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New Information On Hair Dryers; CPSC Hot-Line Swamped By Calls

Release Date: April 17, 1979

Amidst an overwhelming level of consumer telephone inquiries, CPSC has prepared an updated listing of those hair dryers which are believed to contain asbestos, based on recent information provided CPSC by various manufacturers and retailers.

Since an initial preliminary list was issued April 6th by CPSC, five major corporations and one major retailer have identified more than 40 additional models of hair dryers manufactured with asbestos. This supplemental information brings to 111 the number of different models with asbestos, as disclosed by industry.

CPSC staffers currently are handling more than 2,500 consumer inquiries about asbestos in hair dryers every day on the nationwide CPSC Hot-line. But according to telephone company sources, as many as 6,000 callers every hour are unable to get through to the Hot-line because of the heavy load of inquiries. Since early April this level has occasionally caused technical over-load problems for the telephone company's East Coast toll-free systems and its communications satellite.

The regular CPSC Hot-line crew of three has been supplemented.

New Hair Dryer Data

The new data, submitted in response to the first Special Orders sent by CPSC to major manufacturers and retailers early this month, identifies 44 additional models of hand-held dryers and styles, as well as 1 model of the salon type used by consumers at home and in commercial hair-styling establishments. These major manufacturers and retailers account for about 90 per cent of the annual U.S. sales of hair dryers.

A second assembly of CPSC Special Orders seeking comparable information has been sent to 69 small domestic manufacturers and importers of hair dryers. CPSC expects to receive most of the responses to these Special Orders by the end of next week.

Additionally, CPSC staff is seeking approval from the Commissioners to issue a third group of Special Orders to about 50 manufacturers and importers of hair dryers used in commercial salons. Most of the manufacturers of these models are distinct from the companies which produce and sell the hand-held variety.

Toll-Free Telephones for Manufacturers:

Clairol, Inc.

Conair Corp.

Gillette Co.

General Electric


Norelco
800-223-5800

800-631-5391

800-328-9208

800-241-9992 or
1-800-241-5822

800-223-1828






Interim List Of hair Dryers That Contain Asbesto And Those That
Do Not Information Obtained From Manufacturers and Private Labelers



CompanyModels with AsbestosCompany Actions and PolicyModels without Asbestos
American Electric Corporation
9937 W. Jefferson Blvd
Culver City, CA 90020
noneCompany has never used asbestos in any of its hair dryers.all
Clairol
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Appliance Division

Salon Division

Toll-free
800-223-5800
* son-of-Gun Style Nos.
TD-1, TD-2
(Asbestos decorative element)

* Super Zap Style No. sz-1
Ceased distribution Sept. 78* 1 For the Road
(MD-1)
* The Dry Guy
(CH-1)
* The Hot Stuff
(RBD-1000), (RBD-2)
* The Pro Gun 1000
(GD-100)
* The Pro Gun 1200
(GD-200)
* The Pretty Power
(AFD-1)
* The Air Brush
(AB-1, AB-2, AB-3)
* The Zap

Possibly Others
Conair Corporation
11 Executive Avenue
Edison, NJ 08817


toll-free:
300-631-5391

(This telephone number is used for many business purposes, therefore it may often be engaged.)
* Style Stream 070-- Made in Hong Kong

** Pistol Power 0991 --Made in Hong Kong
1200
* Dial 'N Dry 140V--Made in Hong Kong

* Pro Style 065-Made in Hong Kong
1200 Serial numbers
1277, 0178, 0278, 0378
0478, 0578, 0678

(See list of models without asbestos for additional information regarding model 065)

* Jr. Pro 066--Made in Hong Kong
1000

* Thermo Styler 067 --Made in Hong Kong
(Hot Comb)
Company has stopped all manufacturing and shipping of hair dryers made with asbesto heat shields. Company is responding to consumer calls, informing consumers of models which do contain asbestos and those which do not.078
078-A
099-R
088
AW1
AW2
124-F
063
098-P
064
075
100
082
062
061
060
080

(Majority of dryers of model 065 do not contain asbestos but company is not yet able to specifically identify them)
General Electric Company
Housewares Division
1285 Boston Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06602


