Brite Bar fluorescent light fixtures
Check against the official notice below — it lists the full affected range.
American Electric Corporation has recalled more than 20,000 model 9500 "Brite Bar" fluorescent light fixtures due to a fire hazard. The fixtures, which are 25 inches long with a six-foot power cord stamped with a "Caution: Do not cut or coil" warning in red, were manufactured between September and December 1977 and sold in 28 states for approximately $10. The power cord contains a design defect that may cause insulation to melt if the cord is coiled or folded during use, potentially exposing wires and creating a fire hazard. Safety testing revealed this defect, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission has received reports of two instances in which the cord allegedly started fires, though no injuries have been reported.
Consumers who have these lights should immediately stop using them and return them to American Electric Corporation at 9937 W. Jefferson Boulevard, Culver City, California 90230, Attention: June Polk, Consumer Relations Manager. The company will provide either a free replacement or a full refund including postage costs. Consumers requesting a refund must include proof-of-purchase indicating the retail price paid. Fixtures with model number 9500 that do not display the warning on the cord have been equipped with a new cord and are not subject to recall. To verify the model number, consumers can call the CPSC's toll-free hotline at 800/638-2772.
Written by software from the official notice below. Not reviewed by a lawyer.
Fire & Fire-Related Burn
Fluorescent Lights Recalled by American Electric NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 24, 1979 Release # 79-041 Fluorescent Lights Recalled WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 24) -- The American Electric Corporation, of Culver City, California, today voluntarily issued a second bulletin recalling more than 20,000 "Brite Bar" fluorescent light fixtures because of a possible electrical fire hazard. This announcement was made in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The firm had been advised by one of its two power cord suppliers that the power cord could create a risk of fire if damaged, altered or used in a manner contrary to the instructions enclosed with the unit. Since the company's first recall announcement (in April, 1978) about 40,000 of approximately 63,800 lights manufactured with the potentially defective cord have been retrieved, primarily from distributors and dealers. However, the firm and the Commission believe that additional notice will facilitate the recovery of many of those lights still in use. The product under recall is the model 9500 "Brite Bar" slim- line, fluorescent light fixture. It is 25 inches long and includes a six-foot cord which is stamped (in red) at intervals with the warning, "Caution: Do not cut or coil." Model 9500 Fixtures Which Do Not Display This Warning On The Cord Are Equipped With A New Cord Free From The Defect And Are Not Being Recalled. Safety tests conducted by CPSC engineers have revealed a design defect in the power cord, which if coiled or folded during use, may cause the insulation to melt, exposing wires which could create a fire hazard. The Commission has received reports of two instances in which the cord allegedly started fires in consumers' homes. There have been no reported injuries. The lights being recalled were manufactured from September through December, 1977, were marketed in 28 states (list of states attached) and sold at retail for about $10. Consumers should immediately stop using these lights and return them for a free replacement or full refund (including postage costs) to American Electric Corporation, 9937 W. Jefferson Boulevard, Culver City, California, 90230; Attention: June Polk, Consumer Relations Manager. Anyone who wants a refund instead of a new light must also include proof-of-purchase indicating the retail price paid for the product. To verify the model number on these fixtures, call CPSC's toll-free Hotline at 800/638-2772. States Which Marketed "Brite Bar" Lights Alabama Arizona California Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Indiana Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota Michigan Mississippi Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania South Dakota Tennessee Texas Washington info@cpsc.gov.
Official record: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ↗
Republished from the official source above; details can change — the source record controls.