CPSC and Shelby Ltd. Announce Novelty Product Recalls

December 17, 1996
Release # 97-043

Source

Forums

Related Articles

For Immediate Release;
Contact: Ken Giles
Phone number (301) 504-0580 Ext. 1184

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Shelby Ltd., Division of Wang's International, of Memphis, Tenn., is recalling about 40,000 paperweights and pens because they contain kerosene or other petroleum distillates and many were sold to children. If the paperweights or pens break and leak, the liquid can be hazardous if inhaled into the lungs or swallowed. The liquid could also be combustible, presenting a flammability hazard.

Shelby Ltd. has received at least 10 reports of the paperweights breaking and releasing their contents. No injuries have been reported.

The plastic paperweights came in the following five styles: Ocean In The Box, Floating Eye, Antique Car, Magic Diamond, and Water Timer. The paperweights were individually packaged in cardboard boxes bearing the name of the style. The pen, which is clear plastic with an eyeball in the middle, is packaged in a cellophane wrap and bears no labeling.

The paperweights and pen were sold nationwide through school stores to children from kindergarten through the sixth grade from October through December 1996 for about $4 to $5.

Consumers should take the paperweights and pens away from children immediately, and call Wang's at (800) 829-2647 for instructions on returning the items for a full refund.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury and for information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov or via Internet gopher services at cpsc.gov. Consumers can report product hazards to info@cpsc.gov.