Additional Hair Dryers Made With Asbestos To Be Repaired By Their Two Manufacturers

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 22, 1980) -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced the recall of more than one-half million hair dryers and styling combs which were manufactured with asbestos. The recall includes professional hand-held hair dryers sold for use in barber shops and hair salons.

The recalls are being conducted voluntarily by the Andis Company, of Racine, Wisconsin, and by National Presto Industries, Inc., of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Under voluntary corrective programs approved by the Commission, the two firms have agreed to replace the asbestos linings in the dryers and stylers with non-asbestos materials.

The Andis Company is recalling tens of thousands of hand-held dryers sold to professional barbers and beauticians since 1973. Some salons may have resold the dryers directly to consumers, CPSC staff reports.

The recall applies to the following Andis hair dryer styles and models: Electra Dryer, model ED, Electra Dryer 11, model ED2; Ultra 1200, model U-12; Elite 1500, model 480-EL; and Elite 1250, model E-12.

Professional hair stylists should return these dryers to the supply distributor where purchased for free repairs. Consumers who own one of the dryers can obtain the location of the nearest repair center by contacting Andis at its toll-free number l-800-558-9441.

Hundreds of thousands of bonnet and hood-type hair dryers and styling combs are being recalled by National Presto Industries. These hair products were sold to consumers as early as 1965 through a variety of independent retail stores nationwide.

The following Presto brand dryers and stylers are eligible for free repairs: Elastic Bonnet, models LP04 and PPlOA; Professional Hood, model PP18A; Mist Hood, models PP19A and PP19B; Styling Comb, model PP24A; and Mist Styling Comb, model PP25A.

Consumers should mail the dryers and stylers for free repairs to National Presto Industries, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 54701.