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Andis brand hair dryers; Presto brand hair dryers and stylers

CPSC Recall #80-016 - April 21, 1980

Recall Summary

Recall Number80-016
Recall DateApril 21, 1980
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedApproximately one-half million

Product

Andis brand hair dryers; Presto brand hair dryers and stylers

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 22, 1980) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced the recall of more than one-half million hair dryers and styling combs which were manufactured with asbestos. The recall includes professional hand-held hair dryers sold for use in barber shops and hair salons. The recalls are being conducted voluntarily by the Andis Company, of Racine, Wisconsin, and by National Presto Industries, Inc., of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Under voluntary corrective programs approved by the Commission, the two firms have agreed to replace the asbestos linings in the dryers and stylers with non-asbestos materials. The Andis Company is recalling tens of thousands of hand-held dryers sold to professional barbers and beauticians since 1973. Some salons may have resold the dryers directly to consumers, CPSC staff reports. The recall applies to the following Andis hair dryer styles and models: Electra Dryer, model ED, Electra Dryer 11, model ED2; Ultra 1200, model U-12; Elite 1500, model 480-EL; and Elite 1250, model E-12. Professional hair stylists should return these dryers to the supply distributor where purchased for free repairs. Consumers who own one of the dryers can obtain the location of the nearest repair center by contacting Andis at its toll-free number 1-800-558-9441. Hundreds of thousands of bonnet and hood-type hair dryers and styling combs are being recalled by National Presto Industries. These hair products were sold to consumers as early as 1965 through a variety of independent retail stores nationwide. The following Presto brand dryers and stylers are eligible for free repairs: Elastic Bonnet, models LP04 and PPlOA; Professional Hood, model PP18A; Mist Hood, models PP19A and PP19B; Styling Comb, model PP24A; and Mist Styling Comb, model PP25A. Consumers should mail the dryers and stylers for free repairs to National Presto Industries, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 54701.

Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced the recall of more than one-half million hair dryers and styling combs which were manufactured with asbestos. The recall includes professional hand-held hair dryers sold for use in barber shops and hair salons.

Remedy Instructions

Under voluntary corrective programs approved by the Commission, the two firms have agreed to replace the asbestos linings in the dryers and stylers with non-asbestos materials. Consumers who own one of the Andis dryers can obtain the location of the nearest repair center by contacting Andis at its toll-free number 1-800-558-9441. Consumers who own the Presto dryers should mail the dryers and stylers for free repairs to National Presto Industries, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 54701.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly, either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Repair) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney, parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.

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