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

CROWDS WAIT TO ENTER THE GATES OF RCA S LANCASTER, PA., PLANT DURING THE OPENING DAY OF ITS "OPEN HOUSE," JUNE 11-13. AT RIGHT: VISITORS SEE EXHIBITS OF THE LATEST RCA CATHODE-RAY TUBES AND LISTEN TO EXPLANA- TIONS OF THEIR USES IN TELEVISION APPARATUS AND INDUSTRIAL PLANTS. ii OPEN HOUSE"AT LANCASTER Thoijsoriiis Accept Inoitation of RCA and Naoy to Inspect Tube-Making Plant Closed to Public Since Its Erection. THE community of Lancaster, Pa., turned out to salute the wartime achievements of the 2Y2- year-old RCA plant in that city on June 11, 12, and 13, when RCA, in cooperation with the United States Navy, held "Open House" at which visitors were admitted to the plant for the first time. Tube manufacturing and testing operations in the sparkling work areas of the plant, which is the most modern electron-tube-manu- facturing plant in the world, vied strongly for public interest with the many special displays and dem- onstrations which featured the three days. More than 18,000 visi- tors, largely from the Lancaster area, and including families, friends and neighbors of the plant's 2,500 employees, participated in the event. L. W. Teegarden, General Man- ager of the Tube Division of RCA Victor was a speaker at an em- ployee rally, preceding the inaugu- ration of the "Open House." At the rally the entire personnel re- dedicated themselves to unrelaxed production efforts in the war against Japan. A highlight of the rally was the presentation of a second star for the plant's Army and Navy "E" flag, in recognition of continued achievement. The flag was awarded to the plant in April, 1944, followed by the first star six months later. Looking ahead to postwar pros- pects, Mr. Teegarden said that ra- dio and electron tubes for civilian use can be made available as rap- idly as present wartime restrictions are lifted. Opportunities for con- tinuing employment and advance- ment with a minimum of reconver- sion dislocations are better in the tube industry than in most other industries, he told employees, since tubes made during the war are much the same as those that will be made after the war. Prominent Speakers at Rally Other speakers at the rally in- cluded John A. King, Manager, Lancaster Plant; Earl M. Wood, Manufacturing Manager; O. Rich- ard Heistand, Manager of Person- nel Department, who was master of ceremonies; Walter L. Kohr, president of Local B-1165 of the International Brotherhood of Elec- trical Workers, and the Rev. Dr. James E. Wagner, pastor of St. Peter's Evangelical and Reformed Church, of Lancaster, who pro- nounced the invocation and led the assemblage in prayer. Built by RCA in 1941-42 at the request of the Navy, and engaged in producing the power, cathode ray, and special-type tubes which are the heart of radar and other secret military devices, the Lan- caster plant had been ''under wraps" until now for military se- curity reasons. Although some areas remain re- stricted, guarded chalk-line routes guided visitors to the "Open House" through a large and highly inter- esting portion of the plant. Attend- ants were stationed at all displays to explain their significance and answer questions, and armed forces personnel as well as RCA experts demonstrated the working exhibits. Visitors saw and heard the fa- mous RCA "Battle Announce" sys- tem used on combat vessels to flash orders and reports during major naval engagements and to communi- cate with landing parties under fire on enemy beaches. They saw hand- ie-talkie and walkie-talkie radios and witnessed demonstrations of "fire control" equipment used to train anti-aircraft guns on enemy planes. They were permitted to go inside an attack bomber of the type used for strafing and dive-bombing, in the courtyard of the plant, and those who bought War Bonds were taken for rides in one of the Army's 2y2-ton amphibious "ducks." Crowds and traffic outside the plant buildings were scanned by a television camera on the roof and seen by those inside on the screens of RCA advance development mod- els of television home receivers. [RADIO AGE 31]