Compost & Leaf Shredders Repaired by Kemp Shredder NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 24, 1975 Release # 75-018 Kemp Offers Free Repair Kit For Compost And Leaf Shredders ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA (Feb. 24) -- Kemp Shredder Company, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, announces the immediate availability of a free corrective kit for compost and leaf shredders with Model Nos. SKO, 6-0, and 6-04 to reduce the possibility of injury to users. The uncorrected models pose a potential safety hazard to consumers. The user's hand could be drawn into the shredding machinery when a stick or branch is inserted at a certain angle while the machine is operating. The free corrective kit provided by the Kemp Shredder Company will contain a protective plate with simple installation instructions, revised operating instructions, and safety decals. The protective plate, to be installed by the consumer, will reduce the potential hazard. Only Model Nos. SKO, 6-0, and 6-04, which were sold nationally, are involved in the corrective program voluntarily undertaken by the firm. These models were manufactured prior to May 16, 1973, although some may have been sold after that date. The model numbers are located on the shredder nameplate. Consumers who have difficulty in finding the model number should contact the Kemp Shredder Company. The Kemp Shredder Company is notifying by certified mail all known purchasers of the availability of the corrective kits. Owners of the above models who have not received the letter are urged to contact the Kemp Shredder Company, P.O. Box 6275, Erie, Pennsylvania 16512.
Consumers Warned About Possible Saddle Pad Anthrax Contamination NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 1, 1974 Release # 74-073 Consumers Warned About Possible Saddle Pad Anthrax Contamination WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 1) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with the Perforated Pad Company today warned consumers, particularly horse owners, that 5,000 to 10,000 "Alaskan Hair Saddle Pads" sold nationwide since January could be contaminated with anthrax spores. The saddle pads, which utilized imported animal hair, retailed for between $7 and $9. The pads were manufactured by the Perforated Pad Company, Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The saddle pads are about three-quarters to one-inch thick with cotton duck quilt on one side and exposed short coarse greyish-black colored animal hair on the other side. They range in sizes from about 26 by 28 inches to 30 by 30 inches. The pads may bear a three-by-five inch blue label on the quilted side that includes the name of the manufacturer and one of six style numbers: 238, 238R, 500, 500R, 832 and 832R. Consumers who own one of these saddle pads should place the product in a sealed double plastic bag and call a local or state health department for disposal instructions. Consumers should not attempt to sterilize the pad, incinerate it, or throw it away because of the risk of further contamination. Perforated Pad Co. has voluntarily agreed to refund the price of the pads to all purchasers. Consumers who bought one of these pads should contact the retailer from whom it was purchased to arrange for a refund. The Commission was alerted to the possibility of anthrax contamination by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services following the death of a horse in the state and the subsequent deaths of numerous animals on a private game ranch who were fed the infected horse meat. Anthrax is an acute bacterial disease which can be fatal for humans if untreated. It can be transmitted from a product bearing the anthrax spores through skin contact, inhalation or ingestion of contaminated foods. Anthrax infection is not contagious from one person to another. The disease, for humans and animals, may start with a blister or pustule and can develop into a depressed area of dead tissue with a dark crust. Fever and other symptoms may not appear until the disease is severe. This warning is being issued in the interest of the public health and safety and in conjunction with the Center for Disease Control which is under the Public Health Service in the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The Commission is continuing its investigations to determine whether the contaminated animal hair has been sold to other manufacturers by the importer and used in the production of other products.
