Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1954)

13 Elecironics Reports: Color tv stole show Dec. 4 when Signal Corps demonstrated its arsenal of electronic weappons at Ft. Huachuca, Ariz. proving grounds. TV was used in tactical battle exercise, as it was last Aug. in Ft. Meade, Md. demonstration telecast to nation in color by NBC-TV (Vol. 10:33). Latest demonstration showed use of sequential color TV in the field, using color gear developed by Signal Corps technicians working with CBS Laboratories. Army officers and the press, from their location on “Hill 495,” viewed battlefront on battery of black-&-white and color receivers — and agreed that color sets showed important details which were virtually invisible on the monochrome sets. The 10-in. color receivers were supplemented by receiver with 4x6-ft. screen, details of which are said to be on Army’s “secret” list. As in Ft. Meade maneuvers, TV cameras were used both on ground and in air. One of show’s scheduled highlights didn’t come off because of high winds — demonstration of a captive, pilotless helicopter, used as “platform” to transmit TV pictures of enemy formations. Brig. Gen. Emil Lenzner, post commander, said that $30,000,000 will be spent during the next year at Ft. Huachuca, testing and improving new electronic equipment which could mean the “difference between defeat and victoi-y” in tomorrow’s battle. % ^ ^ ^ Successful completion of first “Tinkertoy” electronics contract was announced this week by Navy. Tinkertoy system of modular electronics design and automatic production was first released from security wraps in Sept. 1953, when Navy demonstrated experimental automatic pilot factory in Arlington, Va., operated by Willys Motors (Vol. 9:38). Navy said first contract called for several thousand automatically produced sub-assemblies for sonobuoys, highly complicated devices used to locate submerged submarines. “Preliminary field tests of the mechanically assembled equipment indicate higher performance and reliability than similar equipment built by conventional methods,” the Navy said, adding that automatic production “has sufficiently advanced to wai’rant its more extensive use in producing field equipment for the fleet.” Transistors make possible the most camouflaged hearing aid of them all — complete hearing aid built into pair of horn-rimmed eyeglasses. New seeing-&-hearing aid was announced this week by Otarion Inc., Dobbs Ferry, N. Y., which plans to have them on market early next year. Powered by battery about size of dime and using 3 transistors, microphone and all equipment are built into glasses’ frames. Unit will be priced at about $265, exclusive of optical work. RCA will open engineering laboratory in greater Boston area early next year for development of specialized electronic fire-control systems for military aircraft. Location of new facility, which will employ 100, has not yet been determined, according to engineering products v.p. Theodore A. Smith, but it is expected to be in operation by early Feb. Dr. Robert C. Seamans Jr., authority on airborne electronics, has been named mgr. of new laboratory. Dr. Jerrold R. Zacharias, MIT professor of physics & nuclear science and nephew of Rear Adm. Ellis M. Zacharias of naval intelligence fame, elected a director of National Co., Malden, Mass. Aorovox Corp., New Bedford, Mass, components manufacturer, has acquired all outstanding stock of Henry L. Crowley Co., W. Orange, N. J. maker of electronic powderirons and steatite products. Printed Circuits Inc. is new firm at 36 Tunxis Ave., Bloomfield, Conn., headed by Chauncey T. Mitchell, formerly with LaPointe Electronics. Financial & Trade Notes: CBS Inc. pres. Frank Stanton, previously a relatively small stockholder, is disclosed in SEC report on Nov. officers’ and directors’ stock transactions to have acquired 43,000 CBS “A” and 7000 CBS “B,” bringing his holdings to 43,810 & 10,025, respectively. He had option to purchase 33,000 shares of $2.50 par value Class A stock at $38.25 per share, granted by board Feb. 10, 1953 (when stock sold for $40) “to encourage Dr. Stanton to increase his proprietary interest in the corporation and as an incentive in the performance of his services.” CBS closed at 80 Dec. 10, has ranged from 45%-85 so far this year. Among other Nov. transactions listed by SEC: Max Abrams trusts and foundations bought 400 Emerson ; he holds 80,400 personally and 69,260 through trusts and foundations; William C. Wichman sold 600 GE, holds 2190; W. B. Fyffe sold 800 Globe-Union, holds 5050; Joseph C. Chapman bought 1383 I-T-E Circuit Breaker, sold 1363, holds 1800 personally and 21 through C. C. Collings & Co.; Harold W. Butler sold 2000 Philco, holds 9438; Thomas A. Kennally sold 4000 Philco, holds 12,032; E. W. Engstrom bought 100 RCA, holds 500; Charles M. Hofman bought 1000 Raytheon, holds 4600 personally and 1827 jointly with wife; George L. Langreth bought 100 Raytheon, holds 100; Percy L. Spencer sold 4000 Raytheon, holds 3; L. G. Vanderhoof bought 200 Stewart-Warner, holds 400; Clifford J. Hunt bought 500 Stromberg-Carlson, holds 513; Paul J. Hemschoot bought 140 Tung-Sol, holds 540; John Ashbaugh bought 700 Westinghouse, sold 850, holds 3124; W. 0. Lippman bought 800 Westinghouse, sold 800, holds 2000; L. W. McLeod bought 907 Westinghouse, sold 606, holds 1000; David W. R. Morgan bought 1350 Westinghouse, sold 1011, holds 2441; L. E. Osborne bought 725 Westinghouse, holds 3868. Hi ^ ^ Storer Broadcasting Co., in applying for authority to purchase CP for uhf WMIE-TV, Miami (Vol. 10:47), this week filed balance sheet showing total assets and liabilities of $23,382,281 as of Sept. 30, 1954. Current assets were listed as $4,372,107, investments and other assets $15,279,378, property (plant equipment) $3,593,484, deferred charges $137,311. Liabilities included long term debt, $10,863,170; current, $3,477,343; reserve for replacement, $300,686; amount due subsidiary, $75,000. Capital stock was $2,609,000, earned surplus $6,071,067, treasury stock $13,986. Westinghouse reports 9-month sales of $1,213,383,000, net income of $62,644,000 ($3.77 a share), compared with $1,163,538,000 & $52,219,000 ($3.26) for same 1953 period. Pres. Gwilyn A. Price predicted 1954 profit would total about $5 a share, compared to last year’s $4.53, and that •sales would be 2%-3% above 1953’s record $1,582,047,141. Dividends: Admiral, 25^^ payable Dec. 31 to stockholders of record Dec. 15; International Resistance, lO^f Dec. 30 to holders Dec. 21; Guild Films, 10^' (initial), Jan. 3 to holders Dec. 20; IT&T, 25(^ Jan. 18 to holders Dec. 17; Electronics Associates. 25^^ Dec. 31. IT&T reports consolidated net income of $12,838,789 ($1.79 a common share) for 9 months ended Sept. 80, compared with $14,926,304 ($2.08) for same 1953 period. Parent company cleared $5,555,626 (77(f) after special charges vs. $7,-523,720 ($1.05). Bache & Co., reporting on electronics industry, lists these companies “among the attractive commitments for capital gain”: Admiral, IT&T, Mallory, Motorola, Philco, RCA, Raytheon, Sylvania. Sprague Electric Co. stockholders have approved issue of one new share of stock for each 2 shares held, and they will be distributed Dec. 20 to stockholders of record Dec. 13. Dr. Howard Bailer joins General Mills Inc., Minneapolis, as mgr. of electronics research.