Trolley-Ride Toys To Be Repaired

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 11) -- A program to repair approximately 35,000 "Fun Ride Trolley Ride" toys which may seriously injure children is being conducted by the toy's manufacturer, Davis-Grabowski, Inc., of Miami, Florida.

The company is conducting the voluntary program in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The toy features four components: the trolley, which consists of two pulley-like grooved wheels encased within a plastic housing which supports two plastic handles; a 35-foot cable of either a single wire or seven intertwined strands of wire; and two clamps which serve to fasten the suspended cable around two tree trunks or posts. Once the cable is suspended, a child can propel himself along the cable by gripping the trolley's two handles.

Although the toy is advertised as being capable of supporting an adult's weight, CPSC staff has been informed of nine incidents in which the cable broke under the weight of children and one incident in which it snapped under an adult's weight. These accidents reportedly resulted in concussions to a 9-year-old girl, and a 42-year-old woman, back injuries to a 10-year-old girl, and minor cuts and bruises to two other children.

The trolley-ride toys were manufactured between January, 1976, and June, 1979. They have sold nationwide for approximately $15.00 in retail stores and are packaged in boxes labeled with the model number 30/1000.

The manufacturer has agreed to mail consumers a free stranded cable to replace the single-wire cable, along with additional clamps to replace those sold with the toy. Anyone whose toy already includes the stranded cable will receive two additional clamps.

The stranded cable and clamps can be obtained by writing to: Davis-Grabowski, Inc., P.O. Box 381594, 74 N.E. 74th Street, Miami, Florida, 33138. Consumers should include their names and addresses and specify the type of cable sold with their toy (whether single or stranded wire).

Anyone requiring additional information about this program should contact CPSC's toll-free Hotline at 800-638-2772.