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

11 black-and-white to color as demand warrants. Types of color sets and slave vinits planned are same as previously announced (Vol. 7:29). Same goes for costs, though Cogan says engineers are learning short-cuts, should be able to cut prices next year. First of pilot-run sets are due about Sept. 1. Tele-tone will build 10,000 to 15,000 slave units this fall, according to president S.W. Gross. "We *11 feel our way,” he says. "Materials situation will be tight as hell during fourth quarter." Complete color sets aren’t due until next year. Gross says, adding: "Our engineers are working on something that looks promising for sizes up to 20-in." Projection? "No". Drvim? "Wouldn't call it a drum." Philco reports almost no demand for its |20 black-and-white adapters. And Motorola says it plans adapters, designed for most of its models, past and present, will know production dates and costs in 30 days or so. Topics & Trends of TV Trade: Philco reports sub stantial orders — “all we asked for” — from distributors attending its sessions in New York and Chicago, and its speakers urged comparisons with “last half 1949, not 1950” in calculating markets ahead. It wasn’t officially stated, but it’s manifest Philco, like other majors, is inclined to err on side of under-production rest of this year rather than over-production — materials restrictions forcing this anyhow (see p. 9). New 1952 Philco line of TVs comprises 28 models, includes tax in price, offers 90-day warranty on all models at flat $12.50. Prices are downward at low end. Popular feature with distributors was placing of casters on all consoles. Seven 17-in. table models range from plastic models at $199.95 (mahogany finish) and $229.95 (cordovan leather) through (rounding out prices) $260, $280, $300 (2 models), $330. Eleven 17-in. TV-only consoles are priced from $300 through $340, $350 (2), $370 (2), $380, $400, $420, $500, $550 — latter being Sheraton full-door de luxe models. There’s also one 17-in. combination with AM-FM-3 speed at $450. New 20-in. table models are $360 mahogany, $380 blonde; 20-in. consoles $450 & $480; with full doors, Georgian, $450 & $480. Combinations in 20-in. are $600 & $629. One with remote control is $800, same without remote $750. Radio line continues many old models, tables ranging from $19.95 to $49.95; clock radios, $37.50, $39.95, $42.50 (white or ivory); one AM-FM table, $69.95; portables at $35, $40, $50; table radio-phonos, $80 in ebony, $100 mahogany; radio-phono combinations at $200 for AM-only in mahogany, $250 for AM-FM mahogany, other at $270, $300, $320. Big promotion push is “tube saver” limiting current during power surges. * * * * Manufacturers’ price controls, including those on TVj radio and other electronic equipment and parts, were postI poned indefinitely Aug. 9 while OPS prepares new regulaj tions incorporating the more liberal provisions of new Defense Production Act (Vol. 7:31). New manufacturers’ I price ceilings, which were to have been effective Aug. 13, I may be ignored, OPS announced. “Capehart amendment” of new controls law permits manufacturers to ask for j ceilings based on their pre-Korea prices plus all reasonable I cost increases between then and July 26, 1951. In the OPS manufacturers’ orders, only increases permitted were those L in labor costs up to March 16, 1951, material costs to j Dec. 31, 1960. Described as “magazine for audio-philes,” High Fidelity titles new popular quarterly publication being issued by Milton B. Sleeper. Trade Miscellany: Non-profit TV service plan, members passing $10 year and then getting service at cost, projected by Authorized Manufacturers Service Co., Brooklyn, partnership of George Fried, Alfred Coleman, Morton Greenberg, proposing this scale of “at cost” fees: home service call, $2.35; shop labor, $2.85 an hour; antenna & installation, $3.90 an hour; parts at 20% discount to members . . . Pennsylvania Legislature bills to license TV-radio servicemen after examinations unanimously endorsed by 3500 members from 9 chapters of Federation of Radio Servicemen’s Assns. . . . Illinois Cabinet Co. becomes Rockford (111.) Cabinet Works of GE as of Sept. 1, result of merger, gen. mgr. Oscar M. Lindgren continuing on job . . . Sylvania has new subsidiary, Sylvania Electric of Puerto Rico Inc., formed to fabricate mica for radio tubes, within 60 days starts production by 100 persons in 10,000 sq. ft. plant outside San Juan to supplement supplies from Brazil and U. S. . . . IT&T, which last week bought Coolerator Corp. (Vol. 7:31), has purchased 31% of common, 40% of preferred stock of Kellogg Switchboard & Supply Co., Chicago, for $2,240,000, from former president J. G. Kellogg; none of present president James H. Kellogg’s or other directors’ stock involved, and no changes in management contemplated . . . Western Union Services Inc., new TV servicing subsidiary of WU, handling all standard makes, expanding present New Jersey servicing territory (Essex, Passaic, Union counties) to include Bergen and Hudson counties. • * ♦ ♦ Distributor Meetings: Admiral sales convention in Chicago postponed from Aug. 10-11 to Aug. 17-18, which will enable company’s 600 distributor delegates to attend All-Star grid game being sponsored by Admiral Aug. 17 on DuMont Network . . . Crosley showing new TV, freezer & range lines in Savoy Plaza, New York, Aug. 14-16 . . . Sentinel has new TV models to show at Sheraton Hotel, Chicago, Aug. 14-15 . . . Motorola’s new TV-radio lines to be shown in Essex House, New York, Aug. 21-22 . . . Hoffman’s new sets (Vol. 7:31) promised for September delivery, with distributor meetings due in St. Louis, Aug. 12-13; San Antonio, Aug. 13-14; Salt Lake City, Aug. 14-15; Memphis, Aug. 16-17; Oklahoma City, Aug. 27-28; Tulsa, Aug. 30-31. Stop misleading public, warns New York Better Business Bureau in special bulletin condemning retail ads stressing “no money down” or “no cash required” in buying TVs and radios since easing of Regulation W (Vol. 7:30). BBB says its shoppings revealed very few tradeins met full down payments, higher prices being asked when no trade-ins were available. It also cautioned dealers that Regulation W, even as amended, requires record be kept of each sale showing down payment in cash and trade-in value. I