"Rainbow Lamps" also known as "Mini Shadowy Stand" Lamps

CPSC Recall #74-006 - February 11, 1974

Recall Summary

Recall Number74-006
Recall DateFebruary 11, 1974
Remedy Type-
Units Affected12,148

Product

"Rainbow Lamps" also known as "Mini Shadowy Stand" Lamps

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 12)--The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today learned that an additional 12,148 of the hazardous "Rainbow Lamps," also known as "Mini Shadowy Stand" lamps, have been purchased by consumers from Spencer Gifts, Inc., 1601 Albany Avenue Boulevard, Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401.The Commission urges consumers to immediately discontinue use of the lamp because it contains defects which could result in fatal electric shock. warningFebruary 6 to consumers who had purchased 35,000 of the lamps mail order from Greenland Studios, Miami, Florida.The lamps, which were imported from Taiwan and retailed for $1.99, were advertised in the Spencer Catalog that was mailed to several million consumers over the past few months. The catalog advertisements carry the model number 10504, but the number does not appear 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 "sea of whirling colors." Consumers Union notified the Commission of the possible hazard on February 1, 1974. The Commission immediately secured samples of the lamp 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 replace the lamps.

Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today learned that an additional 12,148 of the hazardous "Rainbow Lamps," also known as "Mini Shadowy Stand" lamps, have been purchased by consumers from Spencer Gifts, Inc., 1601 Albany Avenue Boulevard, Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a remedy 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 (refund, replacement, or 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.