"Mandalay" and "Candlelite" style cribs
CPSC Recall #79-066 - November 27, 1979
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 79-066 |
| Recall Date | November 27, 1979 |
| Remedy Type | New Instructions, Repair |
| Units Affected | Approximately 5,800 "Mandalay" cribs and 1,654 "Candlelite" cribs |
| Manufacturer | Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc., of Bassett, Virginia |
Product
"Mandalay" and "Candlelite" style cribs
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 28) -- Alarmed that parents may be exposing their infants to possible strangulation by continued use of two dangerous types of baby cribs, the Consumer Product Safety Commission today again urged consumers to participate in a program to eliminate the hazard. This announcement involves cribs manufactured by Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc., of Bassett, Virginia. The Bassett cribs requiring modification include the "Mandalay" and "Candlelite" style beds. They were designed in such a way (see accompanying illustrations) that infants can trap their heads between a corner post and the headboard (or footboard), and strangle as they stand on the crib bed. CPSC has received six reports of such deaths among infants since September, 1977. CPSC simultaneously expressed concern as to whether similarly designed baby cribs produced by other manufacturers may be posing hazards to infants. CPSC and Bassett announced a voluntary program to modify the cribs in May, 1978. Since then, only 1,000 of the "Mandalay" cribs reportedly have been modified (less than 20 percent of the estimated 5,800 Mandalay cribs produced). Approximately 1,200 of the 1,654 Candlelite cribs have been repaired, Bassett reported to CPSC. Bassett recently agreed to produced thousands of large wall posters warning parents of the hazard posed by the cribs and to have them distributed to pediatricians nationwide for display in physician's waiting rooms. Details of "Mandalay" Crib Alert The Mandalay cribs were produced with a bamboo-like motif, and include models 5126-505 and 5621-505 (painted yellow) and 5225-505 (painted white). The model numbers can be found on an adhesive label affixed to the inside of the headboard below the mattress level. The cribs were manufactured from February, 1974, through October, 1976, and sold for approximately $100 to $125 in retail stores nationwide. Parents immediately should remove all four finials (the decorative knobs on top of each cornerpost) by unscrewing them. Consumers then should report that they have removed the finials by contacting the retailer from which the crib was purchased or the nearest Bassett crib dealer. (Reporting the modification will help Bassett and CPSC maintain an accurate record of the number of cribs repaired.) Bassett crib dealers can be found by checking the "Yellow Pages" section of the telephone directory under the listing "Furniture--Children's," or by placing a collect call to Bassett at 703-629-7511, extension 340. Details of "Candlelite" Crib Alert The Candlelite style cribs were manufactured with a traditional colonial design in models 5028-505 and 5028-510 (stained in maple) and 5127-505 and 5127-510 (stained in pine). These model numbers also are printed on a label attached to the inside of the headboard below the mattress. The cribs sold for approximately $100 in retail stores nationwide, and were manufactured from December, 1975, to mid-October, 1977. Consumers who have not had their Candlelite cribs modified should contact the tore where it was purchased to arrange for free installation of modifying parts to close the openings in the headboards and footboards. Parents also can arrange to have these cribs repaired by contacting their nearest Bassett retailer, whose name can be obtained form the telephone directory or by calling Basett at the number listed above. Until the Candlelite cribs have been repaired, parents should push one end of the crib against a wall and move a high piece of furniture (such as a chest of drawers) against the other end. Other Cribs CPSC staff is trying to determine whether baby cribs other than those manufactured by Bassett are designed with headboard and footboard openings which my pose potential safety hazards to infants. Consumers who are aware of such cribs are urged to report the brand name and model number to CPSC's toll-free Hotline at 800-638-2772. In addition, concerned parents can protect their infants by pushing one end of these cribs against a wall and positioning a tall piece of furniture against the other end. Parents also should unscrew all four finials on such cribs where possible.
Hazard
The Bassett cribs requiring modification include the "Mandalay" and "Candlelite" style beds. They were designed in such a way that infants can trap their heads between a corner post and the headboard (or footboard), and strangle as they stand on the crib bed.
Incidents & Injuries
The "Candlelite" and "Mandalay" style cribs have reportedly have caused six infant deaths since 1977.
Remedy Instructions
Mandalay: Parents immediately should remove all four finials (the decorative knobs on top of each corner post) by unscrewing them. Consumers then should report that they have removed the finials by contacting the retailer from which the crib was purchased or the nearest Bassett crib dealer. Candlelite: Consumers who have not had their Candlelite cribs modified should contact the store where it was purchased to arrange for free installation of modifying parts to close the openings in the headboards and footboards. Parents also can arrange to have these cribs repaired by contacting their nearest Bassett retailer. Until the Candlelite cribs have been repaired, parents should push one end of the crib against a wall and move a high piece of furniture (such as a chest of drawers) against the other end.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a New Instructions, Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
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 (New Instructions, 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.