Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1952)

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9 Topics & Trends oi TV Trade: Though 27-in. tube has been announced by Zenith-owned Rauland Corp., it’s doubted that tube will appear in new sets for some months — perhaps not until mid-year. It’s pointed out, for example, that manufacturers of metal cones for the rectangular tube have yet to fix on final design, start regular production. Rauland designates tube the 27QPA, says it has 390-sq. in. picture area, 90-degree deflection and is shorter than standard 20-in. Admiral is first set maker to report readiness to put tube in set (Vol. 8:1), though it can be assumed most others will use it when demand appears. Advantage of tube is that it approaches 30-in. in picture area but has much less bulk. * * * * Reflecting confused pricing situation at Chicago shows (Vol. 8:2), Westinghouse this week repriced its new line, reducing list prices but like many major competitors quoting excise tax and wai-ranty extra. Line comprises these tables: 16-in. plastic $200, 17-in. mahogany $255, blonde $265, 21-in. mahogany $300. New consoles are 17-in. mahogany $300, blonde $320; three 21-in. sets, mahogany $360, blonde $380, full-door mahogany $425. Line is topped with 24-in. three-quarter-door mahogany $569.50. Prices of Sylvania’s new line include tax, but warranty is $11 extra on 14-in., $13 on 17-in., $15 on 20-in. Line starts with 14-in. mahogany table at $230. The 17-in. sets are mahogany table $280, open-face mahogany $300 & $370, blonde $380, mahogany with doors $410, blonde $420, mahogany with uhf converter $470, mahogany combinations $500 & $580, blonde $600. New 20-in. sets are mahogany tables $300, $330 & $370, open-face mahogany $400 & $480, blonde $500, mahogany with uhf converter $530, mahogany with doors $510. Packard-Bell’s line of 14 new sets was shown this week in Los Angeles. The 17-in. sets are mahogany table $250, blonde $260, open-face mahogany $290, blonde $305, full-door mahogany $320, blonde $335. The 20-in. are openface mahogany $320, blonde $335, full-door mahogany $350, blonde $365, mahogany combination $495, blonde $520. The 21-in. sets are mahogany console $400, blonde $420, mahogany combination $595, blonde $620. The 24-in. sets are mahogany console $550, blonde $575. Parts warranty on 17-in. is $10, on 20 and 21-in. $12.50, on 24-in. $15. Olympic announced prices this week on 9 new sets, featuring local-long distance switch. Prices include tax, warranty extra. Line comprises 17-in. mahogany table $220, blonde $230, open-face mahogany console $260; 21-in. mahogany table $260, open-face mahogany console $300, full-door mahogany $350, blonde $370, mahogany AM-FMphono $490, blonde $510. Stromberg-Carlson unveiled its new line this week in Chicago and Rochester. Prices include tax, warranty extra. Its 17-in. sets are table $250, full-door mahogany $395, blonde $415, hand-decorated $445. New 21-in. sets are mahogany table $329.50, open-face mahogany $395, three-quarter door mahogany $465. * * * * Lion Mfg. Corp., Chicago electrical-device maker and govt, contractor, announces it will begin making home TV sets under Lion brand name in time for July Chicago Furniture Mart. Raymond T. Maloney is president; Paul Eckstein, exStewartWarner and Westinghouse, recently with Hallicrafters, is TV div. mgr. Allowance on old picture tubes, from $2.25 for 12-in. to $5.26 for 21-in., is being granted to dealers by Sylvania in new “glass allowance program” being administered by H. H. Rainier, mgr. of distributor sales; new tube must be purchased to get credit for each one turned in. Trade Miscellany: Westinghouse following example of GE’s Electronics Park in Syracuse in planning to set up new research laboratories “with a university atmosphere”; it’s negotiating for 72-acre plot in Churchill Borough, near Pittsburgh, to replace present Forest Hills labs . . . Sylvania has purchased A. W. Franklin Mfg. Co. (electrical sockets & other components) and Franklin Airloop Corp. (die stamping), both Long Island City, N. Y., to be operated as units of its Parts Div. . . . Sylvania has also optioned plant of Blair Park Furniture Mfg. Co., High Point, N. C., for purchase at $450,000 or 5-year lease; option expires Jan. 31, decision up to board meeting Jan. 24 . . . Admiral has purchased Molded Products Corp., Chicago (plastics molder) which produces approximately 150,000 TV-radio-phono cabinets annually. Merchandising Notes: Westinghouse district mgr. R. H. McMann estimated 12,000,000 families still without TV receivers living within range of existing stations — speaking at New York showing of company’s new sets this week . . . DuMont’s Ernest Marx says 4-5,000,000 sets are more than 4 years old, have screens of less than 14-in., offering ripe market . . . Hallicrafters Wm. Halligan quoted in Jan. 15 Wall Street Journal as saying: “Our markets are getting pretty well worn out. We figure when 80% of the homes in an area have sets, we have reached saturation. In New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and some of the other big centers we are close to 67% right now. That doesn’t leave far to go” . . . Magnavox including oneyear factory guarantee of picture tubes in its sets at no added cost to retailer or purchaser; this is in addition to 90-day parts warranty . . . Matching base now included in $350 price (Vol. 8:1) of Admiral’s new 21-in. sets with built-in AM radio (Models 521M16 & 521M17) . . . Hoffman Sales Corp. named exclusive So. California distributor for Jerrold. * * * * Trade-practice rules for TV-radio industry (Vol. 7:51) headed toward final Federal Trade Commission hearing stage, possibly in March, after meeting of All-Industry Committee on Trade Practice Rules this week in Washington. Committee reviewed all rules, made some changes, will make recommendations to FTC in about a week. Attending meeting: L. B. Calamaras, National Electronic Distributors Assn., chairman; Glen McDaniel & Ray Donaldson, RTMA; Henry B. Weaver, Philco; Jack Harvey, Sylvania; Will Osterling & Charles P. Baxter, RCA; Douglas Day & Robert B. McLaughlin, DuMont; Mort Farr & H. B. Price Jr., National Appliance and Radio Dealers Assn.; Fred Walker, dealer of Alexandria and Arlington, Va.; George Wedemeyer & W. D. Jenkins, NED A; Max Epstein & Peter Chanko, New York distributors. Plan to tighten curb of false advertising of TVs and appliances in New York (Vol. 7:47) was offered this week by Better Business Bureau. Voluntary system goes into effect Feb. 1, strengthens enforcement standards set in 1950. New advisory panel of 3 advertisers, a non-advertiser and a distributor will discuss with Bureau current ad practices, hold hearings when advertiser disputes violation charges. Plan also makes advertiser responsible for providing proof to back up ad claims. * * * * Canadian RTMA reports 35,719 TVs sold for $18,573,207 during first 11 months of 1951, inventories totaling 17,647 as of Nov. 30. Toronto-Hamilton area took 40% of 11 months sales, Windsor 34%. November sales totaled 5894 units sold for $2,999,309, compared with 5182 in October (Vol. 7:48). Toronto-Hamilton area took 43% of Nov. sales, Windsor 29%, Niagara Peninsula 21%. Overall cumulative total (from start of count) came to 73,542 valued at $34,849,790.