| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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| August 9, 1979 |
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| Release # 79-037 |
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Toy Cork Rifles Recalled
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 9) -- The F. J. Strauss Company, Inc., an importer and distributor with headquarters in New York City, is voluntarily recalling approximately 3,600 toy cork rifles because they may injure children's eyes. The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
According to CPSC staff, children run the risk of serious eye injuries if they remove the gun's muzzle and fire toward their faces, an action which could drive two interior metal rods into their eyes.
These "pushrods," which serve to expel the cork from the toy I normally are protected from extending to their full 8-inch length by small plastic barriers. However, some barriers may be positioned improperly, allowing the metal rods to project completely when the trigger is pulled.
While F. J. Strauss never has received a complaint about the toy, CPSC received a report earlier this year that a 3+year-old boy suffered eye injuries from an identically constructed toy cork gun made by another manufacturer; all of these models have since been recalled.
Strauss has told CPSC that other firms also have distributed identical toy guns.
The cork guns have been marketed since 1977 in cardboard boxes which are labeled "F. J. Strauss Co., Inc., New York, New York, 10010." The cartons also are labeled with the trademark "Straco," and with "Western Double-Barrel Cork Rifle." They sold for approximately $1.99 at various retail outlets.
Consumers should return the guns to the place of purchase for a full refund.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.