Radio today (Apr-Dec 1939)

How many television sets will be sold in '39? No question posed in radio has caused more discussion or resulted in a wider variety of answers than that which appears on our front cover, and also at the head of this item. How fast will the curve on the cover rise, and where will it stand by the end of 1939? Answers have ranged all the way from 10,000 receivers — up to 75,000 and 100,000 receivers. Middle-of-theroaders strike a figure somewhere around 28,000 to 40,000. Those who have inspected English television, think that 10,000 receivers can be absorbed by the New York area to supply restaurants, bars, hotels and stores, alone — with many more going into homes and apartments. Others who see the installation problem, say the limit is not the number of willing purchasers nor even the production lines of the factories, but is set by the difficulty of training service men to make antenna installations which will give satisfaction. Because of the interest in the final result, the publishers of Radio & Television Today propose a contest in connection with this figure, details of which will be announced later. Farnsworth getting ready at Fort Wayne, Ind. The Farnsworth Television and Radio Corporation has opened factory headquarters at 3700 Pontiac street, Fort Wayne, Ind., where it will begin the manufacture of television and radio transmitters and receivers, radio-phonographs, and other products. The company takes its name from inventor Philo Farnsworth who first conceived electronic television while Stromberg-Carlson's production control board. From left to right around the table : F. C. Young, mgr. engineering ; G. E. Eyer, genl. superintendent ; Lee McCanne, secretary and radio sales manager; L. L. Spencer, general sales manager; G. A. Scoville, vice president and general manager; E. A. Hanover, vice president; W. M. Angle, president; S. R. Curtis, purch. agt.; Dr. R. H. Manson, vp, chief engineer; W. F. Cotter, chief radio engineer. Perry Hadlock who has been appointed radio sales manager for the General Electric Company, Bridgeport, Conn., succeeding Ernest Vogel. a student in high school in 1922. His development laboratory was established in 1926, and in 1928 he made the first demonstration of television by means of an electron discharge. He has taken out many patents and has contributed many articles to the scientific press on television topics. A second Farnsworth factory is located at Marion, Ind. E. A. Nicholas is president of the company, and Philo Farnsworth is vice-president in charge of research, Ernest H. Vogel has just been appointed general sales manager, after a long merchandising experience in radio with both B.CAVictor and General Electric Co. Schools fine prospects for quality sets Robert Herr, Philco's parts and service division manager, believes schools and students offer a fertile sales field for radio. Educational programs have made schools more radio conscious, while students are sold on the entertainment values of a receiver, he believes. "A vast number of schools would be open to sales of radio-phonograph combinations if they knew how good they are these days for the price," he says. "That is the dealer's job. He can show it is no longer necessary to think in terms of $500 for one set for music appreciation." Quality, looks and performance can be obtained in a set for $150, Mr. Herr holds, and an enterprising dealer can sell three of these instead of one at $500. Thus, schools can be sold on four or five combinations, especially where there are more than 500 students. Hours for Chicago parts show Following is a schedule of the show hours at the 1939 National Radio Parts Trade Show at the Stevens Hotel, in Chicago, June 14-17, inclusive: Wednesday and Thursday, June 14 and 15, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday, June 16, 2 :00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Saturday, June 17, 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Closing the trade show at 6:00 p.m. on Jobber Days will open the way for the manufacturers and their jobbers to attend the RMA banquet on Wednesday evening; and to participate in various festivities and business conferences. Sayre Ramsdell, Philco vp, announces that Philco's television line will be shown at French Lick, Ind., Philco convention in June. APRIL. 1939 II