Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1959)

14 peared at public hearings to straighten out a regulatory mix-up, said it was the intent of Congress to free amateur receivers and marine communications equipment from the tax. Regulatory language, he adds, must be broadened to clarify intended exemption of amateur receivers. A change in the regulations also is necessary, he said, to give marine communications equipment on private vessels the same tax exemption now accorded similar equipment on government and industrial vessels. Others who appeared on behalf of the change in tax regulations were Kenneth C. Price, gen. counsel of Hallicraf ters , and David Flower, tax attorney for Raytheon. 1958 TV'Radio Production: TV output for Dec, totaled 427,545 sets bringing the total for the year to 4,933,121 sets vs. 573,541 sets in last year's 5-week Dec. and 6,339,345 for the full year. For year's final statistical week, ended Jan. 3, TV output was 61,007 vs. 55,804 in the preceding week and 61,824 in same week last year. Radio output was 192,562 (79,228 auto) vs. 206,932 (88,112 auto) in the preceding week and 127,890 (36,789 auto) same week last year. Year's 52nd week brought total radio output to 11,739,686 (3,712,567 auto) vs. 14,504,227 (5,495,774 auto) in 1957. New GE Service Policy: GE has urged its distributors “to supplement existing distributor and dealer service facilities by appointment of qualified independent service organizations as authorized GE service points” in a move to counter criticism of so-called “capitive service” by major manufacturers, according to Steven R. Mihalic, TV product service mgr. Late last year, EIA, sensing mounting opposition to manufacturers’ service policies by independent servicemen (Vol. 14:46), created a subcommittee within its Service Committee to work out a program of “mutual cooperation” with independent service agencies. Other set makers are expected to make similar conciliatory gestures toward independent servicemen in the near future. Five-point program designed to smooth relations between set makers and servicemen was suggested by Mihalic: (1) Contact local independent service groups to explain GE’s programs & policies. (2) Resolve local differences, particularly in areas of waiTanties and parts availablilities. (3) Supplement existing distributor and dealer facilities by appointment of independent service points in both urban and rural areas. (4) Assist local service organizations to achieve such common goals as will serve to bring order in the industry. (5) Invite independent servicemen to attend distributor service schools. “Our customers will continue to depend upon the independent service dealer for the vast majority of service rendered on television receivers,” said Mihalic, labeling “impractical” any idea that GE can provide all these services through its own resources. Stereo TV Demonstrated : Following a policy of demonstrating laboratory prototypes in the electronic home entertainment field. Motorola this week unveiled a TV system with stereo sound at a press preview at the Chicago Merchandise Mart. Viewers experienced dual channel stereo sound from 2 separate speaker cabinets while watching a closed-circuit 15-min. segment of a regular show broadcast over WGN-TV (Ch. 9). First few minutes of transmission were monaural sound; then program was switched to binaural to demonstrate sound-effects difference. “Stereo will be as big a factor as TV in home entertainment field in the foreseeable future,” said Motorola exec. v.p. Edward R. Taylor. “The American public is rediscovering its ears. Within a year or 2, stereophonic radio will bring about a resurgence of that product. Then we can look toward stereo TV in mass quantities.” He said Motorola’s stereo TV system is still in laboratory development stage and won’t be ready for market for “a few years.” Attack On Tube Racket: Thirteen New York City firms, allegedly dealing in counterfeit TV & radio tubes, were the targets of papers filed last week by State Attorney General Louis J. Lefkowitz after he had obtained orders in Supreme Court, N. Y. County, to allow him to start action to dissolve the companies. Lefkowitz said “the tube racket” — involving forged identification marks on defective and old tubes — has cost the industry $100,000,000 and the public an inestimable amount. He alleged set-owners get old tubes while paying for new ones ; tube mfrs. are asked to refund on warranties for tubes which have been falsely rebranded. Accused by Lefkowitz: Cavalier Electronics Corp.; Concord Radio Corp.; Credda, Inc.; Edward L. Mayer Corp.; Liberty Electronics, Inc.; National Radio Distributors Corp.; National Radio Distributors-Manhattan, Inc.; North American Electronics Corp.; S & R Electronics, Inc.; State Labs, Inc.; Teleparts Distributing Corp.; Television Maintenance Corp.; and Wescon Electronics, Inc. Philco sales and earnings will be “as good or better” than 1958, with sales of consumer products leading the way, pres. James M. Skinner Jr. told distributors meeting in Philadelphia this week. “Philco’s 4th quarter sales were among the best in several years and we are beginning 1959 with good prospects,” he said. Philco introduced a new line of eight 17-in. portable TV sets featuring remote control and ranging in price from $179.95 to $209.95. Added to 1959 TV line were three 21-in. consoles ranging in price from $249.95 to $289.95; three stereo hi-fi instruments in single cabinets ranging from $99.95 to $309.95; eight transistor radios ranging from a 3-transistor vestpocket set at $19.95 to 9-transistor all-wave portable at $229.95. “World’s Greatest Industrial Lab” is title of reprint of 2-part ForUme article on Bell Labs. Huge scope of Labs’ work is indicated by fact it employs 10,800, spent $180 million in 1958, $1 billion since 1900. Article states: “Bell Laboratories is a colossus in an age of organized science. It can put 1000 men to work on a missile, or leave a few men alone to win a Nobel Prize.” Copies available from AT&T public relations dept., 195 Broadway, N. Y. First meeting of National Stereophonic Standards Committee administrative panel was held Jan. 9 at EIA headquarters in Washington to formulate preliminary plans for activities of other fact-finding panels. Group was headed by vice chairman David B. Smith, Philco v.p.research.