Things Fall Apart: The I Always Knew Thomas Trains Were Evil Edition

China Swears They're Not Trying To Poison The World.

Strollerderby — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 19:37:09 GMT

In an attempt at damage control after pet food recalls, toothpaste recalls and toy recalls , China has banned two factories from exporting products after the huge Mattel lead paint recall. The Hansheng Wooden Products Factory and Lida Toy Company both

Should You Have Your Child Tested For Lead?

Strollerderby — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 20:45:36 GMT

We have some of the recalled Thomas trains in our home. I haven't done anything with them yet, mostly because they're down in the basement and my youngest doesn't go down there. Though he'd love to play with the trains if he could be persuaded

re: Things Fall Apart: The I Always Knew Thomas Trains Were Evil Edition

Chris P. — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:51:43 GMT

Hello, I am with Viles and Beckman, LLC. We are actively investigating the current Thomas the Tank Engine/RC2 lead toys debacle. If any parents or toy owners would like their toys to have their lead levels check (in an independent lab in Massachusetts) please contact our firm. We will happily accept your toys, return them (if you so wish), and inform you of the results of the testing.

Thank You,

Chris P.

For more information please email (any of the addresses below):

metasaiyan45@hotmail.com marcus@vilesandbeckman.com

michael@vilesandbeckman.com

Toy Safety Testing: The Story Behind Recent Recalls

Strollerderby — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 16:37:39 GMT

Like me, a lot of you now have a bunch of expensive wooden toy trains that your kids can't play with

I tested the Chinese Dragon for lead

Doug Stemke — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:31:04 GMT

I ran the house hold lead test you can buy at any hardware store. The James test returned a very light pink (positive) test-red I suspect is high lead contamination.

I then tested the 'Chinese Dragon', both yellow and red areas (scratched the surface). The strip did not change color, indicating that if lead is present it was below the detectable level. Not a terribly scientific test, but at least it didn't come out positive.

re: Things Fall Apart: The I Always Knew Thomas Trains Were Evil Edition

Sheri — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 01:46:28 GMT

At least you were able to contact them via their 800 number. I've called for hours and nada.

If we hadn't already told the boys we were going to see Thomas this Sunday, we wouldn't go. I'm so pissed I can't even see straight.

Some of these engines were made in 2005, so my sons could be mouthing lead since 2005????

These people are morons.

re: Things Fall Apart: The I Always Knew Thomas Trains Were Evil Edition

divrchk — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:10:49 GMT

The part that has me outraged about this is that we, the consumer, have to pay for the shipping to return them for a replacement. I spoke with the company yesterday and they said that they are sending a gift, a free train that would conteract the cost of shipping on our part to send them back. What if I already have the train that you are sending? She said that she doesn't know which one they are sending. I told her that I'd rather them cover the return shipping and skip the free gift but she said that this is the way that the company has chosen to handle the situation. I hung up and promptly filed a complaint with the BBB.

re: Things Fall Apart: The I Always Knew Thomas Trains Were Evil Edition

fortunecookies — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:14:12 GMT

So- I think my son just got some of these for his b-day last week. His are made by Brio. I looked at the links but didn't see any manufacturer listed. Can anybody confirm? These train cost $$$! And, what about the other trains that have yellow and red on them in smaller amounts, why aren't they listed? If it is only a little lead paint, they'll survive? Anybody else notice there haven't been any injuries linked yet, so how did they find out? Have they known all along? This has just left me with more questions than anything else...

re: Things Fall Apart: The I Always Knew Thomas Trains Were Evil Edition

drake — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 20:24:31 GMT

And just for the record, James is "vain but lots of fun," while Thomas is "the cheeky one."

Of course I'm embarrassed to have this bit of knowledge rolling around my noggin, but if I didn't, my son would be a bit frustrated with me.

re: Things Fall Apart: The I Always Knew Thomas Trains Were Evil Edition

drake — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 19:21:44 GMT

This, like the pet food scare, points to trade with China, and this administration's lack of control over inspection on imported goods.

