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Playskool Bristle Blocks

CPSC Recall #80-038 - October 2, 1980

Recall Summary

Recall Number80-038
Recall DateOctober 2, 1980
Remedy TypeDispose, Replace

Product

Playskool Bristle Blocks

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 3) -- Playskool, Inc., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, has announced that two "Bristle Block" components, which may detach in use and abuse testing, fail to comply with a regulation designed to prevent children under 3 from swallowing small parts. These parts should be discarded and will be replaced without charge to customers. The company is taking this action although no injuries or complaints have been received relating to these components. Bristle Blocks are colored plastic shapes with flexible bristles that interlock. The products are sold and distributed nationally by leading wholesale and retail establishments. The two components to be replaced are Bristle heads contained in Bristle Block set #808 and Bristle wheels-and-axel assemblies included in Bristle sets #806, 807 and 808. Members of the public who have these Bristle heads and wheel-and-axel assemblies are urged to discard their old components and write to the company by postcard or letter requesting a replacement at the following address: PLAYSKOOL, INC. PO Box 200 Pawtucket, RI 02862-0200 Replacement will be provided free of charge by the company by return mail. Consumers with any questions may call the Customer Service Department at Playskool at (800)-752-9755. A copy of a photograph of the two Bristle Blocks components is attached to this document.

Hazard

Playskool, Inc., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, has announced that two "Bristle Block" components, which may detach in use and abuse testing, fail to comply with a regulation designed to prevent children under 3 from swallowing small parts.

Incidents & Injuries

The company is taking this action although no injuries or complaints have been received relating to these components.

Remedy Instructions

These parts should be discarded and will be replaced without charge to customers. Members of the public who have these Bristle heads and wheel-and-axel assemblies are urged to discard their old components and write to the company by postcard or letter requesting a replacement at the following address: PLayskool, Inc., P.O. Box 200, Pawtucket, RI, 02862-0200. Replacement will be provided free of charge by the company by return mail.

What Should You Do?

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