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

developing the patterns of audience and advertiser sen-ice for the purpose of building a new base for suc- cessful and continuing network radio operation, which is an instrument of national service and national defence." Phonographs and Records Since the introduction of the 33 1/ 3-rpm and 45-rpm records in 1948-49, the number of record players in use has greatly increased. Today, he said, there are more than 25 million turntables—many of them equipped to handle the three phonograph speeds—compared with only 16 million phonographs at the end of World War II. "About 20 million record players of all types are expected to be produced and sold in the next five years," he said. "Renewed popularity of the phonograph is expected to continue to increase the number of ma- chines in use and this, of course, will mean greater sales of records. One of the major engineering accomplish- ments in the record field during the year was RCA Victor's introduction of Gruve-Gard—a novel combina- tion of raised rims and centers that protects the playing surfaces of long-playing discs. "In the high fidelity instrument field, sales for the industry as a whole during 1954 increased about 50 per cent over 1953. Popular interest in Hi-Fi, especially in RCA's new Orthophonic' system, promises to add impetus to the sale of records. It is believed that the annual retail sales total of 225 million dollars in 1954 will rise to 300 million dollars for the industry as a whole in 1955." Electronics and Atomics Science and engineering, business and industry, at the opening of 1955, are confronted with new challenges that must be met quickly to keep pace with the rapidly changing world, General Sarnoff said. "The electron and the atom, two of the most powerful forces in Nature, will give increased impetus to the industrial revolution already under way," he continued. "There are definite indications that elec- tricity for commercial use will be generated from atomic energy, and that atomic power for the home will be a reality within the next decade. "Electronics will lift burdens from the backs and remove toil from the hands of men; electronic eyes will see afar, and electronic brains will perform many routine Major engineering advances in the record field included introduction of Gruve-Gard records shown in production. tasks in the new age of automation which will highlight the scientific and industrial developments of 1955. "The electron is the key to man's conquest of space. Guided missiles are equipped with electronic brains, while electronic devices on the ground guide them in flight and watch every move they make toward their targer. Similarly, electronics and the modern airplane are inseparable. Electronics has led to the development of efficient aviation apparatus that is compact, light in weight and automatic. In the commercial aviation field, widespread acceptance is indicated for RCA's new weather-detection radar equipment, which will be avail- able to airlines in commercial quantities by mid-1955." World-Wide Communications Noting that RCA has 86 radiotelegraph circuits link- ing the United States, its territories and possessions with 68 countries, General Sarnoff said a total of more than 6,600,000 messages have been processed during 1954. He reported that the trend toward direct cus- tomer-to-customer services (TEX, teleprinter, leased channels, and radio program transmissions) is acceler- ating, and RCA now operates radiophoto circuits to more than 30 foreign centers. Progress Through Teamwork General Sarnoff pointed out that one of the keys to achievement in modern mass production is the supplier, upon whom the manufacturer relies for materials, parts RADIO AGE 5