Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Based on the good reviews I ordered the Presto 23-qt canner. I carefully cleaned everything and assembled exactly as the manual said. Loaded in my first batch of salsa and turned on the heat. Canner was soon steaming away. After 10 minutes I placed the regulator on and watched the gauge come up. At 11 lbs I turned down the heat. Pressure was holding steady so I walked to the sink. As soon as I did there was a loud boom and the pressure gage went sailing across the kitchen. The 3/8 inch brass shaft of the gauge had simply fractured, sending the nut and washer into the canner and the gauge across the kitchen. Upon examination part of the brass is discolored and crystaline. Possible a defective casting? In any event this is not acceptable. I'm glad I wasn't looking at the gauge up close when this happened! It could have been a lethal weapon. The rest of the canner appears to be of excellent workmanship. I will get with Amazon in the morning to see what can be done and will post a follow-up. Don't know if I should get a new gauge or send the whole thing back. I am not a happy customer.