Television digest with AM-FM reports (Jan-Dec 1951)

FOR 1952-NPA CONSERVATION ORDERS: Conservation. . .simplification. . . standardization — these words are heard more and more around govt, production control agencies. Constantly discussed are regulations that would tell practically all industries v;hat they can and cannot do with materials doled out to them. For maximum production from minimum materials by civilian and defense-supporting industries, best information is that NPA is planning series of orders and programs to enforce conservation. Most of these orders won't come \intil next year — probably until second quarter. And industry committees will be asked for advice before they are prepared. Here are examples of restrictions which may be imposed on TV-radio industry — some are already being considered; others merely have been suggested within NPA: (1) Ban on metal cabinets and brass, aluminum and stainless steel trim on TV-radio sets and other electronic equipment. (2) Standardization and elimination of many receiving & picture tube types. (3) Limitation of number of models each manufacturer may produce. For instance, NPA could standardize on 14, 17 & 20-in. TV sets and limit manufacturers' lines to one console and one table model of each. (4) Limitation of amount of aluminum in TV and auto radio antennas. STATISTICS POINT UP FAVORABLE TRENDS: "Still going good," is word from all levels of the TV trade — well supported by industry statistics. Final September week, ending Sept. 28, saw production continue to inch up. while factory inventories took another dive of nearly 50,000. It was ninth straight week of declining inventories. Week's production was 81,946 TV sets (1681 private label), up from 78,548 the week before (Vol. 7:39), bringing September's 5 statistical weeks' total to 331,379 (subject to later revision by RTMA statisticians). September output figure compares with August's 146,705, July's 152,306. Thus, third quarter total is 630,390, as against second quarter's 1,134,836, first quarter's 2,199,669 — for 9-month total of just under 4,000,000. Will year's output go much beyond 5,000,000 with 3 months to go? Prospects are good — but it all depends on continued demand for sets and availability of materials to set makers. Right now, inventories are being consumed, and nearly everybody feels confident these will be in reasonable balance to output by end of year. * ♦ * * Factory inventory of 462,896 as of Sept. 28 compares with peak of 768,766 last Aug. 3 (Vol. 7:32), and is down from 510,100 end of preceding week (Vol. 7:39). It puts factories at about position they were at beginning of last May, when figure was 474,541. But picture isn't nearly so bleak as then, for distributor inventories then were about 650,000 and dealer inventories were unknown quantity but piling up. Distributor inventory count by RTMA is always month behind factory figures. It stood at about 680,000 at end of August. New Dun & Bradstreet dealer count, also month behind, was estimated at 800-900,000 as of Sept. 1 compared with the 900,0001,150,000 estimate of month earlier (Vol. 7:35). Radio production was 222,257 units (98,045 private) for Sept. 28 week, with inventories 381,556. Week before, the figures were 240,494 & 388,919, respectively. Month's radio production thus was 1,091,042, which, added to August's 563,407 and July's 548,495, brings third quarter total to just under 2,203,000. First quarter radios were 4,135,111, second 3,730,219 — so 9-month total is just over 10,000,000. Sept. 28 week's radios were 125,373 home, 20,901 portables, 75,983 auto. 8