Radio today (Jan-Mar 1939)

Vi^ljiU •HJJt' UV1 I'B 23 1939 Vinton K. Ulrich Managing Editor Darrell Bartee G. H. Mayorga N. McAllister M. H. Newton R. Neubauer B. V. Spinetta M. E. Herring Sales Manager R. Y. Fitzpatrick 201 N. Wells, Chicago, III. Orestes H. Caldwell Editor M. Clements Publisher Vol. V, No. 2 Copyright 1939 Caldwell-Clements, Inc. Tel. PLaza 3-1340 480 Lexington Ave. New York, N. Y. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations FALSE ALARMS RETARD SET SALES Recent press stories about new radio developments still in the laboratory stage have had the effect of holding up radio sales in certain sections of the country. In self-interest both radio dealers and servicemen should take out time to tell customers there are no radical changes in radio to obsolete present sets. Television, which has recently received much publicity, is going to be available only in a few of the larger cities, and it is going to be a supplementary type of service. People will still listen to our present types of broadcasts for many years to come. Stanford University's "Rumbatron" which has been called a new type of radio, at present is only a laboratory device for producing extremely shortwaves of about 1/10 of a meter. Suggested applications to date are for aviation landing beacons and televi L. E. Gubb, president of Philco, whose Palm Beach convention launched big expansion program into new fields. sion relay circuits. Even the inventors have not made any suggestions as to how these wavelengths might be used by the public. With no consumer uses in sight, the radio trade certainly can tell the public that it will not have any direct effects on broadcasting. Discussed elsewhere in this issue is an article on frequency-modulated broadcast transmissions. Here again, the radio buying public should not put off buying a new radio set because of this development, for at most it will only be a supplementary factor in a manner similar to television. Jobbers and manufacturers are urging their dealers to set the public straight on these widely misunderstood developments. While radio is continually progressing, the public should not be allowed to get the idea that the manufacturers are holding back — for such is far from the truth. PHILCO ENTERS REFRIGERATION, AIR-CONDITIONING AND BATTERY FIELDS. TELEVISION IN MAY. To inaugurate the largest expansion in Philco's history, 400 Philco executives, field representatives and dealers attended a mid-winter convention held Feb. 16-19 at Palm Beach. A complete new line of electric refrigerators, new series of air-conditioners, and a line of dry batteries for all uses was announced. "Philco expansion into other industries," declared Philco president L. E. Gubb, "does not mean for one moment that it will lessen our concentration on radio. It does mean that we consider that there will be a very substantial economic upswing during 1939, making it a propitious time for healthy expansion." Opportunities for "year-round profits" were emphasized in connection with the new lines. Philco television sets, it was announced, will be ready in May. 50,000-HOUR TUBES IMPRACTICAL FOR RADIO SETS A few weeks ago before the antimonopoly committee, D'r. F. B. Jewett of Bell Labs made the statement that tubes that would last for 50,000 hours had been used by the telephone company for many years. Newspapers in some sectors played up story intimating that radio manufacturers were gypping the public. Had Dr. Jewett been given an opportunity to explain, he would probably have pointed out that the 50,000-hour tubes are much more expensive to make — that they would last for about 50 years in a radio set that has a probable life of 3 to 5 years. Also it would mean that our present sets selling for $10 would have to sell for about $30-$40 because of the increased cost of tubes — and the set would wear out long before the tubes showed signs of deteriorating. Present radio tubes average useful lives of 5 to 8 years. Tom Joyce, newest and youngest vicepresident of RCA Mfg. Co., whose interesting biography is on page 45. Radio Todav