Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

12 Topics & Trends of TV Trades Phiico’s new line of bi models utilizes 3 entirely new chasis — called the 300, 350 & 400 — all with 41-mc IF and designed to incorporate all-channel uhf tuner that can be inserted by layman in few minutes. It works from one dial with channel numbers illuminated when uhf channel selector is set. Tuner costs $45, obviates need, as TV v.p. Fred Ogilby explained to distributors convention this week, of carrying more than one inventory of sets. “It takes the guesswork out of how many uhf or vhf sets will be required for any territory,” said Ogilby. “Every manufacturer in the business of making vhf-uhf combinations is old hat,” said Ogilby. “Finger-tip tuning” will be one of the main promotion themes this fall, referring to horizontal but hidden uhf controls. The line starts with 21-in. table at $160, ranging up to $300, which compares with $250 to $430 in same size just year ago. The 21-in. consoles range from $230 to $420, comparing with $300 to $530 year ago. There are no 17-in,, which Ogilby said was a dead number “because 21-in. is too close,” and line embraces three 24-in. table models and four 24-in. consoles. Full line; Table Models: 21-in. ebony textured $160, blonde $200; 21-in. mahogany $200; 21-in. mahogany $230; 21-in. mahogany $260, blonde $280; 21-in. mahogany $300; 24-in. maroon $300; 24-in. mahogany consolette, with legs, $340, blonde $360. Consoles: 21-in. open-face maroon $230; 21-in. openface mahogany $260, blonde $280; 21-in. open-face mahogany $280; 21-in. open-face mahogany $300, blonde $320; 21-in. full-door mahogany $330, blonde $350; 21-in. openface mahogany $340, blonde $360 ; 24-in. open-face mahogany $370, blonde $390; 21-in. open-face mahogany or white oak $400 ; 21-in. half-door mahogany $400, blonde $420 ; 24in. open-face mahogany $400; 24-in. open mahogany $500. Combinations : 21-in. full-door mahogany $400; 21-in. full-door mahogany $600; 21-in. full-door mahogany with high-fidelity sound system $1000. 4: 4: 4^ Phiico’s first printed-circuit radio line was also introduced, radio v.p. Wm. H. Chaffee explaining that copper is etched from base panel of chassis to create electrical conductors for more than 140 circuit points. Philco also disclosed new dip soldering process is now in operation on its radio production lines, enabling 95% of all radio circuits to be soldered almost simultaneously. Radio line comprises 7 table models ranging from 3tubc brown polystyrene at $18 to mahogany-finished phenolic 6-tube AM-FM at $80; 7 clock radios from 3-tubc brown at $25 to 4-tube radio equipped with buzzer alarm and “delayed off-sleep switch” at $40; 2 portables — maroon flashlight-equipped at $60 & $70. First separate phonograph line comprises 7 portables ranging from 3-speed ginger leatherette at $30 to automatic 3-speed changer in “suntan leatherette” at $100; a high-fidelity table model, with 6-watt amplifier, in mahogany at $150, blonde $160; 2 high-fidelity consoles, in mahogany at $250, blonde $260; mahogany or blonde, with AM-FM radio & tape recorder jack, at $750. New electrostatic speaker, incorporated in phonograph table models and consoles, is said to reproduce frequencies up to 20,000 cycles with little distortion and consists of 16 slender units disposed as facets on half cylinder. ^ ♦ * * Federal Trade Commission this week appointed P. B. Morehouse, asst. gen. counsel, to head 4-man “task force” of attorneys to check up on compliance by business with FTC orders, stipulations and trade practice rules relating to advertising. It was explained that attorneys can initiate legal action against those violating regulations, which wasn’t possible under old setup of inspection by staff examiners. Distributor Notes: Philco Distributors Inc.