Consumer Products Recalls

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Refrigerator Repaired by Amana Amana Refrigeration, Inc., Amana, Iowatoday announced voluntary corrective action program involving approximately 240,000 Amana side-by-side refrigerator/freezers manufactured between February 1969 and September 1974. Those refrigerator/freezers to be repaired are Amana model numbers SR 17, SR 19, SR 22, SR 25, SD 19, SD 22, and SD 25. The units can be further identified by checking the serial numbers on the serial plate located behind the removable black grill at the front of the refrigerator/freezer. Those serial numbers beginning with the letters S, E, B, L, A, or C are affected by this program. These refrigerator/freezers contain a hinge wire assembly in both of the doors which powers the heaters to the butter keeper and the anti-sweat device. The hinge wire may wear from frequent door openings causing contact between the bare wire and the inside of the door. There is a possibility that someone contacting or grasping both of the doors at the same time will be severely shocked. Forty-one shock incidents have been reported to the Commission. Amana is identifying and contacting owners of these refrigerator/freezers by letter in order to advise that modifications to eliminate this potential hazard should be made by the owner without delay. Until the written instructions are received consumers owning this product are advised to contact Amana through its toll-free number 800/553-6333 or write directly to Amana at: Amana Refrigeration Inc., Amana, Iowa 52204. In the event that Amana can not be reached, consumers are advised to contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Comnission's toll-free HOTLINE at 800/638-2772. Important Information About The Safety Of Your Side-By-Side Refrigerator Dear Amana Owner: Amana products have earned an excellent reputation for quality and safety. This comes in part through continued testing and monitoring of performance both in our plants and in the homes of our customers. However, some of the units, we have discovered, have had the wiring installed incorrectly. You may have one of these units. Excessive wear in these units can result in the electrical wires wearing out in the freezer or refrigerator door. Should this happen in either door, you may receive a severe electrical shock if you touch both door handles at the same time. The units involved were produced from February 1969 through September 1974, models beginning with the letters SR or SD. These are further identified by the letters S, E, B, L, A or C preceding the serial numbers. Our records indicate that you have one of these units. Please take the following steps at once. You should have no reluctance to perform these steps as they do not pose any hazard whatsoever. If you take these steps, you will eliminate any possibility of the shock hazard described above. In taking these steps, refer to the illustration. Disconnecting Hinge Wires 1. Remove Black Grille. 2. Unplug each plug. 3. Install Black plugs enclosed. 4. Add safety sticker to each wire. 5. Replace black grille.

Automatic Baseball Pitching Machines Warning NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 21, 1977 Release # 77-078 Warning Issued On Automatic Baseball Pitching Machines WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 21) -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today issued an urgent warning to purchasers and users of certain automatic baseball pitching machines of the potential for severe bodily injury which the machines present. The machines are labeled as follows: "Blazer (Champ)," the "Professional," "Range, " "Pro-Trainer (Olympia)," and/or the "Dudley Automatic Pitching Machine." They were manufactured by Commercial Mechanisms, Inc., of Spring Park, Minnesota, and Kansas City, Missouri. The Commission has two reports of permanent and severe brain damage resulting from these machines. There are about 18 other injuries including brain concussions, severe lacerations and severe facial disfigurement. The Commission has authorized its staff to prepare the necessary papers for filing a complaint in U.S. District Court seeking recall of the machines and a declaration that they are an imminent hazard. About 5,000 of these machines have been distributed throughout the United States to schools, colleges, clubs, recreation departments, and other athletic organizations. They were manufactured from 1963 to 1975. The Commission is asking consumers who have access to or know the location of a machine to call tie U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's toll-free hotline 800/638-2772. The pitching machines have rotary pitching arms propelled by a gasoline engine or electric motor which powers a gear, pulley and tension spring mechanism. The revolving pitching arm which has no guard retains sufficient energy to "pitch" even though the machines are unplugged or disconnected. This energy can release the pitching arm after only slight vibration of the machine. The downward rotation of the pitching arm at high velocity has resulted in serious injuries to persons in its path. The pitching arm may also separate from the machine during operation, becoming an uncontrolled and potentially lethal missile. The machines may also fire pitches erratically in unintended directions. Consumers are alerted to follow these important safety precautions: Avoid placing any portion of the body within the arc or path through which the pitching arm revolves, unless the machine is disconnected from its power source and the coil spring is disengaged from the spring holder. Disengage the coil spring from the spring holder after use, and lock the machine in a location that will restrict unauthorized or unsupervised access. If the machine must be moved, disconnect the machine from its power source and disengage the coil spring from the spring holder before moving. Never store the pitching machine with the pitching arm in the 10:00 o'clock position. An Example of A Pitching Machine With An Unguarded Arm (Blazer "Little Champ" Model) Guardless

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