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Type 213 foot pedals of Bernina sewing machines

CPSC Recall #78-056 - June 27, 1978

Recall Summary

Recall Number78-056
Recall DateJune 27, 1978
Remedy TypeNew Instructions, Repair

Product

Type 213 foot pedals of Bernina sewing machines

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 28) -- Bernina Sewing Machines of Switzerland, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), today announced a voluntary corrective action program involving the Type 213 foot pedals of Bernina sewing machines manufactured between late 1969 and January, 1976. Sewing machine owners will be notified directly by the company and sent an easy-to-install kit, free of charge, to remedy the problem. The foot pedal (or speed regulator) of the sewing machine may overheat if a switch within the pedal remains in a "closed" position. This may increase the possibility of a short circuit or fire in the pedal. As a safety precaution, owners are urged to unplug the machine when not in use and to avoid placing foreign objects on or near the foot pedal. According to Bernina, no injuries have been reported in connection with the sewing machines sold with this foot pedal. To correct the overheating problem, Bernina is offering a thermally activated switch for all the Type 213 black foot pedals. This number is stamped on the bottom of the foot pedal. (Those pedals stamped with a blue "T" already contain the thermally activated switch.) Bernina is identifying and contacting the owners of these sewing machines by letter to advise them that the thermally activated switch should be installed without delay. In addition, Bernina retailers will assist any consumer having difficulty in replacing the switch and have posted in-store notices explaining the problem. Consumers with the Type 213 foot pedals should contact their local Bernina retailer or any of Bernina's four American distributors if they have not been notified by the company or if they have questions concerning the recall program. The four American distributors are: Larson Bernina Corporation, 2017 E. 38th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55407 Swiss-Bernina Inc., 534 W. Chestnut Street, Hinsdale, IL 60521 Bernina Sewing Machine Company, Inc., 70 Orchard Drive, North Salt Lake, UT 84054 Bernina Distributors, Inc., 2401 S. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Hazard

The foot pedal (or speed regulator) of the sewing machine may overheat if a switch within the pedal remains in a "closed" position. This may increase the possibility of a short circuit or fire in the pedal.

Incidents & Injuries

According to Bernina, no injuries have been reported in connection with the sewing machines sold with this foot pedal.

Remedy Instructions

As a safety precaution, owners are urged to unplug the machine when not in use and to avoid placing foreign objects on or near the foot pedal. Sewing machine owners will be notified directly by the company and sent an easy-to-install kit, free of charge, to remedy the problem. Consumers with the Type 213 foot pedals should contact their local Bernina retailer or any of Bernina's four American distributors if they have not been notified by the company or if they have questions concerning the recall program.

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.

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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 (New Instructions, Repair) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident, they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

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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