Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

11 TV production held steady at 118,289 units for week ended March 19, compared with 118,484 in top 1954 week ended March 12 and 113,026 week ended March 5. In same 1953 week, total was 160,683. For first 11 weeks of 1954, total output is 1,323,000 which compares with 1,944,000 same period last year. Radio production went up to 202,893 March 19 week from 181,710 week before, and 327,322 in corresponding week of 1953. For first 11 weeks of this year, radios totaled 2,182,000 vs. 3,229,000 for same 1953 period. ENGINEERS NUN ON NEW COLOR TV PLANS: Annual smorgasbord for electronic engineers, the IRE convention, usually brings some exciting and unexpected announcements about big new advances in the TV art — either in company-arranged press conferences or in engineering papers and exhibits. Convention in New York this week, biggest ever, had plenty to offer engineers — but no big surprises in TV field. It was certainly most color-ful IRE convention yet — components for color, color test and generating equipment, color tubes, even community antenna systems guaranteed for color. Yet by and large the convention exhibitors used color mainly as a traffic builder — much as today’s retailer uses color set to lure customers into his store so he can sell them black-&-white sets, and perhaps even waffle irons. The technical papers detailed nothing radically new in TV, we were told by well-versed engineers who attended the sessions. One paper which was to describe a new color tube was even withdrawn for competitive reasons (see p. 14). Watchful waiting is keynote of TV industry today — particularly as regards color. "The other fellow" is the key, and everybody's waiting for him to make the first move. Nevertheless, IRE convention made plenty of news — as it always does — in terms of progress reports on industry’s newest developments. For stories on tape & film color TV recording, color test & studio equipment, color tubes, toppower uhf transmitters, printed TV circuits. Dr. Alfred N. Goldsmith’s predictions on electronic future, and other IRE highlights, see below and pp. 5, 8, 13, & 14. PRINTED-CIRCUIT TV, constructed with new “3rd dimension” technique by Sanders Associates Inc., Nashua, N. H., was unveiled to TV manufacturers and engineers in New York this week in special private showings held in connection with IRE convention and show. A variation of the “tinkertoy” principle (Vol. 9:38 & 10:12), new technique uses etched plastic plate to replace conventional wiring, with small etched panels, about size of match book, attached perpendicularly to base plate and containing the various circuit components. Sanders showed 21-in. TV, with conventional circuit, made by its new “Reliaplate” method. Circuit plate was less than 12-in. long, 6-in. wide, used 19 of the small “Reliaplate” panels, which plug into base plate, and contained adhesive-tape resistors and ceramic capacitors. Sanders spokesmen explained that conventional resistors and capacitors can also be used in this new construction. Initial cost studies, they said, indicated savings of $5-$10 at manufacturer’s level for 21-in. set. They see big future in color TV for new method, since compactness of new circuit method will permit color TV circuitry to fit in same size chassis as black-&-white. New design technique, says Sanders, “can be installed at a very nominal cost with full scale production within a few months using standard components, and a little over 12 months using the more economical non-conventional components.” Sanders hopes not only to help manufacturers set up plants using new techniques, but to sell them tools, “Reliaplates” and components. Ad claims for miniature indoor antennas should be toned down. N. Y. Better Business Bureau notified retailers this week. After testing several of the $2-$2.50 d"vices, which are currently getting heavy push, BBB found no justification for claims they “outperform all others” or “outperform outdoor” types. Here’s where unemployment has hit hard in the TVradio industry, as noted by Sen. Douglas (D-Ill.) in Senate debate March 25 on proposed excise tax cut (see p. 10) — the statistics presumably coming from union sources : Philco, Philadelphia, 1000 laid off out of normal complement of 8000; another undesignated Philco plant closed, and third laid off 500 out of 1300; RCA Cincinnati, 600 out of 1800; RCA, Montreal, 370 out of 1000; Sylvania, Buffalo, 800 out of 2200; GE, Huntingburg, Ind., 230 out of 450; GE, Tell City, Ind., 59 out of 1784; International Resistance Co., 900 out of 1500; Magnetic Winding Co., 300 out of 800 ; Philadelphia Insulated Wire Co., 80 out of 230; Photoswitch Co., 700 out of 1000; National Co., 500 out of 1000; Clarostat, 550 out of 1000; Philharmonic Radio, 50 out of 200; Bendix Radio, 160 out of 300; Video Products Co., 150 out of 225; General Instrument Co., 1200 out of 1500; Micamold Co., 250 out of 900; Ward Lumber Co., 150 out of 1100; Leonard Electric Co., 180 out of 250 (75 recalled) ; American Measuring Co., 245 out of 275; Hammarlund Co., 100 out of 500; Erie Resistor Co., 380 out of 1245; Mallory, 600 out of 3000; Warwick, 300 out of 400. ♦ * * * Distributor Notes: Emerson Radio appoints Biggs Kurtz Co., Grand Junction, Colo. (Clinton A. Biggs, gen. mgr.) for western Colo.; G. W. Ryan Distributing Co., Wichita (G. W. Ryan, pres.) for western Kan. . . . DuMont appoints Sampson Distributing Co., 2916 W. Marshall St., Richmond, Va. (Henry S. White, pres.) . . . Delaware Valley Distributors Inc., Philadelphia (Crosley & Bendix) appoints John J. Kelley, ex-Avco, as v.p. & gen. mgr. . . . Schoellkoff Co., Dallas (CBS-Columhia) appoints H. W. Luker, ex-Bendix district mgr., as appliance mgr. . . . Admiral Distributing Corp., Boston, reports Alvin Brousseau has resigned as gen. sales mgr. . . . Graybar opens branch in New Brunswick, N. J. (W. G. Trometter, mgr.).