Television digest with AM-FM reports (Jan 1951-Jan 1952)

10 Topics & Trends of TV Trade: TV-radio industry feels it’s lost another round in efforts to get Regulation W relaxed, now that Federal Reserve Board chairman William McChesney Martin has publicly told Senate Banking Committee there isn’t going to be any modification. But some industry observers feel that FRB hasn’t closed door completely, and that perhaps in month there may be chance to try again. Despite pressures from Congress and industry to get 90-day moratorium on credit restrictions, FRB after 2 meetings this week decided to let things stand. Not the least of reasons for its adamant stand, in belief of many, was fact President asked continued measures against inflation in TV-radio speech June 14 and Board couldn’t very well relax restrictions at same time. It must be borne in mind that FRB looks at economy as whole and feels, according to informed sources, that Regulation W has halted upward spiral of installment credit, that any relaxation might “open up the floodgates” to inflation. As to TV slump, FRB’s attitude is: “You can’t say Regulation W is the sole or even primary cause of your distress. There’s usual summer slump, color, saturation. Therefore, we can’t do anything for you.” It’s much same attitude as was originally taken in turning down RTMA petition (Vol. 7:19). Any revisions of Regulation W on basis of hardship would have to apply to complete segments of the national economy, not to any specific industry which might be suffering, according to FRB experts. As for putting TV under household furniture category, which requires down payment of 15% compared to 25% for TV, FRB officials claim that TV, like any other durable, is a “deferrable” item — meaning that the consumer doesn’t have to have it immediately but can wait and save up down payment. Furniture, they say, is a “non-deferrable” item — meaning consumer must have it at once. Only alternative seems to be Congressional action — but Senator Capehart (R-Ind.), a former radio manufacturer who has been active in seeking revision of Regulation W, thought it would take 30 days for Congress to do anything, and “by then the whole picture probably would be changed.” * * * * Not much excitement about TV-radio exhibits at June 18-28 Chicago Furniture Show, though usual exhibitors will be on hand both in Furniture Mart and Merchandise Mart. Advance reports indicate current lines will be shown mainly, with few if any new models on tap. Air King (now CBS) has been advertising to trade that it will show its “Colorvision” sets (Vol. 7:23) in Trading Post Room, Merchandise Mart Bldg., July 18, 19 & 20, at 10 & 11 a.m., 12 noon, 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 & 4:30 p.m. But its ads play up standard black-and-white line. Philco has already shown its new low-end models (Vol. 7:22), doesn’t call them “new line” since more are to come later. Zenith is reported readying new line for August. Sparton, Pathe and Jackson have several new models to show in Chicago, and Stromberg-Carlson will have some too at its own Chicago branch office. Arvin holds distributor meetings July 29-Aug. 1 in Moraine Hotel, Highland Park, 111., where new sets will be shown. ♦ * sK Jjc DeForest Pioneers, club formed by alumni of various DeForest radio companies, met at Yale Club June 14— including Dr. Allen B. DuMont, DuMont Laboratories; Admiral Ellery W. Stone, American Cable & Radio Corp.; Frank Andrea, Andrea Radio; Wm. J. Barkley, Collins Radio; Louis Pacent, Pacent Engineering. Dr. DeForest, 78, now living in Los Angeles, was unable to be present. Trade Miscellany: Nearly 2000 Crosley TV sets were j| destroyed in fire that razed warehouse in Carrollton, Ky., this week; loss is estimated at $350,000 in merchandise, ! $125,000 building . . . Aladdin Industries Inc., makers of radios, moving out of Chicago plant, going to new quarters in Nashville . . . TV credited with increasing Sears Roebuck’s overall sales in Cuba by 20%, though offered only since last October, reports Retailing Daily . . . Unconfirmed reports are that Simon Distributing Co., which gave up Washington-Baltimore Motorola distributorship recently, will soon handle Zenith lines . . . DuMont has 1 penchant for All-American grid stars — has Kyle Rote, exSMU star, working for distributor S. H. Lynch & Co., Dallas, pending return to N. Y. Giants squad in July; Sid ’ Luckman, former Columbia and Chicago Bears star, is Chicago DuMont distributor, and at network Les Arries is a onetime Northwestern All-American . . . Scott Radio and Hoffman first to announce that they will show new TVs and radios at Music Industry Trade Show in Chi ; cago’s Palmer House, July 16-19. Merchandising Notes: Illustrating how auto sales are < suffering trade lapse, too, was offer of Chicago dealer to give away 20-in. table model TV listing at $199.95 (Jackson) with every new car purchase; dealer says traffic increased 25% . . . Buyers of any brand TV, radio or appliance at list were offered specified new appliances for only $1 more in June 15 sale at Washington’s Electrical Center . . . Arvin advertising 8% -in. table model at $129.95 for “summer outdoor living”; trade ad headline reads: i “When America Moves Outdoors Sell the TV They Can Take Along” and urges small set as “perfect for porch, i patio or terrace” . . . Emerson 17-in. table model included in interior decor of deluxe trailer exhibited by General Coach Works at Chicago Sportsmen’s Show. Plant Expansions: Sylvania plans new metallurgical lab at its research plant at Bayside, N. Y., costing $1,000,000-2,000,000, to be housed in 50,000-sq. ft. building scheduled for mid-1952 completion . . . Lear Inc., California Div., i. making aircraft radio equipment, to start $400,000 factory and hangar in Los Angeles. ! _ ♦ * * ♦ f Halllcrafters’ opinion of mechanical color sets is being shown at Chicago Furniture Show, It’s demonstrating slave converter with 8%-in. tube, magnified to 10-in., alongside 20-in. standard set, latter as example of what ' ^ electronic system will look like with tri-color tube. Card , beside first set asks: “Will your customers be satisfied with this?” Card beside other asks: “Or is this worth waiting for?” Disc set is fed with slide picture from flying-spot ^ scanner; other has no picture. Harking back to lusher days of not so long ago. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports TV-radio factory workers totaled 183,400 in March, up from 181,500 in February, 180,500 in January. Average weekly wage was $57.49 in March, holding about same level as preceding months. ; Average hourly wage was $1.42, average hours worked 40.4. Figures are latest from Govt., but it’s estimated in trade that TV-radio factory payrolls are now down as ! much as 65%. TV-radio firms exhibiting at American Furniture Mart June 18-28 are: Admiral, Arvin, Belmont, Bendix, Halli |crafters, Jackson, Motorola, RCA Victor, Sparton, West v inghouse. At Merchandise Mart: Air King, Crosley, Capehart-Farnsworth GE, Magnavox, Murphy Radio Ltd., Rauland, Westinghouse. RTMA county-by-county TV shipment report (available on request) shows April shipments to dealers down to 261,357 sets from 595,042 in March. First 17 weeks of 1951 shipments totaled 2,071,124. Monthly reports cover all counties to which as many as 25 sets have been sold.