Cedar Chests Recalled by The Lane Furniture Company
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
September 4, 1996
(301) 504-7908
Release # 96-186
CPSC, The Lane Furniture Company Announce Recall for In-Home
Replacement of Locks on Cedar Chests
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Lane Company of
Altavista, Va., is announcing a voluntary program to replace
the locks on cedar chests manufactured prior to 1987. The
Lane Company manufactured approximately 12 million cedar
chests from 1912 to 1987 that latch automatically when the
lid is closed. Young children playing in the chest can
become trapped inside and suffocate.
Between 1977 and 1994, six children suffocated inside
Lane cedar chests manufactured with an old design lock. The
victims ranged in age from 21 months to ten years
old.
Consumers can determine whether their chest has an old
lock by closing the chest lid without depressing the locking
button and then attempting to open the lid without touching
the button. If the lid opens, the chest has the new lock and
does not need to be replaced. If the lid does not open, it
has the old lock. Additionally, old locks click loudly when
the lid is shut, locking the chest automatically.
Furniture stores sold the chests nationwide in a
variety of styles, sizes, and colors between 1912 and 1987.
Some of the chests may have been handed down through
families. By 1987, The Lane Company began manufacturing all
of its cedar chests with redesigned locks, which do not need
to be replaced.
Consumers who own Lane cedar chests with old locks
should call The Lane Company toll-free at (888) 856-8758 for
free, redesigned, easy to install safety locks. Lane will
make special arrangements for consumers who need additional
help installing the locks.