Over One Million Thomas the Tank Engine Toys Recalled

Thomas the Tank Engine has pleased children, and parents, since 1945. The characters are the creation of Reverend Wilbert Awdry. Sales of Thomas the Tank Engine toys earn the parent company, RC2, millions of dollars each year. However, a quality control issue with a plant in China will eat into the profits for 2007.

On June 13, the RC2 announced it was voluntarily recalling about 1.5 million Thomas the Tank Engine toys after the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that a plant in China used lead paint in their production.

So far, the recall of the of Thomas the Tank Engine toys has had little effect on the company's financial status. As of 12:27 p.m. on June 14, marketwatch.com reported that RS2 stock fell by 1.57% to $42.60 per share.

The recall affects Thomas the Tank Engine toys manufactured in China and sold at various U. S. locations from January 2005 through June 2007. The list includes:

Brown & Yellow Old Slow Coach
Deluxe Sodor Fire Station
Ice Cream Factory
James with Team Colors Engine & James with Team Colors #5 Coal Tender
Red "Sodor Mail" Car
Red Baggage Car
Red Coal Car
Red Coal Car labeled "2006 Day Out With Thomas" on the Side
Red Fire Brigade Truck Red Fire Brigade Train
Red Holiday Caboose
Red Hook & Ladder Truck & Red Water Tanker Truck
Red James Engine & Red James' # 5 Coal Tender
Red Lights & Sounds James Engine & Red James' #5 Lights & Sounds Coal Tender
Red Musical Caboose
Red Skarloey Engine
Red Sodor Line Caboose
Red Stop Sign
Smelting Yard
Yellow "Sodor Cargo Company" Cargo Piece
Yellow Box Car
Yellow Railroad Crossing Sign

Company officials say that products with the codes WJ or AZ are omitted from the recall.

As of yesterday, retailers pulled all Thomas the Tank Engine toys from their shelves. RC2 states that no injuries have been reported from the paint. It says that it is taking corrective measures at the facility that produced the tainted Thomas the Tank Engine toys.

Consumers who purchased the Thomas the Tank Engine toys can return them for a replacement. RC2 has a return form on its website; however the company does not pay shipping expenses! (The form is located at
http://rjk.lcb.http.akamai-trials.com/recallinfo/ReturnForm_US.pdf.)

For more information about the Thomas the Tank Engine toys, contact customer service at 866-725-4407. They answer the phones from Monday through Thursday, between 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., and Friday from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. Central Time. You may also send an email to: recalls@rc2corp.com.

All returns must include a completed return form, found at the RC2 website.
RC2 Corporation
Attn: Wooden Vehicle Recall
2021 9th Street SE
Dyersville, IA
52040-2316

Sources:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission "RC2 Corp. Recalls Various Thomas & Friends™ Wooden Railway Toys Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard" URL: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07212.html Accessed June 14, 2007

Rc2 Corp. RCRC (NASDAQ GS) URL: http://www.marketwatch.com/quotes/rcrc Accessed June 14, 2007

RC2 "Recall of Wooden Vehicles and Train Set Components" URL: http://rjk.lcb.http.akamai-trials.com/recalls_Wood_0607.html Accessed June 14, 2007