Recall: Ames True Temper Re-Announces Recall of Wheelbarrows

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 23, 2004 Release # 04-169

Ames Recall Hotline: (866) 239-2281 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Kim Dulic (301) 504-7058 Ames True Temper Media Contact: (202) 463-8171

CPSC, Ames True Temper Re-Announce Recall of Wheelbarrows –
Company Offering Gardening Tool Gift to Consumers with Repair

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ames True Temper Inc., of Camp Hill, Pa., is again voluntarily announcing the recall of about 647,000 wheelbarrows. The plastic wheel assemblies on these wheelbarrows, manufactured by O. Ames, a predecessor company of Ames True Temper, can break when the tires are being inflated. This can result in plastic pieces exploding from the rims of the wheels, possibly hitting nearby consumers and causing lacerations and other injuries.

Ames True Temper has learned of additional serious incidents involving the recalled wheelbarrows since the original recall announcement. A total of 21 incidents have occurred from 1996 to the present, including injuries involving hand, arm and facial fractures and cuts. In a few cases, more serious and permanent injuries have been reported.

To prevent further injuries, consumers should not inflate the tires on these wheelbarrows. Ames True Temper is offering a free replacement steel wheel assembly for each wheelbarrow and is offering consumers a free gardening tool gift as an incentive to have this repair performed.

The wheel assemblies on these wheelbarrows have a black plastic rim and have an approximately 14-inch diameter wheel. They have red, green or orange tubs or trays made of steel or plastic and were sold under the brand names "Easy Roller," "Homeowner," "Mustang," or "Thoroughbred." The brand name was printed on the label attached to the tray at the time of purchase. Wheelbarrows with metal wheel assemblies are not part of this recall. No "True Temper" or "Jackson" wheelbarrow is part of this recall.

Hardware stores and home centers nationwide sold the recalled wheelbarrows from January 1993 through December 2000 for between $20 and $30.

In addition to the free replacement wheel assembly and free gardening tool incentive, the company is conducting the recall campaign with new measures to reach home gardeners who are the primary users of these recalled wheelbarrows. These new measures include placing ads in gardening publications, providing recall information to editors and webmasters of specialty gardening magazines and Web sites, and providing new point-of-sale posters to retailers.

For more information, call Ames True Temper toll-free at (866) 239-2281 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the company's Web site at www.amestruetemper.com