Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

11 Topics & Trends of TV Trsde: increased use of masonite and chipboard for low-cost TV cabinets has reduced plastic sales to TV industry by about 15% this year, according to reliable industry estimates. Red Lion Cabinet Co., Red Lion, Pa., one of largest independent cabinet producers for TV, estimates its production is now about 90% in masonite. Reflecting trend to masonite in under-$200 TVs, business in phenolic resins — most important material in plastic cabinet production — is considerably down fi’om last year. And Society of Plastics Industry Inc. reports sales in first 7 months of thermosetting materials — of which phenolic is an important factor — were 20% below same months of 1953. Plastics industry has been experimenting recently with pastel-colored cabinets in effort to halt inroads of masonite and chipboard. Motorola, encouraged by consumer surveys indicating lively interest in bright-colored portable radios, has demonstrated a pastel set, with cabinet made by Chicago Molded Products Corp, ^ ^ * Muntz TV offers 100% payment to creditors in amended Chapter X i-eorganization plan filed by trustees this week in Chicago Federal Court. Hearing was set for Nov. 2. Trustees said they found no evidence of fraud, deception or mismanagement. They reported that all TV sets in inventory at time reorganization proceedings were initiated (Vol. 10:10) have been sold and that new production line has been started. Under amended plan, first claims to be paid will be costs and expenses of administration and holders of wage claims, next Federal income taxes amounting to about $1,700,000, and finally general unsecured claims. It’s estimated all notes would be paid within 5 years of confirmation of plan. No payments to stockholders would be made during that period. Report asked court to appoint a board of directors to manage company. TV set sales by Canadian factories totaled 262,903 at average price of $352 in first 8 months of 1954, when production was 261,519, reports Canadian RTMA. Projected production estimate is for 217,810 more sets in Sept.-Nov. period. Inventory at end of Aug. was 67,449, compared to 86,978 at end of July and 99,080 at end of June. Quebec led in sales with 94,457; Toronto second, 52,244; British Columbia, 27,904; other Ontario, 22,630; Prairies, 18,287; Ottawa & eastern Ontario, 16,661 ; Hamilton-Niagara, 15,155; Windsor, 7965; Maritime Provinces, 7600. Aug. sales were 55,179, production 35,650. Picture tube sales in first 8 months totaled 5,326,775, valued at $111,029,918, compared to 6,710,440 worth $159,385,803 in first 8 months of 1953, reports RETMA. Aug. sales were 855,191, valued at $17,941,034, compared to 514,346 at $10,102,903 in July and 879,169 at $21,736,186 in Aug. 1953. Receiving tube sales in first 8 months totaled 225,084,844 valued at $162,805,535, compared to 308,222,911 worth $210,533,254 in same 1953 period. Aug. sales were 35,167,272 at $24,002,391 vs. 24,208,512 at $18,082,753 in July and 38,600,494 at $26,886,528 in Aug. 1953. Sylvania increased prices by $10 and $20 on five 21-in. consoles: Model 526M, open-face mahogany, from $320 to $340, blonde $340 to $360; Model 576M, open-face mahogany $350 to $370; Model 572M, %-door mahogany $390 to $400; Model 527M, full-door mahogany $390 to $400, blonde $410 to $420; Model 376B, full-door mahogany $370 to $.390. It also introduced a 21-in. mahogany table (Model 525M) at $270. Alert distributor, Boyd Distributing Co., Denver, last week installed a 21-in. Philco table model in summer White House at nearby Lowry Air Force Base so members of press and White House staff could watch World Series. President himself stopped by to watch part of second game. DISTRIBUTOR NOTES: Hoffman Radio appoints Hynes Bros. Inc., 4th & Bryant Sts. NE, Washington (Robei’t Silk, sales mgr.), replacing American Wholesalers Inc. . . . Stromberg-Carlson: Glosser Co., 2844 NW 10th St., Oklahoma City (John Glosser, pres.) . . . Arvin: Silkworth Distributing Co., Flint, Mich. (W. W. Silkworth, pres.), replacing J. M. Oberc Co., Detroit . . . Olympic; Wholesale Radio & Electrical Supply Co., 140 Ninth St., San Francisco (Gerald Rapoport, pres.) . . . Motorola-New York announces retirement of Paul L. Lewis Jr. as v.p.gen. mgr.; effective Dec 31, he’ll move to Florida to supervise his commercial interests there . . . DuMont Florida factory branch announces resignation of v.p.-gen. mgr. Charles H. Coombe . . . RCA Victor Distributing Corp., Detroit, promotes George Mansour to sales mgr. . . . Tee-Vee Supply Co, Boston (Stewart-Warner) appoints Alvin C. Brousseau, ex-Admiral Boston, as gen. sales mgr. . . . Victor H. Meyer Distributing Corp., N. Y. (Sylvania) announces resignation of adv. mgr. Gordon James . . . Butterfield Inc. is new name of Philco distributor (formerly C. R. Williams Inc.) in Winston-Salem, N. C. Repair of printed-circuit TV sets is described in new 6-p. illustrated manual published by Admiral, available free from Admiral distributors. Company reports that only 24 printed circuit boards out of more than 250,000 have been returned to the factory for replacement. Admiral used printed circuits in more than 250,000 radios during 2-year period before putting them in TV sets. In June, the company introduced TV with 6-tube printed circuit section, followed in Sept, by one with 8-tube unit. Reviewing TV price declines in a new light. Admiral sales v.p. W. C. Johnson pointed out last week that cost of its black-&-white set has been reduced 92% per sq. in. of viewing area since 1947. “Our first TV set retailed for $350 and provided 52-sq. in. of viewing area at a cost of $6.73 per sq. in.,” he said. “Our latest 21-in. set provides 270-sq. in. of viewing area for $150, or 56 cents per sq. in.” Congressional probe of GE, Westinghouse, General Motors and Defense Secy. Charles E. Wilson was pledged by Rep. Celler (D-N. Y.) “when I become chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.” He made this promise Sept. 30 in address to lUE-CIO convention at Miami Beach. Celler is in line for Judiciary Committee chairmanship if Democrats gain control of House in Nov. elections. RETMA schedules several meetings of committees Oct. 14-15 at Hotel Miramar, Santa Monica, Cal. Meeting first day will be govt, relations dept., military engineering advisory committee, spare parts task committee, military products and transmitter tube sections. Technical products div. exec, committee meets final day. Sylvania has added second shift of 400 workers at new Batavia, N. Y. plant and started TV production line at Buffalo plant, reporting record rate of TV production. It plans to discontinue auto radio production shortly, its big Ford contract having been shifted to Bendix Radio. RETMA’s expected request for delay until Feb. 1 in deadline for filing comments on FCC’s proposed rules on spurious radiation (Vol. 10:11,34,39) was filed this week, RETMA reporting that its task forces studying problem are expected to complete work about Jan. 1. Twenty more “series-string” TV receiving tubes are being offered by RCA. Tube characteristics, except for heater design, are said to be identical to previous TV tubes. RCA previously announced 7 “series-string” tubes. Columbia Records becomes div. of CBS, rather than subsidiary, placing it on level with other manufacturing divs. CBS-Columbia and CBS-Hytron. Clear Beam Antenna Corp. merges with Tempo TV Sales Corp. and employs 225 persons at new Canoga Park, Cal. plant which opened Oct. 1.