Radio Broadcast (May 1929-Apr 1930)

Questions tkelmde Sfiouf CnsXuered ALL eyes in the industry were turned toward the Trade Show in June and now the question is what did it mean, what are the lessons? A complete canvass of all the showings was made by Radio Broadcast in order to determine the trends and a summation of the set manufacturers' offerings. This summary, we present here. This summary is to be taken only for what it is — a tabloid rendering of the June exhibits. Many makers will have new models before September and by that time or before, some of the models involved in this tabulation will be altered in appearance, and design. Reprinting of any part of this summary must not be made without our written permission. I How many sets are using screen-grid tubes ? • A large number, considering this is the first year that these tubes have been available. Out of the 215 models covered by our survey, 98 sets — 45 per cent. — use screen-grid tubes and 117 do not. It looks like a landslide, doesn't it? 2 What about the 245 power tube ? • Consumers have complained about lack of power but now they will have lots of it. Out of 202 models, 156 — 77 per cent. — use 245-type tubes in push pull. Such amplifiers are 6.5 times as powerful as last year's sets which used a single 171 tube. The output of two 245's in push pull is 4.5 watts! Only 8 per cent, of the sets use 250-type tubes, 13 per cent, use the 171-type, and 2 per cent, use the 112 type. The sets using 112-type tubes are battery operated. 3 Consoles or table models ? • Figures can't lie — only 16 per cent, of the sets at the Show were table models; the rest — 84 per cent. — were consoles! 4 How many tubes per set ? • Of the new sets, 40 per cent, use 8 tubes, 27 per cent, employ 9 tubes, 23 per cent, have 7 tubes, and only 10 per cent, use 6 tubes. 5 How many tubes will 19*29 sets require ? • A total of approximately twenty-four million tubes will be required for initial installations in new sets, figuring a sale of three million receivers averaging eight tubes each. 6 How many screen-grid tubes will be needed ? • At least half of the sets to be sold this year will use screen-grid tubes, it is estimated, and this will call for between 3 and 4 million of these tubes for initial installations. 7 How much will sets cost in 1929 ? • Out of 212 models, 17 per cent, are priced at $100 or less, 17 per cent, at $100 to $150, 31 per cent, between $150 and $200, 21 per cent, between $200 and $300, and 14 per cent, over $300. Your customers can spend $1000 or more for a receiver. 8 What about the 226 tube ? • Out of every 100 sets 74 will not use 226-type tubes — 224 and 227-type tubes are being used almost exclusively. 9 Push pull versus single amplifier tube ? • Push-pull amplification is being used in 199 out of 202 models. The reasons are: quieter operation, better fidelity, and more power. 10 Does the dynamic loud speaker hold Us own ? • Yes, in 97 per cent, of the models. <f >m How many phonograph radio combinations ? M* -M> • There are 22 such combination receivers out of the 202 models displayed. Generally speaking, they cost between $300 and $400. A few are lower in price. Screen-Grid Tube 245 Power Tube 226 A. C. Tube classified 215 202 202 using tube 98 156 53 nol using lube 117 46 149 No. of models classified 212 No. of models classified 190 PRICES OF RECEIVING SETS (Number of models below) $49.95~$100 36 $100-$150 36 $150-$200 66 $200-$300 45 $300 up 29 NUMBER OF TUBES USED IN SETS (Number of models using) 6 tubes 18 No. of models classified 198 No. of models classified 215 No. of models classified 202 No. using 245's 156 No. of models classified 202 7 tubes 44 CABINETS No. of consoles 166 LOUD SPEAKERS No. using dynamic loud speakers 209 POWER TUBES No. using 250's 16 PUSH PULL No. using push pull 199 8 lubes 77 No. of table models 32 9 or more lubes 51 No. nol using dynamics 6 No. using 171's 26 No. not using push pull 3 No. using 112 A' s AVERAGE PRICES OF VARIOUS TYPES Type of Receiver All models All table models All console models All screen-grid table models All screen-grid console models ) Average Price $204.00 80.60 240.00 120.00 235.00 «* A How about d.c. sets and receivers requiring batteries ? ML M$m The industry has gone a.c. — at the show there were only 9 d.c. sets out of 190 models; these included both batteryoperated and d.c. light-socket-operated receivers. * *• Can chassis be purchased separately ? 19* Twelve out of 46 set manufacturers will sell the chassis separately. The idea, of course, is for the dealer to install the chassis in a cabinet selected by the customer. ^ What is the price range of new sets ? A £$• The cheapest set is a small table model for $49.95; the highest priced set, a combination radio-phonograph, lists at $2500. The average price of all sets is $204. * *■ What are the new features ? A)l Various forms of automatic and semi-automatic tuning control were evident. Three manufacturers showed a remote tuning control device which allows the user to control one receiver from almost any home location. Eight stations on the average can be tuned-to and the remote control also in each case allows for remote control of volume as well. One maker featured a remote control allowing not only pre-adjustment to eight stations but also provided for remote control of the entire movement of the condenser gang in both directions with provisions for stopping at any point. Automatic volume control is evident in the higher-price field, but the trend is not yet general. Some indication that the local-distance switching arrangement is returning to popularity was evident and this feature was noted chiefly in screen-grid sets. Cabinet design is best described as good, but uneventful. Ease of servicing has been considered by the majority of makers and without exception, receiver design is more simple, more sturdy. Unit construction, in which the tuning unit is separate from trie power-audio units for ease of servicing is a very distinct trend. Prices have come down as our summary shows.