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

A Tribute to the TV Serviceman N. ATIonal Television Servicemen's Week, a nation-wide tribute to the 100,000 technicians who service the 34,500,000 television sets of the American public, was inaugurated on March 7 at the close of NBC's unprecedented color telecast of "Peter Pan." With 62 stations of the NBC network carrying the filmed ceremony in color and 13 more stations in black- and-white, W. Walter Watts, RCA Executive Vice- President, Electronic Products, presented a symbolic statuette to Robert Hester, of Mission, Kansas. Mr. Hester was chosen to represent the country's TV tech- nicians because of the location of his service business near the television geographical center of the United States. The statuette is a 14-inch gold-finished figure of a man holding aloft the symbol of electronics. The figure stands on a black plastic base inscribed with an RCA dedication to TV technicians. Purpose is Public Recognition The idea of a National Television Servicemen's Week was originated by RCA as a public recognition of the contributions of technicians to the establishment of television as a national service. In order to make the "Peter Pan" colorcast and the statuette presentation ceremony available to the maximum number of viewers, RCA arranged for the placement of RCA 21-inch color TV sets in key cities throughout the nation. Nearly 4,000 personnel from RCA distributors were invited to viewing rooms to witness the 2-hour broadcast as guests of RCA sales representatives in the various areas. In addition, RCA is awarding prizes totalling $10,000 to radio-TV service dealers responsible for the most effective promotions of National Television Service- men's Week in their respective neighborhoods. The prizes include complete sets of five RCA test instru- ments for color TV servicing, one set to be awarded in each of the company's eight sales regions. Survey Shows Attitude Toward Serviceman In connection with the Week, E. C. Cahill, President of the RCA Service Company, announced on March 9 that a survey completed by Elmo Roper indicated that a great majority of the nation's TV set owners are more than pleased with the promptness, quality, prices and courtesy of TV service technicians. The survey, sponsored by the RCA Service Com- pany and the Consumer Products divisions of RCA, showed that 80 per cent of the families interviewed plan 18 RADIO AGE to continue in the future with the same service com- pany they now employ. Other questions in the survey showed that 79 per cent of all service calls were answered within three days, and that 87 per cent of the persons interviewed were satisfied with the prices charged. "These findings, made public during observance of National Television Servicemen's Week, are a mighty tribute to the integrity and spirit of the more than 100,000 highly-trained and skilled technicians who in- stall and maintain television receivers in America's homes," Mr. Cahill said. The latest survey is the seventh annual study of its kind conducted by the Roper organization for RCA. Undertaken and carried out on a scientific, impartial and nation-wide sampling basis of approximately 5,000 fam- ilies, the survey was described by Mr. Cahill as the most extensive ever carried out to determine authentic public feeling toward technicians. "Naturally, we are pleased with the results of the findings," Mr. Cahill added. "Not only is the RCA Service Company proud of the record of its service technicians, but we are proud to be associated with an industry which has in its ranks the thousands of trained and reliable independent technicians that make up the entire electronics service business. If this most recent survey proves any one point, it is that the record of the country's TV service technicians warrants con- tinued public confidence in their work — and I am sure the industry will continue to provide just as good service in the future as it has in the past." W. Walter Watts, right, Executive Vice-President, RCA Electronic Products, is shown presenting a symbolic statu- ette to TV Serviceman Robert Hester, of Mission, Kan., in ceremony telecast over NBC network on March 7 to mark National TV Servicemen's Week.