: Before inspecting-hard-wired detectors, electrical power to the unit must be turned off at the fuse box or circuit breaker; line cord detectors must be unplugged before inspection). Once the power is off o remove the cover and examine the side of the plastic base for a label which contains the model number. Anyone who has one of the Sears units affected by this recall should contact the nearest Sears store, which will arrange for inspection and free replacement of the unit containing the defect. People who believe they have any of the other detectors under recall should contact BRK to obtain a fact sheet, which gives very specific criteria for identifying potentially defective units, as well as replacement instructions. Additional information concerning the recall can be obtained by contacting BRK Electronics, 780 McClure Avenue, Aurora, Illinois 60507, Attention: Dennis Wm. Clair, Project 749 Director; or by calling toll-free 800/323-9005 and asking for the Project 749 Department.