-Newark div., new organization replacing T. A. O’Laughlin & Co., Newark (Vol. 10:31), appoints Wm. Parnell, from N. Y. factory branch, as gen. mgr., and S. R. Slater, ex-Olympic Appliances of N. J., as sales mgr. . . . Hallicrafters appoints General Radio & Electronic Co., 396 S. Main St., Wilkes-BaiTe (Ben Gerstein, gen. mgr.) . . . Bercraft Corp., Chicago (CBS-Columbia) appoints Joseph E. Zulwin v.p. & gen. mgr.; Marshall Keroff promoted to TV sales mgr. . . . Rudisco Inc., Albany, N. Y. (DuMont) appoints John J. McDonnell gen. sales mgi\, replacing Richard J. Fay, resigned . . . G. M. Nutter Co., Cleveland (DuMont) appoints E. L. Stainecker sales mgr., replacing G. P. MacFarlan, resigned . . . Emerson Radio of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, announces resignation of gen. sales mgr. Charles F. Boice; his duties to be assumed by v.p. Samuel B. Jacobs . . . Ray Thomas Co., Los Angeles (CBS-Columbia) appoints R. S. Sloan. ex-Westinghouse, as appliance sales mgr. . . . Refrigeration Sales Corp., Cleveland (Stx’omberg-Carlson) appoints Robert Marks adv. & sales promotion mgr., replacing Edward Martynak, resigned . . . Gerald O. Kaye & Assoc., N. Y. (Ci’osley-Bendix) appoints Marvin Haas adv. mgr. . . . Stuart F. Louchheim Co., Philadelphia (Zenith) announces resignation of v.p. & merchandise mgr. Harry A. Doull . . . Westinghouse Electric Supply Co. moves west coast headquarters from Los Angeles to Western Merchandise Mart, San Francisco . . . Raytheon appoints Westeim Supply Co., 357 W. 2nd S., Salt Lake City (H. W. Eskuche, pres.) and Southern Indiana Wholesalers, 25 Pennsylvania Ave., Evansville, Ind. (C. W. Allen, pres.). TV-radio excise tax proposals (Vol. 10:31) are due for momentary consideration by Senate. They’re proposed amendments added last week to tax bill HR-6440 by Senate Finance Committee. Text of amended bill, together with Committee report, was made available this week. It reveals that the proposed $7 tax credit for uhf -equipped receivers applies only to sets with “all-channel uhf tuner as distinguished from the so-called strip tuners capable of receiving certain of the uhf channels.” Another section of bill specifically exempts from manufacturers’ excise tax such parts as speakers, phono mechanisms, built-in antennas when sold separately from set; only cabinets and tubes are taxable. Also exempted from tax is all nonentertainment TV-radio equipment. When a N. Y. labor union this week tried to organize C. R.T. Electronics Corp., Mt. Vernon, N. Y., maker of TV tubes, pres. Stephen Weston and v.p. Wm. Genz fired their 20 employes, locked doors, said they would liquidate. Amalgamated Local 160 of the Playthings, Jewelry & Novelty Workers Division of the Retail, Wholesale & Dept. Store Union, CIO, notified company that 18 of its employes had joined, but when David Kapilow, secy.-treas. of the local, walked into the plant Aug. 5 to call a meeting, he was escorted out by policemen. He said C.R.T. was first of various electronics firm in N. Y. area the union plans to organize. Sparton introduced new line of 11 sets at convention of its district mei’chandisers this week in Jackson, Mich. Line ranges from 17-in. mahogany tables at $200 to 24-in. full-door French provincial console at $535. Also shown was 19-in. color set using CBS-Hytron tube, with no list price. Gen. sales mgr. B. G. Hickman said no decision had been reached on color production, pending clarification of tube controversy. New lightweight 17-in. picture tube was disclosed this week by Westinghouse tube sales mgr. John A. Curtis, who said it “greatly hastens an era of high-quality portable TV.” New tube weighs 5Vj lbs., is 16%-in. long, has 90-degree deflection angle to permit production of narrower cabinets.