Modification Of Baby Cribs Announced

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 21) -- Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today jointly announced the company's continuing voluntary notification program which is aimed at advising some 1,654 purchasers of certain Bassett Cribs that modification kits are available free of charge. The Commission urges that the kits be used to correct a potentially dangerous design problem.

Bassett Cribs with model numbers 5028 and 5127 were produced with a cut-out design in the headboards and footboards. The Commission believes that infants may be entrapped and strangled while standing in the cribs because it has received and investigated two such reports. Bassett stopped manufacturing these models when the company learned of the first such incident and has undertaken a nationwide program to advise consumers, retailers, and salespeople that a free modification kit is available from retailers. The company believes that the majority of these cribs sold nationally have already been modified or returned.

The model numbers of the cribs being modified are 5028-505 and 5028-510, both stained in maple; and 5127-505 and 5127-510, both stained in pine. No other models of Bassett cribs are involved. The model numbers are printed on adhesive labels affixed to the headboards of the cribs below the mattresses. These cribs retailed for approximately $100 each and were sold nationwide from December 1975 to mid-October 1977.

Bassett has removed the cut-out design from its product line and has shipped to all stores which received these cribs a modification kit to close the openings in the headboards and footboards. Bassett has directed these stores to contact owners of the cribs to arrange for free installation of the modification kits. Consumers who have one of these unmodified cribs should immediately contact the store where purchased to arrange for free installation of this kit. If that is not possible contact the nearest Bassett retailer by checking your local phone directory or call Bassett collect at area code 703/629-7511, ext. 340. Caution should be exercised in the use of these cribs until the modification kit is installed. Information on this modification is also available by calling the Commission's toll-free HOTLINE at 800/638-2772.