Blazer automatic baseball pitching machines
Check against the official notice below — it lists the full affected range.
Baseball Pitching Machines Warning
The Consumer Product Safety Commission warned the public in April 1978 about certain unguarded automatic baseball pitching machines that pose a serious laceration hazard. The machines, which may be labeled "Dudley" or "Commercial Mechanisms" and were sold under brand names including "Olympia," "Olympic," "Champ," "Blazer," and others, feature an unguarded rotating metal pitching arm that can strike persons without warning. The Commission received numerous reports of severe injuries including paralysis, skull fractures, brain damage, loss of sight, and broken bones. A particular danger is that the machines can fire even when turned off or unplugged if the pitching arm is in the cocked position and the machine is jarred or subjected to vibration.
According to the Commission, approximately 7,500 of these machines were manufactured between 1956 and 1975 and distributed nationwide, with most owned by schools and recreational organizations, though some are privately-owned. The machines were sold to schools, recreational organizations, and individuals, and injuries have been reported to coaches, high school students, Little League instructors, and small children at school grounds, city parks, and private homes. The source does not specify what remedy an affected consumer should undertake, but advises that anyone having possession of such machines should place them in a locked storage area and carefully disconnect the pitching arm cable from the coil spring before locking them up.
Written by software from the official notice below. Not reviewed by a lawyer.
Laceration
Baseball Pitching Machines Warning NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 14, 1978 Release # 78-021 CPSC Warns On Hazardous Baseball Pitching Machines WASHINGTON, DC (April 14) -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today warned the public not to use certain unguarded automatic baseball pitching machines which it considers extremely hazardous. The Commission advises anyone having possession of such unguarded machines to place these machines in a locked storage area where unwary persons will not have access to them. The machines, which were sold to schools, recreational organizations and individuals, may be labeled "Dudley" or "Commercial Mechanisms." In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, the Commission alleges that the unguarded, rotating metal pitching arm can go off suddenly, without warning, and strike persons standing in the path of the arm. The Commission alleges that this has happened in numerous incidents even though the machines were unplugged or turned off. Everyone should be careful of pitched balls. However, the hazard addressed in this action relates to the unguarded arm. The Commission has received numerous reports of serious injuries -- including paralysis, skull fractures, brain damage, loss of sight, and other severe injuries such as broken bones -- suffered by persons hit by the pitching arm. In one reported incident, a nine-year-old boy was left a permanent paraplegic as a result of being hit in the head by the pitching machine. According to reports received by the Commission: baseball coaches, high school students, "Little League" instructors, and even small children who have come up to the machine just to look at it, have been seriously injured. These reported injuries have occurred on school grounds, in city parks, and at private homes. Reportedly, about 7,500 of the baseball pitching machines were manufactured between 1956 and 1975 and distributed nationwide. The majority of the owners appear to be institutions such as schools and "Little League" teams, but some machines are privately-owned. The machines were sold under various brand names including: "Olympia, " "Olympic," "Champ," "Blazer," "Super Blazer," "Pro-Blazer," "Range Blazer, " "Range, " "Master," "Mentor," "Pro-Trainer," and "Professional." The pitching machines are operated by electricity or gasoline engine. Even when the machine is turned off or unplugged, however, if the pitching arm is cocked in approximately the "10 o'clock position," the machine can fire if jarred or subjected to vibration. Consequently, the Commission warns that the machines should be locked up to prevent accidents and should never be left in areas where children can reach them. Before locking up the machine, CPSC advises that the pitching arm cable be disconnected carefully from the coil spring. The Commission has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking to compel the manufacturer and distributors of the machines to provide a guard for the pitching arm at no cost to the purchaser. Without such a guard, the Commission warns, the machines are dangerous and may cause severe injury. The Commission urges people not to use these machines.
Official record: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ↗
Republished from the official source above; details can change — the source record controls.