Broadcasting (July - Dec 1942)

Secrecy Cramps Progress, IRE Fears Loyal Workers Should Gets Facts, Say Delegates More IRE news on page 20 WAR'S IMPACT on the purely technological side of the nation's radio industry took top billing at the summer convention of the Institute of Radio Engineers, held June 29-July 1 in Cleveland. The Institute's board of directors announced that no further national meetings would be held for the duration. Most disturbing note for the 300 engineers assembled in the Hotel Statler was the indication that distribution of technical information in the radio field is becoming more restricted as the war progresses. Too Much Secrecy? Arthur P. Van Dyck, president, warned that while the radio industry is "doing a tremendous job in the war effort there is danger of too confined compartmentalization of knowledge." Speaking for the IRE directors, he said they recognize the need for the right kind and degree of secrecy, but that they "view with some concern the present situation in the distribution of new technical information." As the nation plunges deeper into the war, he said, "ways must be found of disseminating information to loyal workers, with security from the enemy, or our performance will be dangerously handicapped. Our enemies are excellent organizers in bringing all their abilities into focus. We must learn to do the same." "Each and every laboratory thinks itself as self-sufficient and wholly competent . . .," Mr. Van Dyck said. "Mere coordination through executive heads and committees is not importantly beneficial. Ideas come from the technical workers themselves and each worker is fertilized only by technical details from other workers. Effect on Strategy "Ideas are more often sparked," he asserted, "by work in other fields than by work in the same field." Van Dyck paid tribute to the part IRE is playing in the standardization of radio material for the armed services. Whereas radio designs for the Army and Navy have been radically different in the past, he said, radio technique and communication practices are so similar in the two armed services that a high degree of standardization between the two is possible. The work has been in progress for several months, he said, under the guidance of the American Standards Assn. and the direct supervision of IRE. Paul V. Galvin, president of the Radio Manufacturers Assn., warned that American radio engineers and technicians "are up against some clever engineers in the radio and electronics field in both Germany and Japan. An examination of the technical literature will show you that, and the Nazis have turned out apparatus which will command your attention and challenge." He pointed out that the whole pattern of war tactics and strategy has been altered by the use of radio comunication and radio direction finders. Galvin and Van Dyck spoke at a symposium on "What Radio Means in The War Effort," along with Neville Miller, president of the NAB, and E. K. Jett, chief engineer of the FCC. Mr. Jett, also chairman of the coordinating committee of the Board of War Communication (formerly the Defense Communication Board), outlined FCC strides in supervising the nation's radio industry in wartime. He described systems now in effect to prevent vital information from falling accidentally into the hands of the enemy. Research Cramped He said the Board of War Communication's present wartime setup included: Plans for synchronization of broadcast stations operating with matched crystals; plans for pooling of broadcasting equipment to insure maximum service; closure of domestic point-to-point stations ; labor-industry studies concerning the adequacy of trained personnel to fill wartime communication needs; establishment of new direct circuits with points throughout the world ; war emergency service for civilian defense. Mr. Miller paid tribute to the radio engineers and the rest of the industry in "accepting in their stride their increased responsibilities", but pointed out there is much more to be done. Although more than a score of technical papers were presented during the three-day meeting, consensus of the engineers was that the war has set back research to an immeasurable degree simply by cutting down sharply the use of ordinary materials both for research itself and the commercial development of new products and technical improvements. The pocket radio receiver received attention in the shape of a device developed by the Brush Development Co. of Cleveland. The set, described by W. J. Brown of the Brush laboratories, is 6 inches high, 3 inches wide and 2 inches thick and is slipped into the pocket and connected to a tiny crystal receiver to be fitted into the ear much like a hearing aid. The wire also is the antenna for the set. The outfit is powered by two small batteries and peanut-sized tubes. Brown said it is ready for production. G. E. engineers discussed newest developments in a television video relay system and mercury lighting for television studios. G. L. Beers and K. R. Wendt and G. L. Fredendall of RCA led discussions on focusing view-finder problems and the automatic frequency and phase control of synchronization in television receivers. Frequency modulation developments were described at sessions and included a new transmitterreceiver for studio-transmitter relay, along with methods aiming toward ironing out FM distortion in loudspeakers. Convention arrangements were handled by a Cleveland committee including Carl E. Smith of WHKWCLE, chairman; P. L. Hoover of Case School of Applied Science, chairman of the Cleveland IRE section; R. Morris Pierce, chief engineer, WGAR; Allen E. Nace; Robert L. Kline; Karl J. Banfer; William G. Hutton; Frederick C. Everett; Bruce W. David and Mrs. Hoover, in charge of women's activities. SEVENTH SYMPHONY Famous Russian Work to Be Broadcast by NBC AFTER A LONG series of international negotiations, NBC announced the first Western Hemisphere performance of Dmitri Shostakovich's "Seventh Symphony" would be broadcast by the NBC Symphony Orchestra under direction of Arturo Toscanini, July 19, 4:15-6 p.m. The program will also be shortwaved to the world on NBC's international stations. Latest work of the Russian composer, written under the fire of Nazi attack on Leningrad, the symphony's score and parts were printed on 34 mm. microfilm, rushed via airplane from Kuibyshev to Teheran, by automobile to Cairo and again by plane to America. The musical work, subtitled "The Symphony of Our Times", was given its world premiere March 29 in Moscow. Pepsi Cola Preparing To Enter Latin Market PEPSI-COLA Co., Long Island City, N. Y., which has been promoting its soft drink on the air for the past years with the Kent-Johnson jingle "Pepsi-Cola Hits the Spot," is planning to enter the Latin American market on stations selected by the company's local bottlers in various territories. Announcement was made last week by Walter S. Mack Jr., president of Pepsi-Cola. "The one-minute jingles, combined with local and native folk songs of each country, have been recorded in Spanish by the company's advertising agency, Newell-Emmett Co., New York, and have already been airmailed to Cuba, Hawaii, Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico, Virgin Island, St. Lucia, Guatemala, Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, British and Dutch Guiana, Peru, Bermuda, Jamaica and the Bahamas. WSNY Names Healey COL. JIM HEALEY, veteran news commentator and analyst, will head the news staff of WSNY, Schenectady, which expects to go on the air July 15. A former newspaper reporter, editor and publisher. Col. Healey turned to radio in the late 20's. He now conducts a news program on WTRY, Troy, N. Y., for the Stanton Brewery. According to WSNY, Col. Healey will edit all news programs for the station and as well as conduct a number of them. Hudson Coal Co. has already signed for a nightly newscast series. Drawn for Broadcasting by Sid Hix 'False Alarm, Ma — It's Just the Radio!" Standard Concerts STANDARD OIL Co., San Francisco, in a deal worked out, starting July 16 for eight weeks will originate from Hollywood Bowl the weekly Standard Symphony Hour on 33 Don Lee Pacific Coast stations, Thursday, 8-9 p.m. (PWT). Firm will broadcast one hour of the regular Thursday night Bowl concert. Agency is BBDO, San Francisco. Page 66 • July 6, 1942 BROADCASTING • Broadcast Advertising