Oddly enough, the yellow Chinese Dragon train isn't being recalled. Somehow that sacred cow got a different yellow paint treatment then the rest.

re: Things Fall Apart: The I Always Knew Thomas Trains Were Evil Edition

RachelZ — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:43:29 GMT

Damn. My ass is going to have to learn how to whittle or something. Otherwise, there won't be any toys available for Jillian to play with, what with the lead paint and small parts that are the top two ingredients in toys these days.

re: Things Fall Apart: The I Always Knew Thomas Trains Were Evil Edition

Mom2Two — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:36:41 GMT

WTF? Don't people know by now that lead is poisonous? Especially to kids? This pisses me off that a company would take such drastic cost cutting measures to endanger our kids. I agree with Shelby. Damn. You can't feed your pets without worrying they might die and you can't even take care of your kids teeth without wondering if their plaque rinse contains microorganisms.

re: Things Fall Apart: The I Always Knew Thomas Trains Were Evil Edition

Shelby — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:58:16 GMT

I'm pretty pissed too, and I'm trying to sort out how much is rational and how much is irrational. We've removed the offending cars from my daughter's collection (we got lucky and missed her mouthy phase -- Jane, you really have my sympathy), and have found a company that makes lovely compatible trains here in the US (not that that is always a determiner of quality, it's just in this case they seem to emphasize the safety of the materials, a company priority).

Here's the part that may be irrational (but right now I don;t even care), given that we know so few details. THis SMACKS of corporate cost cutting and I have HAD IT. The date range indicates that in 2005 there was a shift, either to a new manufacturer or a new method, that was cheaper and more profitable (I don't recall a sudden drop in the prices of engines and boxcars). What this appears to boil down to is the dangers of such a distance between manufaturer and consumer. I'm done. This feeling has been a slow burn: pet food, lead, shrimp food, lead, toxic cheap toothpaste, lead. If at any point we have an option to pay more for things we can actually trace to their

damn point of origin, then we'll do it.

We'll save up and get the dolls made by the fabric artist that sells her wares at the farmers market, the little wooden blocks from the woodworkers down the road, etc. Costs more. Fine. We'll either pay more or live without it.

Deeply deepply disappointed, but well aware that these feelings have been building for a while and go WAY beyond Thomas the Tank Engine.

re: Things Fall Apart: The I Always Knew Thomas Trains Were Evil Edition

Jane — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:41:25 GMT

I am beyond outraged.

I bought a whole thomas set (including James) for my toddler, but of course my 1 year old wants to play too. He always has James in his mouth BECAUSE it's the red one. Babies love red.

I am SO pissed. How does the song go? Isn't James the "cheeky" one? Lets change those words to "James is the toxic one."

re: Things Fall Apart: The I Always Knew Thomas Trains Were Evil Edition

Kaz — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 14:21:45 GMT

I wonder just how many of these things kids would really need to eat to get lead poisoning?

I'm not saying to not take them away from your kids, or return them...

re: Things Fall Apart: The I Always Knew Thomas Trains Were Evil Edition

daphne — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 13:36:29 GMT

i wish instead of replacing the toy they'd pay for the test for lead poisoning that i now have to get my kids

re: Things Fall Apart: The I Always Knew Thomas Trains Were Evil Edition

Micky — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:50:31 GMT

"That shiny red coat of paint is chock-full of toxic lead, and so is the shiny yellow paint on some other pieces."

Chock-full? I wonder how you gained that knowledge.

Anyway, I disagree with the messages those Thomas episodes try to communicate but I keep the toys separate from that. The kids love those trains. They are good toys.

re: Things Fall Apart: The I Always Knew Thomas Trains Were Evil Edition

Mrs. Chicken — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:46:15 GMT

GAH! I have a ton of these. Thank you for this info, I've passed it on, as well.

I hate Thomas. I think he is a moralizing wanker. But my kid, she loves 'em.

There's no accounting for taste.