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

The seven-ounce, unbreakable phonograph, made largely of plastic, is operated by turning the crank. At the demonstration, both General Sarnoff and Mr. Van Dyck emphasized that part of the phonograph's value lay in the fact that it is fun to operate. They reported that nearly everyone who had been shown the instrument, including President Eisenhower, had de- lighted in spinning the turntable to produce sound. Following the demonstration and accounts of the phonograph in the press so many inquiries were received by RCA that an information kit was prepared to answer the questions of manufacturers about the instrument's specifications and characteristics. The kit describes one design of such a phonograph, and the information is being made available to any company interested in study- ing the question of manufacturing the instrument, with- out restriction as to its use. According to Mr. Van Dyck, the queries have come not only from manufacturers, but also from government agencies, from religious and educational groups, from sales promotion organizations, and from the general public. Among them, he reported, have been one from a nationally-known medical school which is considering the phonograph as a device for teaching hygiene to Indian tribes; another from a museum which has an idea that such phonographs might be supplied to tourists as self-guides; and one from a sportsman who requested a phonograph and a record imitating duck calls, with the comment that "this is the answer to a hunter's prayer." Voice of America Adopts New Slogan The Voice of America is using the station identifica- tion "For Freedom and Peace" for its English and some foreign language broadcasts, it was announced on De- cember 23 by Theodore C. Streibert, Director of the United States Information Agency. Use of this identification was proposed by Brig. General David Sarnoff in his memorandum "Program for a Political Offensive Against World Communism," submitted last April to the White House. J. R. Poppele, the Agency's Assistant Director for Radio and Television, said that constant repetition of the words as part of the Voice of America's station identification would help to convey to listeners around the world the truth about United States policies and its goals of freedom and peace. Expansion of RCA Marine Operations J_ LANS OF RCA for expanded operations in the field of marine radio communications, manufacturing, marketing and servicing, to fill the needs of increasing numbers of customers were announced on December 28 by Frank M. Folsom, RCA President. According to Mr. Folsom's announcement, the fol- lowing rearrangement of basic functions of the Radio- marine Corporation of America, a service of RCA, is being made: 1. If the Federal Communications Commission ap- proves, marine radio traffic operations of the Radio- marine Corporation will be transferred to RCA Com- munications, Inc., also a service of RCA. 2. Radiomarine service activities will be handled by the RCA Service Company, Inc., wholly-owned sub- sidiary of RCA. 3. Radiomarine's existing sales, engineering and manufacturing operations will form the nucleus of a strong Marine Equipment Organization within the RCA manufacturing divisions. 'The communications and service activities of Radiomarine, as well as Radiomarine sales, engineering and manufacturing operations, will continue for the time being in their present locations," Mr. Folsom said. "These plans with respect to Radiomarine have two main purposes — to fill the needs of the growing num- bers of customers with respect to a broader range of products, marketing facilities and servicing; and to provide RCA customers with a coordinated world-wide communications service to overseas points and ships at sea." RADIO AGE 19