Toll-free:
300-241-9992 or
l-800-241-5822
Hand Held
Pro Pistol
PRO-l/5105-013---Power Pro

Pro Pistol
PRO-2/5108-005---Super Pro

Pro Pistol
PRO-3/5107-01l---Pistol Pro

Pro Pistol
PRO-4/5109-00l---Pro Dryer

Pro Pistol
PRO-5/5110-013---Power Pro

Pro Pistol
any PRO-6 ---Super Pro Dryer

Pro Pistol
PRO-10/5115-013---Power Turbo

Pro Pistol
**PRO-11/5116-005--Super Turbo

Power Brush
PB-l/5113-005 ----Power Brush

Styling Dryer
SD-112 -----------Styling Dryer

Styling Dryer
SD-4/5101-013 ----Styling Dryer

Styling Comb
STC-l/lA---------Styling Comb

Styling Comb
STC-2 ------------Mist Styling Comb
Company has discontinued shipping hair dryers with asbestos insulation. Company will retro-fit with a non-asbestos liner all GE hair dryers which are asbestos insulated after they are brought in by concerned consumers.Not yet identified.
The Gillette Company
Appliance Division
Prudential Tower
Building
Boston, Mass. 02199


Toll-free:
800-328-9208
Model NumberBrand Name
THD-2Max
THD-2AMax Plus
HD-3Max for Men
HD-4Max
HD-5Supermax
** AD-6 --Bonnet DryerMaxhatter
In 1974 company stopped using asbestos in hair dryers.

Upon request by a consumer possessing one of the model hair dryers (containing asbestos), Gillette will give a replacement unit.
Model Number

HD-7
HD-9
HD-10
HD-12
9010

906
909

916


918

919



921

935

942
Brand Name

Supermax
Max for Me
Mighty Max
Promax
Promax
Compact
Max 1000
Supermax
Curley To
Supermax
Two Ad-
justable
Supermax
Two
Supermax
Two for
Men
Supermax
Two 1000
Supermax
Swival
Promax
Compact
1200
Hamilton Beach Div.
of Scovill
Manufacturing Co.
59 Mill St.
Waterbury, Conn.
06720

203/757-6061
* Hamilton Beach Model 480 - (current)

* Models 3830 (Made in Japan)
479,423,3850,1858,434
433,432,477,478

* Models 4881 Made in Hong Kong 481)

* Model 425

Possibly others; company is continuing its search for information
Shipments of current model 48( suspended March 1979.Possibly all others.
Montgomery Ward
& Company
Montgomery Ward Plaza
Chicago, IL 60671

Montgomery Ward
brand)
Last five digits of model number:
Current stock.
19361 all units
19363 all units
19367 Some have; some don't.
19368 Some have; some don't.

Not current stock.
19369 all units
19373 all units
19374 all units
19375 all units

Not current stock. "In heater
support system. Unknown whether
exposed to air stream."
19382 some have; some don't.
19387 some have; some don't.
19388 some have; some don't.
Company instructed catalog and retail stores to halt sales of Montgomery Ward brand dryers containing asbestos. Has stopped buying hair dryers containing asbestos paper.All models not identified on this list as containing asbestos.
J. C. Penney, Inc.
1301 Avenue of the
Americas
New York, NY 10019

Product Safety
Coordinator:
William Meiter


Retail Lot No.
064-1050A
064-1121
064-1145
064-1146
064-1180
064-1190
064-1186
1210 (Treasury Div.)
1213 (Thrift Drug
Store Div.)
The company believes that some of these dryers may or may not contain asbestos and is investigating:
Catalog Lot No.Description
(corresponds to retail lot no.)
66239791000 watt pro dryer
66223511000 watt rotary styler dryer
66211971200 watt pro dryer
66242901200 watt pro dryer
66225181400 watt pro dryer
66225261200 watt adjustable pro dryer
66224351200 watt pro dryer
1200 pro dryer
1200 adjustable pro dryer
Sales of all hair dryers that may contain asbestos have been stopped. When determination of hazard is made by CPSC, the company will decide what consumer action to take.Approximately 47 models do not contain asbestos, The company will provide this information in the very near future.
Korvettes, Inc.
450 W. 33rd Street
New York, NY 10001
Company also sells national-brand dryers which may contain asbestos. Information about those brands is listed under the manufacturer of the dryer.

