Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

Wartime Achievements in Radio RCA ANNUAL REPORT SHOWS NEW PFAKS /N PRODUCTION OF WAR EQUIPMENT, NEW RECORDS IN COMMUNICATIONS AND 100 RESEARCH PROJECTS COMPLETED FOR ARMED SERVICES THE Radio Corporation of America in 1944 reached new- peaks in production of radio-elec- tronic equipment vital to the war effort, established new records in radio communications, and com- pleted more than 100 research proj- ects for the Armed Services, it was i-evealed in the RCA 25th Annual Report released February 27 by Brigadier General David Sarnoff, President. Net profit of RCA in 1944 was $10,263,291, compared with $10,- 192,452 in 1943. While the earnings for 1944 are subject to renegotia- tion, specific provision has been made therefor on a basis not mate- rially different from 1943. After payment of preferred dividends, earnings per share of common stock were 51.2 cents, compared with 50.5 cents per share in 1943. Total gross income from all sources amounted to $326,421,913, compared with $294,535,362 in 1943, an increase of 10.8 ^r. Pi'ovision for Federal Income Taxes amounted to $29,947,900, or 14.6% more than the preceding year, and represented 74.5% of in- come. The tax provision in 1944 was equivalent to $2.16 per .share on the outstanding common stock, compared with $1.88 in 1943. On Second Quarter Century Recalling that RCA observed its 25th anniversary in 1944 Lieuten- ant General .J. G. Harbord, Chair- man, and Brigadier General Sarnoff, speaking for the Board of Direc- tors, reported in a joint statement to stockholders that the company had "entered its second quarter cen- tury with full energy devoted to aiding the successful conduct of the war, ever mindful of the interest of America and its people in a post- war world at peace." The Report states that war prod- ucts delivered to the United States and its Allies by the RCA Victor Division during 1944 established an all-time record, exceeding 1943 de- liveries by 16^f. More than a thou- sand RCA engineers have been working on research, development and production of radio and elec- tronic eciuipment vital to the war effort. Results of their accomplish- ments are found in the fact that RCA has built more than 200 new types of electron tubes and more than 350 types of apparatus not manufactured by anyone prior to the war. Designs Radio Altimeter While the complete story of RCA's war achievements remain secret for security reasons, it is disclosed that RCA Victor has been, and is, the designer and first pro- ducer of many radio altimeters used by the Army, the Navy and the British. This essential device enables airmen to measure their distance from the ground so accu- rately that it makes possible more effective flying operations at night, through fog and other difticult weather conditions. It also in- creases the effectiveness of low- level, high-speed attacks and hedge- hopping missions; and is equally valuable in paratroop operations and in dropping supplies from the air. Research in RCA Laboratories during 1944 was concentrated on radio and electronics, including new electron tubes, radar and other de- vices important to the war effort. Moi-e than 100 research projects, conducted for the Army, Navy and the Office of Scientific Research and Development, resulted in the crea- tion of radio-electronic weapons which now are contributing to vic- tories on many battlefronts. Advances also were made in re- i^ifjnnl Corpx Pholn FLANKED BY SIGNAL CORPS MEN, GEORGE THOMAS FOLSTER, NBC NEWS REPORTER, BROADCASTS A DESCRIPTION OF FRONT LINE ACTION FROM THE RIM OF A BOU- GAINVILLE FOX-HOLE. [RADIO AGE 3] lated work outside the category of confidential activities. For exam- ple, one of the major achievements in the field of electron tubes was the development by RCA scientists of additional miniature tubes and other types to perform new func- tions. These tiny tubes will shrink the size of many postwar radio products, including home and por- table radios, phonographs, televi- sion receivers, hearing aids and business machines. Vastly increased quantities of the miniature tubes were manufactured by RCA Victor in 1944. First de- veloped by RCA engineers and pub- licly introduced in 1940 in the camera-size "Personal Radio," these tubes made possible the walkie- talkies, the handie-talkies and other electronic devices for planes, tanks, and motor transports where weight and size of equipment are impor- tant factors. First with High Power Creation of other special electron tubes has enabled engineers to con- struct a television transmitter to operate at frequencies up to 300 megacycles, that is, a wavelength of one meter. It is the first time a transmitter with a power output of 5,000 watts has been devised for