Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

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9 World Series fanned an already high TV sales volume this week, with very good sales reported from Cleveland and New York, whose teams were playing. But there was also a substantial pickup generally throughout country, abetted by Series and fullscale inauguration of fall network programming. * * * * TV production zoomed to 197,502 week ended Sept. 24, up from 194,284 units in preceding week and 151,544 week ended Sept. 10. It was highest weekly production in 21 months. Also, it was first time in nearly 2 years that TV exceeded radio output. For 37 weeks to date, TV output was 4,300,000 vs. 5,200,000 same period of 1953. Radio production totaled 196,258 (62,031 auto), compared to 195,405 in week ended Sept. 17 and 154,593 week before. For 37 weeks, radio production was 6,650,000 compared to approximately 9,100,000 in corresponding period year ago. Topics & Trends of TV Trade: Phiico didn’t lose a distributor in the disfranchising process at its Aug. convention (Vol. 10:32). Each of its approximately 125 outlets signed new agreement under substantially stiffer terms in effort to hit back at discount houses. Important aspect of policy strikes at trans-shipping by requiring distributor to buy back goods trans-shipped from his own territory at cost plus freight. Speaking to International Assn, of Electrical Leagues convention in Philadelphia Sept. 29, exec. v.p. John M. Otter said new controlled distribution policy has been “more successful than we hoped for, and has exceeded our expectations.” Saying some in industry had contended Phiico would lose business as result of tougher terms, he declared : “We’ll pick up more business from dealers who like to .sell and merchandise appliances and TV-radio aggressively. We’re not mad at anyone and hope other manufacturers will join with us in the effort to strengthen the appliance industry.” He said conditions forced Phiico to use a “shock” method in trying to “bring back leadership into the appliance industry. Dealers and distributors need a leader, the same as a working man needs a boss.” Otter criticized what he called practice of selling TVs & appliances “on price alone,” said it was fault of entire industry. He said manufacturer, distributor and dealer had been too busy selling merchandise in short supply to realize need for salesmanship and service. “Then the demand slowed up and people began to .shop, resulting in dealers and dealer salesmen selling a product on price alone. There is no end to the price situation once it gets rolling, and it can result in the dealer or distributor going out of business.” In another speech to same group, W. G. Peirce Jr., pres, of Admiral Philadelphia distributor Peirce-Phelps, sharply criticized TV manufacturers for introducing price leaders with big advertising splash, and then failing to produce them in quantities sufficient to meet demand. He said in many ca.ses it was impossible for dealers, much less the consumers, to buy such models. * * * ♦ Philco’s price increa.ses announced this week (see p. 8), effective Oct. 4, were on following 15 models: 21-in. mahogany table, from $260 to $270, blonde $280 to $290; 21 -in. open-face mahogany console, $230 to $240; 21-in. open-face mahogany console $260 to $270, blonde $280 to $290; 21-in. open-face mahogany console $280 to $290; 21-in. open-face mahogany console $310 to $330, blonde $320 to $340; 21-in. open-face mahogany console $340 to $350, blonde $360 to $370; 21-in. open-face white oak con•sole $400 to $420; 21-iii. full-door mahogany console $330 U> $.310, blonde $35U to $360; 24-in. oi)en-face mahogany console $370 to $380, blonde $390 to $400. DISTRIBUTOR NOTES: Bendix Radio appoints Northwest Associated Distributors Inc., Seattle (Ward Davison, pres.), new group formed by 40 leading retailers in move to forestall discount house operations . . . DuMont appoints newly formed Stewart & Stevens Inc., Los Angeles (Fred Stevens and Allen Stewart, partners), replacing Quality Distributors Inc., now CBS-Columbia outlet . . . Capehart-Farnsworth: Midwest Appliance Distributing Corp., 2305 Olive St., St. Louis (Norwood Veatch, pres.) . . . Sylvania: Erskine-Healy Inc., Rochester, N. Y. . . . Stromberg-Carlson: Houseman Distributing Co., 1749 Walker Rd., NW, Grand Rapids (Weldon K. Houseman, pres.) . . . Raytheon: Associates of Hawaii, Honolulu (Robert R. Hill, pres.) . . . Harry Alter Co., Chicago (CrosleyBendix) appoints James M. Alter as TV-radio gen. mgr., replacing H. C. Huebner, resigned . . . Wyatt-Cornick Inc., Richmond (RCA) elects John M. Wyatt Jr. chairman, John M. Wyatt III pres. . . . Canadian Admiral Sales Ltd! appoints Karl W. Hall as Ontario sales mgr. . . . CapehartFarnsworth: Appliance Distributors Inc., 415 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis (Wm. J. Helt, ex-Raytheon, pres.) . . . RCA Victor Di.stributing Corp. elects E. L. Dodelin sales v.p., headquartering in Chicago. B Edward C. Adleta, 76, pres, of Adleta Co., RCA’s Dallas distributor, died Sept. 28 in Dallas. a DuMont introduced new series of deluxe “wide horizon” sets this week, employing more powerful chassis. The 21-in. receivers in series will have 267-sq.-in. screens, using 90-degree tubes. Prices and discounts are $10-$20 higher than on standard line, which remains intact. Marketing v.p. Wm. H. Kelley told distributors new series was being introduced “in the teeth of a disturbing trend in some sections of the industry toward what we feel is dangerously lower quality. We felt that now is the time to bring out a high quality receiver to fill the certain demand for a lot more set for a little more money.” Details of new series: Bradley, 21-in. walnut table model $210, mahogany $220, blonde $230; Baylor, 21-in. mahogany table $250, blonde $260; Winsted, 21-in. open-face walnut console $290, mahogany $300, blonde $310; Clifford, 21-in. openface mahogany console $340, blonde $350; Allenby, 21-in. open-face mahogany console $380; Hamilton, 21-in. openface mahogany console $380, provincial maple $390; Dellwood, 21-in. half-door mahogany console $400; Richfield, 21-in. full-door console $420, blonde $440; Belvidere, 21-in. full-door mahogany console $440; Glendale, 24-in. openface mahogany console $445, blonde $475; Royal Sovereign, 30-in. full-door mahogany custom console $1795. Winter market dates for Los Angeles and San Francisco marts have been advanced one week, new dates being •Jan. 17-2] for Los Angeles Furniture Mart, Jan. 24-28 for Wcsleni Merchandise Mart, San Francisco. Chicago market dates remain Jan. 3-14.