(Korvettes' brand)

** HA 22M-1200 Watts
** HA 2214-1400 Watts-no asbestos in new
model which has same number
** HA 1214-1400 Watts
* Model 23A--1000 Watt Brush Styler
* Model E-2100--1000 Watt Compact
Hair Dryer
In December, 1978, the company stopped buying Korvette name brand dryers containing asbestos.Not yet identified.
North American Philips
Corporation
Consumer Relations
Department
100 E. 42nd Street
New York, NY 10017
Toll-free Consumer
Number: 800-223-1828
Made in 1975 and before:
** HB-1700 Norelco 1000 (Black color)

Contain asbestos-wrapped coil
supports, not asbestos heat shields.
Made in 1973 and before:
** HB-2600 Styler Dryer (Green color)
** HB-3600 Styler Dryer (Tan color)
** HB-3601 Styler Dryer (Tan color)

Last made in December 1972:
** HC-1107 Hot Comb (Brown color)
No hair dryers with asbestos produced since 1975. Company will exchange model HB-1700 Norelco 1000 for a new asbestos-free model at the request of consumers.All others
Schick, Inc.
216 Greenfield Road
Lancaster, PA 17601
PD-1001
PD-1001-A
PD-1201
Company will replace their models containing asbestos with new models at consumer request, either by mail or at 450 authorized centers.

Company stopped using asbestos in 1975.
Current design contains no asbestos but models are not yet Identified.

Previously sold models without asbestos are not yet identified.
Sears, Roebuck & CO.
Sears Tower
Chicago, IL 60684
For information:
Call nearest Sears
Store
253.6314
253.6369
253.6385
253.8700
253.8714
253.8736
253.8754
253.8782
253.8783
253.6374
253.6377
253.8704
320.6350
320.8706
Current
Current
Current
Current
Current
Current
Current
Current
Current
These are raised numbers permanently molded into the pistol grip of these dryers.
Company does not now purchase for sale hair dryers made with asbestos. All 14 models with asbestos heat shields have been removed from store shelves and sales halted. Normal consumer policy applies: "Satisfaction guaranteed or money back."All models not identified on this list as containing asbestos.
Sperry Rand Corp.
(Remington)
1290 Avenue of the
Americas
New York, N.Y. 10019
Remington

Models never had an asbestos heat shield, but Heat Wands have heater mounts with "asbestos glass laminate core," in some of the following models:

* HW-1
* HW-2
* HW-3
* HW-4
* HW-6

Heater supports with "inorganically bonded asbestos," in some of the following hair dryer models:

* PD-600
* PD-750
* PD-850
* PD-900
Importation, manufacture and sale of all electric hair dryers discontinued in 1978.

No Sperry Rand hair dryer ever contained an asbestos heat shield.
All others.
Sunbeam Corporation
2001 South York Rd.
Oak Brook, Ill.
60521
Northern

* Model 1821 (700 Watt professional dryer)
* Model 320.6350 (700 watt professional dryer)
* Model 320.8706 (700 watt professional dryer)

Oster

Model *202 Air Jet Hair Dryer
*301 Styling Dryer
*302 Blo-Wave Hair Dryer
*370 Styler Dryer

SunbeamCatalog No.
*D-CW Professionaire52-91 & D-11
*52-9C Professionaire52-91
*52-9K Professionaire52-91
*52-9H Professionaire52-94
*52-9P Professionaire52-94
*52-125 Professionaire52-128
*52-9R Professionaire52-9R
Production of hair dryers with asbestos stopped more than two years ago.Partial List
Northern Models:
1886
1889
1889-2
1889-3
6821
1881
1881-1
1881-2
1881-3
1832
1832-6
1826

Sunbeam Appliance:
52-351
52-288
52-188
52-167
52-214
52-191
D-3
D-4
D-4A
D-5,D-5A(52-34)
D-6,D-6A
D-8 (52-61)
52-73
52-87
52-101


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Release Number
79-018

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