American Toy & Furniture "Wood and Hardboard Play Gym"

CPSC Recall #83-003 - January 25, 1983

Recall Summary

Recall Number83-003
Recall DateJanuary 25, 1983
Remedy TypeDispose
Units Affected30,000

Where It Was Sold

The product made by American Toy & Furniture was sold nationwide only through Sears catalogues for about $30.

Product

American Toy & Furniture "Wood and Hardboard Play Gym"

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, American Toy & Furniture Company, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, and Sears, Roebuck and Co., today announced a voluntary repair program of 30,000 children's play gyms sold from 1976 through July, 1980. There have been no reports of incidents or injuries involving this gym. However, there have been three reports of suffocation from infant head or neck entrapment between the steps of the ladder of a play gym similar in appearance, but not sold by Sears and not manufactured by American Toy & Furniture. While the Sears play gym has several features which make accidents less likely, a repair program is being conducted as an additional precaution. The product made by American Toy & Furniture was sold nationwide only through Sears catalogues for about $30. The product was sold under the name "Wood and Hardboard Play Gym." It consists of a hollow box, made of fiberboard and wood about 30 inches high which supports a two-step wooden ladder on one side held in place by two brackets and a short slide on the other. Gyms purchased after July, 1980 are not affected. They incorporate a newly designed ladder. Consumers owning affected gyms should discontinue use of the ladder. Firm is out of business. For further information about this recall, consumers may call the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's toll-free Hotline on 800-638-CPSC.

Hazard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, American Toy & Furniture Company, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, and Sears, Roebuck and Co., announced a voluntary repair program of 30,000 children's play gyms sold from 1976 through July, 1980.

Incidents & Injuries

There have been no reports of incidents or injuries involving this gym. However, there have been three reports of suffocation from infant head or neck entrapment between the steps of the ladder of a play gym similar in appearance, but not sold by Sears and not manufactured by American Toy & Furniture.

Remedy Instructions

Update: Consumers owning affected gyms should discontinue use of the ladder. Firm is out of business. American Toy & Furniture Company, Inc., and and Sears, Roebuck and Co., are conducting a voluntary repair program of 30,000 children's play gyms sold from 1976 through July, 1980.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose 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 (Dispose) 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.