Hearth Record

Recall Of Smoke alarms announced

Home product recall 77-081. Announced by CPSC on Jul 29, 1977.

CPSC’s own notice, on cpsc.gov

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The short answer

Announced by CPSC on Jul 29, 1977. Copied from CPSC on Oct 19, 2026.

Every line below is in CPSC’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

Fire & Fire-Related Burn

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

What should you do?

The notice gives no remedy in a field of its own.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Which ones are recalled?

July 29, 1977 Release # 77-081 WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 29)-- Master Lock Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), today announced a voluntary recall of approximately 32,000 “Master” number 2551 battery-operated smoke alarms and number 2553 dual-powered smoke alarms made late in 1975 and during part of 1976. The recalled smoke alarms can be identified by the following range of serial numbers: 1 to 10,000; 17,735 to 20,000 and 2,000,001 to 2,020,000. The serial number is located on the back cover of the smoke alarm under the mounting bracket. Some of the units may fail to alarm when the relative humidity is over 70% in the home because they were inadequately cleansed of soldering flux after initial assembly. Other units may not be sensitive enough to alarm at minimum smoke levels set by industry standards. The company has received one complaint from a consumer who noticed an alarm did not function properly during a routine test. Consumers who own a “Master” smoke alarm with a serial number that falls within the range of 1 to 10,000; 17,735 to 20,000 or 2,000,00l to 2,020,000 are asked to write: Master Lock Company, 2600 N. 32nd Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53210, Attention: Department #16, including their name, address, telephone and serial number of the alarm. The company will promptly send the consumer a form detailing full return instructions. The units will either be replaced or corrected, depending on the problem, without cost to the consumer. Consumers who require additional information should write to the company

Master battery-operated smoke alarms.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Who made and sold it?

  • Made by Master Lock.
Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

Was anyone hurt?

The notice doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.

Source:

CPSC, Recalls API. Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • The notice lists no UPCs, so check the model, the description and the photos.
  • The notice lists no model numbers in a field of their own; its description may give them.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Recalls API.

    Checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Source:

Recalls of kids’ and home products are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record. Copied on Oct 19, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 8, 2026. Updated monthly.

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