![Magnetix Translucents 180pc Contents 2008-03-02 07-34-29](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Magnetix_Translucents_180pc_Contents_2008-03-02_07-34-29.jpg)
Magnetix is a magnetic
construction toy
A construction set is a set of standardized pieces that allow for the construction of a variety of different models. The pieces avoid the lead-time of manufacturing custom pieces, and of requiring special training or design time to constr ...
consisting of a combination of plastic building pieces containing embedded
neodymium magnet
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s, and steel
bearing balls that can be connected to form geometric shapes and structures. Designed to be a cheaper version of the
Geomag
Geomag is a magnetic construction toy. The original toy consisted of bars with a magnet on each end (neodymium alloy) all attached by a magnetic plug (coated with polypropylene) and nickel-coated metal spheres. Magnetic forces hold the bars and sp ...
magnetic construction set, Magnetix's image suffered severely when an early manufacturing defect caused a death, and was subsequently sold under several different brands after the defect was corrected.
The spheres are to in diameter (larger than Geomag), approximately in weight, and are prone to surface corrosion, unlike most other magnetic construction toys. The bars with magnets at each end are long, or , or and flexible, or short rigid curves. Panel shapes include two types of interlocking triangles, interlockable squares, and circle or disks. The triangles and squares identify the North-South polarity of one of their embedded magnets. The disks identify all four magnets.
Popularity
According to ''TD Monthly'', a
trade magazine
A trade magazine, also called a trade journal or trade paper (colloquially or disparagingly a trade rag), is a magazine or newspaper whose target audience is people who work in a particular trade or industry. The collective term for this ...
for the toy industry, Magnetix sets were among the top 10 most-wanted building sets in 2005, and top sellers on web sites including
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. ( ) is an American multinational technology company focusing on e-commerce, cloud computing, online advertising, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. It has been referred to as "one of the most influential economi ...
,
KB Toys
K·B Toys (also known as Kay Bee Toys) was an American chain of mall-based retail toy stores. The company was founded in 1922 as Kaufman Brothers, a wholesale candy store. The company opened a wholesale toy store in 1946, and ended its candy who ...
.com, and
Walmart
Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores from the United States, headquarter ...
.com.
Product recalls by US Consumer Product Safety Commission
On March 31, 2006, the
Consumer Product Safety Commission
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC, CPSC, or commission) is an independent agency of the United States government. The CPSC seeks to promote the safety of consumer products by addressing “unreasonable risks” of inj ...
(CPSC) ordered a recall of all Magnetix brand magnetic building sets. The official CPSC recall notice was issued after one death of a small child and four serious injuries requiring surgery. "Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed," according to the recall notice. Other brands of magnetic builders, such as
Geomag
Geomag is a magnetic construction toy. The original toy consisted of bars with a magnet on each end (neodymium alloy) all attached by a magnetic plug (coated with polypropylene) and nickel-coated metal spheres. Magnetic forces hold the bars and sp ...
were not recalled.
![Cpscmagnetixtoyrecall](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Cpscmagnetixtoyrecall.jpg)
On April 19, 2007, the CPSC ordered further Magnetix recalls, recalling over 4 million sets. "To date, CPSC and Mega Brands are aware of one death, one aspiration and 27 intestinal injuries. Emergency surgical intervention was needed in all but one case. At least 1,500 incidents of magnets separating from the building pieces have been reported. ... If a child swallows more than one tiny powerful magnet detached from the plastic building pieces or one such magnet and a metallic object, the objects can attract to each other inside the intestines and cause perforations and/or blockage, which can be fatal, if not treated immediately." Redesigned Magnetix sets sold since March 31, 2006, that are age-labeled 6+, are not subject to the recall.
As early as 2004, medical professionals were warning the medical community about the dangers of "multiple magnet ingestion", but the case studies never made it into the popular press. A pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Marsha Kay of the Cleveland Clinic, is one of the first to write an article for the public on steps to take if a child is suspected of swallowing a magnet.
References
{{reflist
External links
MEGA Brands Product RecallsNewspaper story from 2005 (archived December 30 2010)
(March 31, 2006) from
U.S. Government Consumer Product Safety Commission
Official Magnetix Expanded Product Recall Notice(April 19, 2007) from
U.S. Government Consumer Product Safety Commission
"Toy Remains in Stores After Child's Death"(''
Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
'' story)
Mega Brands' Magnetixpromotional site
news release from the
U.S. Government Consumer Product Safety Commission, (May 18, 2009)
Construction toys
Toy recalls