Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1959)

14 developed is a design for a cold-cathode audio power amplifier and “a preamplifier employing secondary emission that will produce more amplification than any hot-cathode tube.” * * * It was open house at Tung-Sol this week, as set makers and competitive tube manufacturers visited to observe demonstrations of the new development. Most industry people we contacted took the cautious approach. While there were no on-the-record statements, the gist of their comments was that last week’s announcement was the early disclosure of an exciting principle. There was no attempt to minimize the development— but other tube makers seemed dubious about any possibility of early commercial production. Some engineers felt that the power currently required to supply grid and plate voltages may well eat up any power advantages gained by removing the heater circuits. The announcement of the cold-cathode tube sharply affected Tung-Sol stock prices. Last week it rose 7% points, closing at 5Q1/4 By this week’s end, it had levelled off at 48^/4. Canada’s ‘Hands Off’ Warning: Extra-territorial ap plication of the U.S. anti-trust laws to Canadian subsidiaries of American companies may bring retaliatory legislation, E. Davie Fulton, Canadian Minister of Justice, warned in a speech (Jan. 28) to the N.Y. Bar Assn, anti-trust section. He made specific reference to recent anti-trust complaints filed by the Justice Dept, against GE, Westinghouse and N.V. Philips, which alleged that the patent operations of their Canadian subsidiaries prevented the importation of U.S.-made TV’s radio & phonos (Vol. 14:48,52 & Vol. 15:3,4). These cases, Fulton said, “appear to be directed against arrangements entered into by Canadian companies in Canada which are matters of Canadian commerce governed by Canadian laws. [They] appear to illustrate a tendency . . . for U.S. authorities to regard foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies merely as projections of U.S. trade and commerce, and thereby subject to U.S. policies [prior to] the laws, customs and interests of the countries in which such subsidiaries are incorporated and carry on business.” Continued extra-territorial application of U.S. antitrust laws might compel Canada to move to preserve its sovereignty in such matters, although “we share the aversion which I know you feel to that action.” Fulton suggested the U.S. enforce anti-trust laws with a “proper regard for the feelings, rights and objections of friends and neighbors.” He added that if the U.S. feels Canadian practices are unduly restrictive of international trade, it should express this concern through the usual diplomatic channels. Next day, in Washington, Fulton saw U. S. Attorney General William S. Rogers. Upshot of the conference was Roger’s assurance that U.S. would consult with Canadian officials before starting proceedings affecting the Canadian economy. There was no indication, however, that the Justice Dept, will call off its anti-trust suit against GE, Westinghouse & N. V. Philips. NSRC Panels & Chairmen: The new National Stereophonic Radio Committee, an all-industry group organized to recommend stereo standards to FCC, this week announced the chairmen and duties of its 6 panels. Top NSRC officers were reported last week (Vol. 15:4). Following are panels, chairmen, chores: Panel 1 — System Specifications (Charles H. Hirsch, Hazeltine, chairman), shall consider system proposals for compatible stereophonic broadcasting; shall identify the technical issues in said proposals and refer them where necessary to other panels for detailed study; shall formulate a consistent set of transmission specifications for each form of broadcasting; and shall provide an overall evaluation of the system performance implied in the specifications. Panel 2 — Interconnecting Facilities (Axel Jensen, consultant, Bell Labs, chairman; John M. Barstow, Bell Labs, vice chairman), shall study and recommend technical characteristilcs of interconnecting lines, networks, studio-transmitter links and related stereo-transmission facilities between program origination points and the transmitters proper, said characteristics to include tolerable limits on cross talk, relative time delay, frequency response, gain, and such other matters as must be controlled to assure a stereo signal of adequate quality at the transmitter input. Panel 3 — Broadcast Transmitters (Ralph N. Harmon, Westinghouse Stations, chairman), shall study the system proposals referred to it by Panel 1 with particular regard to (1) the feasibility of the proposed transmission method and (2) methods of adapting the proposals to existing broadcast transmitters. Panel 4 — Broadcast Receivers (Joseph N. Benjamin, David Bogen Co., chairman), shall study the system proposals referred to it by Panel 1 with particular regard to (1) the performance of existing monophonic receivers when tuned to the stereophonic signal (receiver compatibility), (2) the performance of stereophonic receivers designed for the stereophonic signal (stereo performance) and (3) the performance of stereophonic receivers when tuned to monophonic signals (reverse receiver compatibility). Panel 5 — Field Testing (A. Prose Walker, NAB, chairman; Ross H. Beville, WWDC, Washington, vice chairman), shall study and compare the system proposals referred to it by Panel 1 and the existing services with particular regard to coverage, interference effects and other matters related to channel utilization; and shall conduct field tests with the advice and assistance of the other panels. Panel 6 — Subjective Aspect (Dr. A. N. Goldsmith, consultant, chairman), shall provide to the other panels the available scientific information on the subjective aspects of the stereophonic reproduction of sound. Improved performance of TVs, radios and other electronic equipment will result from new process for coating cathodes of electron tubes, Sylvania Electron Tubes div. pres. Matthew D. Burns, announced recently. Sylvania calls its new coating “Sarong,” since it is a skin-tight film which is wrapped around cathode, replacing former method of spraying coating on in liquid form. It is this coating of carbonates, which, when heated, gives off electrons, making the tube function. Burns explained that the weight of sprayed materials on cathodes may vary as much as 20% from tube to tube, while variation in “Sarong” coatings doesn’t exceed 2%. The result, he said, is longer tube life, more stable operation and less “noise.” The first application of the new process will be in tube types designed for TV tuners, where Sylvania states they will reduce “snbw.^' Extension to all tube typies is anticipated.