Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1952)

9 products. Philco 's Wm. Balderston, for example, told his distributors convention this week that "despite the threat of materials restrictions, we look forward to an increasing percentage of the market across the board" — meaning, obviously, stiff competitive pushes on all appliances it produces. Though trade generally has "guesstimated" 4,400,000 output for this year, Mr. Balderston thought it might go as high as 5,000,000. * * * $ It's difficult to discern any definite price trends, though Motorola last week posted lower prices (Vol.7:52), Philco ’ s & DuMont 1 s are on lower scale. Admiral has cut prices of several holdover models. No one has yet followed RCA in announcing outright price increases on models carried over from last year (Vol. 7:50). Balderston told his convention higher prices "are entirely possible " this year "as the industry gets back to more realistic pricing.11 On other hand. Motorola v.p. Robert Galvin was in complete disagreement, tells us he thinks we were wrong last week in reporting no signs of any "general trend" downward (Vol. 7:52). New models, new prices, new gimmicks being disclosed currently, especially at Chicago's furniture marts, indicate the industry isn't sitting still in its keen competitive quest for customers. And the prospect of uhf, possibly even before many more vhf, quickens pulses not only of the marketeers but also of technicians who say they're ready, willing and able — the moment uhf signals are imminent. * * * * Final official figures on TV-radio output for 1951 remain to come from RTMA which as yet has reported on just 51 weeks (see Topics & Trends). It seems safe to assume year ended with production of at least 5,250,000, probably nearer 5,300,000 TVs, and 12,500,000 radios. Their combined dollar value at manufacturing level is estimated by RTMA president Glen McDaniel at about $1)4 billion as against $1.7 in 1950. If we can accept average of $180 per TV set at factory level, TV accounted for about $950,000,000 of the total; at retail, with gadgets, possibly $2 billion, not counting costs of installation, servicing, etc. Add to foregoing about $1 billion in military orders this year, according to McDaniel, compared to about $500,000,000 in 1950 — and you get idea of magnitude of TV and its related electronics arts. McDaniel estimates first quarter 1952 alone will add $600,000,000 in military orders, continuing at that level rest of year. Trade Personals: John M. Otter, Philco v.p. & gen. sales mgr., named v.p. & gen. mgr., refrigeration div., also heading management of all appliances, including electric ranges and room air conditioners; Thomas A. Kennally becomes v.p. on executive staff and chairman of distribution committee . . . Other changes in new Philco divisionalization program include: Raymond G. George, TV-radio merchandising v.p., named corporate v.p. of merchandising; Fred Ogilby, TV-radio div. v.p., is now in charge of all sales; John Kuneau, public relations v.p., adds duties of chairman of newly formed merchandising committee for TV-radio under div. president Larry Hardy; John L. Utz, field sales, promoted to national sales mgr. of TV, John J. Moran continuing as national sales mgr. of radio . . . Martin F. Shea promoted to Philco v.p., auto-radio div., in charge of car radio manufacturing sales and head of Detroit operation . . . Noble C. Harris, former chief, military equipment section, NPA Electronics Div., and ex-director of electronics, Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, Jan. 1 became liaison engineer for Crosley Div., Avco, assigned to Washington office under manager Frank J. Hughes; Justin R. (Ted) Sypher Jr., succeeds him as chief of military equipment section at NPA Electronics . . . John D. Grayson has resigned as v.p. & comptroller, Magnavox, to become v.p., Western Auto Stores, Kansas City . . . Lewis Gordon, ex-mgr., international sales div., appointed managing director, Sylvania international div.; Frederic J. Robinson named director of sales, Karel van Gassel director of manu facturing . . . William G. Frick promoted from field representative to sales mgr., Capehart-Farnsworth technical products div., succeeding late Dean E. Rice . . . Irving Robbins returns to Starrett Television Corp. as v.p. & gen. mgr. . . . A. H. Nicoll, president of Graybar, elected chairman; F. E. Gibson, treasurer-, and L. G. Fields, Richmond mgr., elected directors . . . Ralph R. Simpson, ex-engineer for test-equipment merchandising, promoted to merchandising supervisor, Sylvania TV picture tube div S. Peter Shafer, ex-Motorola-New York Inc., appointed sales-promotion mgr., Tele King Corp. of New Jersey . . . Max S. Simpson named to newly created post of controller, CurtissWright electronics div. . . . Admiral Edwin Dorsey Foster, onetime chief of Naval materiel, since Jan. 1951 RCA Victor director of mobilization and planning, elected RCA Victor v.p. & director of planning Jan 4. . . . David S. Rau elected v.p. & chief engineer of RCA Communications Inc., ex-engineering v.p. C. W. Latimer becoming v.p. & chief technical consultant . . . John P. Gleason named Eastern regional sales mgr. for TV bulb manufacturing div., Owens-Illinois Glass Co. Edmund T. Morris Jr., chairman of DPA’s interagency Electronics Production Board since April 23, 1951 (Vol. 7:15) and chief of NPA Electronics Div. since May 24, is slated to return to post as director of Westinghouse Electronics & X-ray Div. next month. Decision on his successor in NPA-DPA posts is expected next week.