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

Tilt KCA VUTOR 4r)-RPM AlTd.MATlC RECORD PLAYER FEATURES THE FASTEST PHONOGRAPH RECORD-CHANGING MECH- ANISM EVER DEVISED. Phonograph History (Continued from page 19) the conventional violin did not re- cord well and a special "Stroh vio- lin", ecjuipped with a horn, was re- quired to direct the sound in the one desired direction. Most of these ditticulties came to an end in 1925 with the introduc- tion of electrical recording, devel- oped by the enjrineers of the West- ern P^lectric Company. Out went the bulky, inflexible recordinjr horn and in its place came the micro- phone. The recording' stylus was no lonKcr actuated by sound waves but by electrical impulses from a vacuum-tube amplifier. The new system made it possible to record frequencies hiRher and lower than ever before etched into wax discs. A short time later, the companion piece to the microphone, the Ortho- phonic Victrola phonograph was introduced by the \'ictor Talking Machine Company. Within two weeks after \'ictor announced this model with its impressive life-like reproduction, orders totalling more than 20 million dollars at factory prices iioured into the home ofllce. To the public, the Orthophonic \k- trola was another miracle in the field of sound. Several important changes were made in phonographs during the following years. The automatic re<*- ord changer made its apjiearant* on the Victrola in 1027. Needles were replaced by more efficient an^ durable jewel |)ickups. These de- velojiments and many others im^ proved the phonograph, but engi-- neers were not satisfied. In 1939, ten years after the Radio Corporation of America ac- (juircd the \'ictor Talking Machine Company, RCA engineers began work on "Project X." The ambi- tious goal of this task was to break with the past, not by refining the instruments and methods, but to start again with fundamentals and incorporate the advantages of in- creased knowledge of electronics, recording techniques and instru- ment engineering. After a decade of research and development, RCA Victor announced the 45-rpm record and record player system in 1949. The rest is history I As more and more people became acijuainted with the superior quality, convenience, and economy of the "45", its public acceptance soared. Before the end of 1949, the new records were being manufactured at the rate of more than 25,000,000 annually and turn- tables capable of playing the "45" records were being |)ro(iuced at a rate in excess of 1,000,000 a year. Based on past experience, as well as on the overwhelming acceptance of "45", RCA Victor believes this will be the system preferred by the great majority of music lovers; and that eventually it will replace "78" as the standard system. Luxury Liners to Carry Antenaplex System When new luxury liners of the American President Lines and the American Export Lines go into service, passengers will be able for the first time to plug their portable radios into built-in antenna outlets and get clear AM and shortwave reception in cal)ins and statennmis. The two lines have signed contracts with RCA and the Commercial Radio-Sound Corimration for in- stallation of the new marine RCA Antenaplax .systems; each of which will feed more than 200 individual outlets from a single 25-foot whip antenna mounted above decks. Toscanini on Tour (Continued from page 6) The smaller instruments rarely leave the sides of their owners. But the string basses, the harps and celli must be cared for. Two carpenters will go along for the entire tour, to crate and uncrate the instruments. Toscanini and the orchestra will appear before audiences in their usual impeccability. Three huge wardrobe trunks, each the size of a closet, will be u.sed to store the mu- sicians' dress clothes, so that they will be fresh for each performance. For the additional ease of the travelling musicians, special ar- rangements are being made to ac- commodate them at local athletic clubs, where they may exerci.se and refresh themselves. Four railroads have cooperated in working this special train into their own schedules so that there would be no slip-up in the three-concert- a-week sche<iule of the NBC Sym- phony Orchestra. Maestro Toscanini views the tour as an unparalleled opportunity to see more of this country, which he greatly loves and admires. For this reason, his private car, which is the last one in the train, has a full observation lounge to afford him an unobstructed view of the country- side. Toscanini conducted the first NBC Symphony broadcast on Christmas night, l'.»;?7, and has been the regu- lar conductor of the orchestra since that time. The famous maestro made a personal appearance tour in the Spring of 1940, when he and the NBC Symphony gave a series of sixteen concerts throughout South America. This will be Tos- canini's first coast-to-coast tour with orchestra in the United States, al- though he has conducted both the NBC Symphony and other major orchestra.s in principal cities of the East and Mid-West. His last ap- Iiearance in Carnegie Hall. Ajiril 2(i. 1949, established an all-time box-otlice for the house, a perform- ance of Verdi's "Requiem" for the benefit of .the New York Infirmary grossing more than $50,000 for the Building Fund of the institution. [32 RADIO AGE