Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

10 Topics & Trends of TV Trade: Admiral sales v.p. W. C. Johnson predicts sale of $5 billion worth of TVs as first sets in 14,000,000 homes during next 3 years. In speech titled “Changing Pattern in TV & Appliance Merchandising,” delivered at this week’s annual convention of Southern Wholesale Hardware Assn, in New Orleans, he also predicted: (1) TV replacement market will amount to at least 7,000,000 sets a year by 1957, and 6-7,000,000 annually after that. (2) Within 5 years, 50% of all electrified homes will have either a freezer or combination refrigerator-freezer, and 25% will have an air conditioner. (3) Replacement market potential for refrigerators is about 3,250,000 units a year, representing almost $1 billion annually at retail. “At Admiral,” he said, “we expect that within a decade the amount spent each year for electrical appliances should double.” He noted a shift in distribution pictm-e toward “more complete stocking of fewer lines,” predicted trend is bound to continue because dealers can order merchandise more efficiently and can sell more profitably by concentration.” * * lit * Sen. Russell D. Long (D-La.) promised this week to introduce amendment to omnibus tax bill to provide excise tax relief for TV-radio manufacturers, who were excluded from recent tax cut on appliances and other household equipment (Vol. 10:13). After hearing testimony by RETMA pres. Glen McDaniel before same Senate Finance Committee which turned down his earlier request (Vol. 10:13), Long said he would offer amendment as means of stimulating employment. McDaniel’s testimony got big play in press, attributable largely to his off-the-cuff remark that color in present form had created a “great monster” for manufacturers seeking to promote black-&white sales. McDaniel made remark in reply to question by Long as part of his earnest appeal to committee to correct excise tax “injustice” suffered by TV industry. Since Administration spokesmen say there’s no likelihood Senate will include any excise tax changes in pending bill, RETMA officials are only faintly hopeful of favorable action. All RETMA divisions and exec, committees meet April 26-27 at New York’s Roosevelt Hotel, with proposal to revise dues and budget structure the major topic for action. If approved by board, it will be submitted to membership at proxy meeting in May and could be made effective Aug. 1. GE’s Dr. W. R. G. Baker, chairman of special committee on spurious radiation, will report on response to RETMA’s proposal for industry-wide certification laboratory to minimize TV interference caused by radiation. Following N. Y. meetings, RETMA board will meet jointly with Canadian RTMA April 29-30 at Sheraton-Brock Hotel, Niagara Falls, Ont., when annual Medal of Honor winner will be selected. NARDA chairman Mort Farr, in address to Michigan Appliance & TV Dealers in Grand Rapids, suggested 6 steps dealers can take to prepare for color: (1) Start training service personnel as early as possible, sending them to manufacturers’ and distributors’ clinics. (2) Let manufacturer and distributor know what profit margin you require to sell color in businesslike manner. (3) Get color set on fioor quickly and place price tag on it prominently, next to black-&white for pointed comparison. (4) Cultivate future color customers by telling them about network program plans, larger screen sizes, etc. (5) Ask local TV stations to purchase inexpensive generating equipment for transmitting color bar signals at station breaks. (6) Read trade papers closely for new color developments, to be prepared for public’s extensive questions. Trsdc PsTSOnsls: Jerome J. Kahn, ex-Standard Trans former Corp. v.p., retained by trustee John H. Chatz to reorganize Crescent Industries Inc. (speakers, record changers) . . . Russell Brittingham, gen. mgr. of technical products div.. Corning Glass Works, elected v.p. . . . B. N. McLarty named chief engineer, British Marconi, succeeding G. M. W’right, who continues as consultant . . . Justin R. (Ted) Sypher Jr., ex-secy.. Electronics Production Board, has set up own office as consulting engineer specializing in electronics at 554 Southampton Dr., Silver Spring, Md., while continuing to serve as Washington field engineer for Micamold Radio Corp., Brooklyn . . . Ralph H. G. Mathews, ex-Beaumont & Hohman Adv., Chicago, and onetime Zenith chief engineer, named Magnavox highfidelity gen. sales counsel . . . Harold J. Schulman, DuMont TV service mgr. & chairman of RETMA service committee, appointed to new post of CBS-Columbia service director . . . Richard J. Mahler, ex-CBS Labs, named mfg. & engineering v.p.. Symphonic Radio & Electronic Corp., Boston . . . Willis O. Jackson resigns as Hoffman Radio southeastern regional mgr. to form own distributorship in Atlanta . . . Wm. E. Stohldrier named public relations director. Federal Telecommunications Labs (IT&T) . . . Richard S. McQueen, ex-Magnecord, named National Co. adv. mgr., succeeding Ralph Leader, resigned; E. MacDonald Nyhen resigns as mgr. of industrial contract sales & high-fidelity equipment products . . . J. C. Flynn Jr. appointed Collins Radio sales v.p., headquartering in Dallas . . . Jay T. Nichols, ex-Armour Research Foundation, now chief engineer, Pentron Corp., Chicago . . . John Bentia promoted to exec, v.p.. Alliance Mfg. Co. . . . Hampton Lackey is pres., Howard W. Gates v.p. & chief engineer, newly formed Condenser Manufacturers Inc., Nashville . . . C. Chandler W'ard appointed gen. mgr. of Ward Products div., Gabriel Co., replacing James Bradley, resigned . . . John P. Mainn, San Juan plant mgr. of IDEA Inc. (Regency converters), elected secy, of new Electronic Industries Assn, of Puerto Rico . . . Allen J. Mollinger, ex-mgr. of Davega Stores communications div., appointed buyer of electronic products. Distributor Notes: Sylvania appoints Merit Distributing Co., Spartanburg, S. C. . . . Philco Distributors Inc., Chicago, promotes Charles Hakimian to gen. sales mgr., replacing John S. Hogerty, resigned . . . Motorola-New York appoints Harold Brenner adv. mgr., succeeding Milton Allenson, resigned; Jack W'arganz named service mgr. . . . RCA Victor Distributing Corp., Detroit, appoints Walter Phillips sales mgr. of Grand Rapids branch . . . Delaware Valley Distributors, Philadelphia (Crosley-Bendix) appoints Sidney Goldstein appliance product mgr., Charles Hoffman credit mgr. . . . Columbia Electric & Mfg. Co., Spokane (Zenith), appoints Frank C. Porter TV-appliances sales mgr. . . . W’estinghouse Electric Supply Co., Rochester, appoints Hubert S. Theobald district sales mgr. . . . . . . Canadian Admiral Sales Ltd. opens branch at 1250 Rue de la Jonquiere, Quebec City. TV shipments to dealers totaled 1,073,000 in first 2 months, when production was 847,504, according to RETMA state, county & territorial tables available on request. They compare with 1,348,178 shipped in first 2 months of 1953, when production was 1,449,831. New York led, Avith 98,203; Pennsylvania second, 72,083; Illinois third, 69,955. For Feb. alone, shipments were 460,378, compared to 611,118 in Jan. and 653,091 in Feb. 1953. Video Products Corp., 370 Seventh Ave., N. Y. (Richard A. Marsen, pres.), was adjudged bankrupt April 13 after failing to post $25,000 indemnity bond in Chapter XI proceedings begun last Sept. (Vol. 9:38). It formerly made Sheraton TVs, its ownership interlocking with Sheraton Television Corp.