Mattel Announces Toy Replacement Program

HAWTHORNE, CALIF. (January 11) -- Mattel, Inc., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), today announced that it has voluntarily initiated a "Missile Mail-In" campaign to reduce the possibility of accidents which might occur in connection with four of its "Battlestar Galactica" space toys.

Each of the four toys is sold with a set of small red plastic missiles which can be launched from each toy. Although all of the products meet or exceed all existing and ration proposed safety standards, there have been instances of accidental swallowing or aspiration of a missile including one reported death of a four-year-old child.

The "Missile Mail-In" plan offers parents and children the opportunity to mail all of their remaining small 1-1/4 inch red plastic missiles to Mattel and receive in return a free "Hot Wheels" car. Missiles should be mailed to:

along with the consumer's name and address. To encourage immediate response, this program will expire on March 1, 1979.

The missiles accompany Mattel's "Colonial Viper" (No. 2531), "Colonial Scarab" (No. 2534), "Colonial Stellar Probe" (No. 2533), and "Cylon Raider" (No. 2532) space vehicles.

Mattel and the Consumer Product Safety Commission stated that the Mail-In program was initiated to remove the possibility of an accident and to inform parents of the need to caution children regarding small objects of any type which might be put in the mouth. At the same time, the offer of a free "Hot Wheels" miniature car is intended to compensate for any loss of play value due to return of the missiles.

In addition to the mail program, Mattel announced that it has redesigned the four "Battlestar Galactica" toys for 1979 so that, missiles cannot be launched from the body of the toys. Retail and wholesale inventories of the 1978 product are currently being exchanged for the redesigned toys.

For further information, consumers may call Mattel toll-free on 800-421-2826; California residents call collect to 213-644-2752. Letters may be addressed to Mattel, Inc., at 5150 Rosecrans Avenue, Hawthorne, California 90250.

To verify model numbers, consumers can call the toll-free CPSC Hotline on 800-638-2772.

The "Missile Mail-In" plan offers parents and children the opportunity to mail all of their remaining small 1-1/4 inch red plastic missiles to Mattel and receive in return a free "Hot Wheels" car. To encourage immediate response, this program will expire on March 1, 1979.

In addition to the mail program, Mattel announced that it has redesigned the four "Battlestar Galactica" toys for 1979 so that missiles cannot be launched from the body of the toys. Retail and wholesale inventories of the 1978 product are currently being exchanged for the redesigned toys.

Although all of the products meet or exceed all existing and ration proposed safety standards, there have been instances of accidental swallowing or aspiration of a missile including one reported death of a four-year-old child.