Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

15 Electronics Reports: ^^’e(^ding of atomic energy and transistors produced a giant’s step toward realization of scientists’ half-century dream of converting radioactivity directly into electricity, as RCA demonstrated an “atomic battery” at chairman David Sarnoff’s New York offices Jan. 26. Though output of battery is miniscule — 1/5 volt, 5 microamperes, 1 microwatt — the principle is the thing. As Gen. Sarnoff stated: “When Michael Faraday first produced an electric current it was with a relatively simple device — a copper disk rotated between the ends of a magnet. Faraday, 120 years ago, did not visualize the future of his invention, yet, today, the huge power generators at Niagara and the Hoover Dam operate on the same basic principle of Faraday’s discovery.” First possible uses of battery visualized by Gen. Sarnoff — though he didn’t attempt to predict w'hen — would be to power portable and pocket-size radio receivers, hearing aids, signal controls, etc. Beyond these, he foresaw atomic batteries powering home electrical appliances, replacing car batteries, perhaps becoming a major source of electricity for all except heaviest duty purposes. Gen. Sarnoff estimated that 10 of units demonstrated could now power a small portable radio and that 1 or 2 could run a hearing aid. Basic significance of development is that it forshadow's production of device capable of providing almost inexhaustible source of electricity — since it would lose only half of its power in 20 years of continuous use. Importance of RCA’s contribution is the enormous increase in efficiency — 200,000 times as great as former efforts. Previous techniques could derive only one electron of electricity for each radioactive particle. RCA gets 200,000-for-l, yet this still repiesents only 1% utilization of radioactive energy released. RCA scientists say new process has theoretical limit of 10% efficiency. Device works by placing radioactive material, strontium-90 in this case, against transistor-like wafer of silicon; latter is bonded to antimony to form junction. Beta particles from strontium bombard wafer, producing current. Strontium-90 is now a waste product of atomic energy plants such as Oak Ridge & Hanford, but it cost $25 to refine amount in RCA battery (50 millicuries) . RCA says Financial & Trade Notes: Avco Mfg. Corp. doesn’t break down its Crosley & Bendix manufacturing-appliance operations, nor does it reveal separately the gross and net of its highly successful Crosley Broadcasting Co. (WLW, WLWT, WLWC, WLWD, WLWA) — but revamping of its TV-appliance structure, particularly with relation to Bendix distributors, accounted largely for sharp drop in profits for fiscal year ended Nov. 30, 1953. Consolidated sales reached record $414,783,527, compared with $326,585,641 in preceding year. Net profit went down to $3,368,598 (34<i a share) from $11,028,927 ($1.20). Chairmanpresident Victor Emanuel reported that defense contracts accounted for record volume, but earnings were hit by strikes and certain non-recurring costs in consolidating home appliance divisions as well as a weakening in price structures necessitating year-end inventory adjustments. Hearing involving Don Ferraro’s 3 companies — Fidelity Tube Co., Gem Radio & Television Corp. & Jewel Radio Corp., all of Newark — was postponed this week to Feb. 4. when Ferraro was ordered to present satisfactory plan to pay unsecured creditors (Vol. 10:1) or be adjudged bankrupt. In another Chapter XI proceeding. Transvision Inc., New Rochelle, N. Y., offered amended plan to pay unsecured creditors 30%, payable 5% in cash and balance in monthly installments of 1%; original offer was 100% payable in monthly installments of 2%. mass production of strontium-90 might bring price down to 10<f for same amount. Output of battery could be increased by making larger units or stacking small ones. Though device itself is about size of cigarette tip, presence of some alpha and gamma particles requires lead shielding, making whole unit about half size of cigarette package. With purer strontium-90, it’s expected shielding can be eliminated. Hailing development. Atomic Energy Commission chairman Lewis L. Strauss, former RCA board member, noted: “If a press release of the sort that you are making had been issued 120 years ago at the time of Faraday’s discovery of the electric motor, it would have been received with considerable disbelief.” Said RCA consultant David Lilienthal, ex-chairman of AEC: “The results achieved reflect great credit on the scientific imagination of RCA scientists in applying RCA’s extensive experience with electrons and semi-conductors to the efficient direct conversion of atomic radiation to electricity.” Scientists credited with development at Princeton Labs — under way since end of World War II, with Air Force backing since 1951 — are Paul Rappaport, 31 (Carnegie Tech, ’48-’49) and Dr. Ernest G. Linder, 51 (U of Iowa ’25-’27 and Cornell Ph.D. ’31). E Microphone with built-in transistor pre-amplifier is now in production and being offered commercially by Remler Co. Ltd., San Francisco. It’s designed to improve quality of radio voice communication betw^een pilots and airport control towers, and Remler claims it also clarifies announcements to travelers in airport terminals, aboard planes, etc. Telephone headset with transistor pre-amplifier, coil cord and 3-circuit plug is priced at “about $95,” hand-held type $80. Midget radio receiver the size of cigarette pack is now being manufactured by Lehigh Valley Electronics Engineering & Mfg. Co., Allentown, Pa., for use by subscribers to radio paging systems, police, firemen, etc. Set has range of 20 mi., will run continuously for 80 hours on single set of miniature batteries, uses 3 subminiature tubes. Company says it can produce 1000 a month, selling at $75 apiece, or $40 each in lots of 50 or more. Muntz TV reports net loss of $1,457,288 for 5 months ended Aug. 31, 1953, after giving effect to $746,740 tax adjustment credit. Sales for period were $17,420,828. No comparison is available as company changed its fiscal year to end Aug. 31 instead of March 31. This was done, according to pres. Earl W. Muntz, to give better impression by reporting summer months at end of year rather than beginning. “We’ve always lost money in the summer, and last summer was worse than previous years,” he is quoted in Retailing Daily, which reports Muntz may not reopen Chicago branch, closed 2 weeks ago because union salesmen rejected proposed cuts in commissions. Cornell-Dubilier, for quarter ended Dec. 31, reports sales of $11,434,918, profit of $598,800 ($1.15 on 512,390 shares), compared with $10,574,073 & $404,533 (75^ on 465,834 shares) for same 1952 quarter. Packard-Bell reports fourth quarter 1953 sales of $6,333,923, net income of $269,575 (39i? on 688,000 shares), compared with $10,479,295 & $577,949 (98(? on 588,000) same 1052 period. Olympic Radio is merchandising its own standard and custom TV’ lines this year, buying custom cabinets from Shaw iclevision Corp., Brooklyn, among other suppliers. We erred in reporting that Olympic would handle national sales for Shaw’s own TV line (Vol. 10:3).