Janex Toy Train Engine Presents Hazards To Infants And Small Children

Washington, D.C.--The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Janex Corporation, 19 Wardell Circle, Oceanport, New Jersey, today announced that a musical action crib and pull toy, the Musical Rock-A- Bye Railroad, No. 2010, distributed by the firm, may present choking, aspiration and ingestion hazards because of small parts which can break off. Janex has agreed to provide redesigned toys to consumers as replacements for the No. 2010, to provide a credit for retailers and wholesalers who destroy the product, and to give notice of the hazards. The agreement settles an administrative complaint filed against the firm on August 31, 1983.

This toy is a plastic train engine which can be clamped on the rail of the crib or used as a pull toy outside the crib.

When the 'smokestack' is wound up, the toy plays music and the rear wheels turn. The train engine is made of blue plastic with pink and white wheels, a red and white smokestack, and a yellow bell. Yellow decals with red printing on each side of the train engine say "Musical ROCK-A-BYE RAILROAD." The toy train engine is approximately 7 l/2 inches high by 7 l/2 inches long and 3 3/4 inches wide.

When the Commission tested this toy according to safety requirements for toys, several components including the ball broke off. The Commission staff believes this is a violation of the CPSC Small Parts Requirement which bans small parts in toys intended for children under three years of age. The staff believes the components are small enough to be choking, aspiration, and ingestion hazards to infants and young children. These particular toys have not been involved in any incidents known to the CPSC.

The Janex Corporation distributed 50,000 of these toys from April through October 1982. The Rock-A-Bye Railroad sold for approximately $9.97.

Consumers should remove these toys from use immediately and contact the company or the retail store where they purchased the toy to obtain a replacement. Retailers and distributors should contact the company as soon as possible to arrange for the destruction of and a credit for products on hand and returned.

Only Model.2010 with the yellow bell is involved in this action. Model 2010-A, without the bell, has been redesigned and should not be returned.

For further information, consumers may call Janex Corporation at 201-229-8482, or the CPSC's toll-free Hotline at 800-638-CPSC. The teletypewriter number for the hearing impaired is 800-638-8270.