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| Main > Search for Recalls > Lighting Related Recalls > |
500-Watt Halogen Bulbs Recall/Replace by Tensor
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CONTACT: Ken Giles |
| December 9, 1996 |
(301) 504-7052 |
| Release # 97-038 |
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CPSC and Tensor Corp. Announce Recall to Replace 500-Watt
Halogen Bulbs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Tensor Corporation of
Chelsea, Ma ss., is voluntarily recalling approximately
100,000 500-watt tubular halogen bulbs sold in 50,000
torchiere-style lamps. The bulbs may shatter during use,
presenting a fire hazard when hot fragments of the shattered
bulb land on nearby combustible materials, such as
furniture, bedding, newspaper or carpet.
Tensor is aware of 281 incidents of bulbs shattering
resulting in at least six burn injuries and some small
fires. Three fires resulted in more than $25,000 in damage.
The halogen torchiere floor lamps, measuring 71 inches
tall, have a round base, a three part pole, and a shallow,
bowl-shaped shade. A small round switch located on the
lamp's pole enables consumers to adjust the bulb's
brightness. The model number "LT609N" or "LT609P" and a
manufacturing plant code appear on stickers on the bottom of
the lamp base.
Montgomery Ward and Electric Ave. & More stores sold
the lamps nationwide from October 1995 through April 1996
for about $20. Each lamp was packaged with one installed
bulb and some were sold with a second replacement bulb. The
affected bulbs were manufactured in China. Tensor lamps sold
before October 1995 are not included in this bulb recall,
and lamps sold after April 1996 contain the 300-watt
replacement bulbs.
Consumers should immediately discard the affected
500-watt bulbs. Consumers should retrieve the date of
purchase, the model number, and manu facturing code from the
bottom of the lamp base, then call Tensor's Customer Service
toll-free number at (888) 564-4424. After verifying that the
caller's lamp contains an affected bulb, Tensor will provide
a free 300-watt tubular halogen replacement bulb for each
500-watt bulb included with the lamp.
Earlier this year, Tensor and Montgomery Ward
initiated a replacement program for 500-watt bulbs in
response to the withdrawal of Underwriters Laboratories'
(UL) listing of torchiere floor lamps equipped with 500-watt
bulbs because of their flammability potential.
Thousands of consumers have already received their free
300-watt replacement bulb. No further action is needed by
consumers who participated in this earlier replacement
program.
While Tensor is replacing 500-watt bulbs with 300-watt
bulbs, CPSC warns that most halogen torchiere lamp bulbs,
which burn at very high temperatures, can start a fire if
they come in contact with curtains, clothes, or other
flammable material. Although replacing 500-watt bulbs with
300-watt bulbs will decrease the chance of the bulbs
shattering, consumers should still keep the 300-watt bulbs
away from combustibles in order to avoid fires.
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