Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1952)

'MOST WANTED PRODUCT IN THE AMERICAN HOME': Running through year-end statements of industry leaders, already released or soon to be released for publication, is clear note of confident optimism — nicely summed up in the remark of Westinghouse ' s IVradio operations manager F.M. (Tod) Sloan: "TV is the most wanted product in the American home today." While retail trade may have* diminished on eve of Christmas and by reduction of stocks in anticipation of new lines and new models due in January — judging from scattered reports, notably Retailing Daily's bearish sizeups of the well-saturated New York and Los Angeles situations — over-all condition of the business is still good. And the trade outlook is particularly bright in newly-opening TV areas. Looking over whole electronics industry, GE's Dr. W.R.G. Baker, v.p. & gen. mgr. of Syracuse electronics division and perennial director of RTMA’s engineering dept., forecasts a record 1953 on several counts, namely: (1) More than 200 TV stations in operation by end of year [it's 120 now] when total of post-freeze CPs should be 400, these spending some $200,000,000 on transmitters, antennas and studio equipment alone. Plenty of uhf by then, too. (2) More than 6,500,000 TVs produced and sold — possibly even as many as record 7,355,000 of 1950. About 7,500,000 home & portable radios, up 10% from 1952. (3) Continuing trend to larger picture sizes — with more 21, 24 & 27-in. in aluminized versions. Advances in development of color picture tubes. Klystron for uhf transmission and special new tubes for uhf reception, as well as new tubes for radar and computers. (GE estimates own tube activities up 25% from 1952.) (4) Continued high level of military electronic output, up in dollar volume from presently estimated $4 billion a year rate. (5) Germanium devices — including transistors, rectifiers and diodes — in large-scale development & production. Exceedingly heavy demand for germanium diodes for uhf converters. Small germanium rectifiers for many industrial applications. =r * * * GE president Ralph Cordiner reported this week that his company is working on "foolproof" plan to coordinate production [of all appliances] with retail sales next year. He observed: "This time we're going to watch that inventory." For 1952, he said GE sales of TVs, radios & home appliances will be down about 10% from 1951, which he attributed to overproduction in first half. But he was optimistic about 1953 prospects, announced that 30% more will be spent on advertising. Westinghouse president Gwilym Price, sharing Cordiner's optimism for 1953, didn't pinpoint TV-radio-appliance trade for any increase but did note that consumer purchasing power is higher and stated: "In our business, that generally means a lively demand for electrical appliances, TVs and radios." Motorola's Robert W. Galvin foresees lower production costs, lower consumer prices ahead, with that mighty mite — the transistor — simplifying the output lines next year. He estimated TV production and sales at 6,500,000-7.000,000 sets, with nearly all gobbled up in old and new markets and replacements. Westinghouse ' s Tod Sloan gave same figure as Galvin, added second-set market as 1953 prospect, forecast 50,000,000 sets-in-use by 1958, served by 2000 stations. Emerson's Benjamin Abrams sees new educational TV stations in 1953 creating new sales markets in schools, hospitals, institutions. Long-range, he forecast 1958 will see 40,000,000 sets-in-use and annual replacement market by then of 8,000,000. ,u a. j. j. ^ T T Surge in TV production week ended Dec. 12 was reported by RTMA, the 203 , 680 total (11, 339 private label) running only slightly under year's best week of 205,957 9