Gas & Electric Dryers Manufactured by Lux Time Co. Warning NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 15, 1974 Release # 74-008 CPSC Issues Warning Of Electric Shock Hazard In Gas And Electric Dryers WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb.15)--The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today warned consumers that approximately 3,000 gas and electric clothes dryers manufactured after November 8, 1973, and sold in the past four months may have potentially defective timers capable of causing fatal electric shock. Owners of the suspect units are urged to immediately unplug the dryer, being careful not to touch any metal surfaces. The model and serial number may be located by opening the door of the clothes dryer and looking at the upper lefthand corner of the door well. The timers were manufactured by Lux Time Company of Connecticut, a division of Robertshaw Controls Company, and were sold to the Franklin Manufacturing Company, Webster City, Iowa, which, in turn, sold them to the six dryer manufacturers. The Franklin Manufacturing Company, a subsidiary of White Consolidated of Cleveland, Ohio, reported the defect to the Commission February 12, and has directed its customers to halt delivery on the dryers. The firm has advised consumers who may have purchased any of the dryers in question to contact the dealer from whom it was purchased for inspection and, if necessary, replacement of the control at no cost to the customer. For further information, call the Consumer Product Safety Commission toll-free hot line (800) 638-2772. Customer Brand Name # Units Model # Serial #'s Kelvinator, Inc. Kelvinator 1,569 DE640GA DE522GW DE522GC DE522GH DE522GA 042210 & 042292 037466 - 041533 037198 - 040199 037696 - 041287 036604 - 040842 WT Grant Bradford 870 78-196 78-303 78-204 78-212 78-287 42119 - 43469 40221 - 42711 41325 - 43669 38839 - 43368 42318 - 42416 Admiral Corp. Admiral 479 LDE 1833 LDG 1833 LDE 1835 3058824 - 3067520 3061381 - 3068230 3067699 - 3067760 3065180 Hamilton Appliance Co. Hamilton 175 DS 253W DP 253W DS 153W 33057 & 33107 32710 - 32884 32912 - 33319 Gamble-Skogmo Coronado 158 45-1203 45-1223 12328 - 12427 12228 - 12319 Kalvinator Sales of Puerto Rico Kelvinator 126 DE522G-W DE522G-H DE522G-A DE522G-C 038421 - 038490 039078 - 039107 036584 - 036603 037240 - 040194
Mini Shadowy Stand Lamp Warning NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 6, 1974 Release # 74-005 CPSC Warns Of Severe Electric Shock Hazard In Lamp WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 6)--The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today warned consumers who may have purchased a "Rainbow Lamp", also known as a "Mini Shadowy Stand" lamp, to immediately discontinue use of the product. The Commission said the lamp-- which retails for approximately $1.98-- contains defects which could result in a fatal electric shock. Some 35,000 lamps have been sold since February, 1973. They were advertised nationally in TV Guide, Sunday newspaper supplements, including Parade Magazine; Ladies Home Journal; and in the "New Discoveries from Greenland" catalog which was mailed to several million consumers over the last few months. The Commission said the lamps were distributed in the United States by Greenland Studios, 4500 Northwest, 135th Street, Miami, Florida. They were imported from Taiwan and carry the model number 13348 in some of the advertisements but not on the lamp or package. The Commission warned consumers to use "extreme care" in disconnecting the lamp plug from electrical outlets, and to avoid touching any metal objects while doing so. The lamp is designed to cast shadows of various shapes on walls when in use and has been advertised as providing a "sensuous light show". Consumers Union notified the Commission of the possible hazard, on February 1, 1974. The Commission immediately secured samples of the lamps and began testing. Further importation and sales of the lamps have been halted and the Commission said the company is cooperating fully with the Commission and has voluntarily agreed to refund the full purchase price on all returns, including cost of postage. In addition, the company has agreed to make a direct mailing to known purchasers, warning them of the hazard and offering to repurchase the lamps. In making the announcement, the Commission said it was deeply concerned by the failure of national publications to exercise "any degree of responsibility" in verifying the safety of products advertised for sale to consumers. "We believe publications-- such as TV Guide and Ladies Home Journal-- have a special responsibility to assure that products advertised for sale do not pose unreasonable risks of injury to consumers." Greenland Studios is a wholly owned subsidiary of Downe Communications, Inc., which also owns Ladies Home Journal and Family Weekly.