Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1955)

13 Topics & Trends of TV Trade: Investigation of TV radio parts distribution, to determine if there is illegal “economic concentration,” may be undertaken shortly by Senate Judiciary subcommittee headed by Sen. O’Mahoney (D-Wyo.). Right now, subcommittee staff is gathering data on parts distribution, at request of “several unidentified organizations,” according to subcommittee spokesman. If facts warrant investigation, it will start early next year, he said. O’Mahoney subcommittee recently concluded anti-trust investigation of General Motors, and now is attempting to determine if parallel exists in TV-radio parts distribution. In GM probe, several dealers told subcommittee they were “squeezed” and forced to carry heavy inventories by GM at risk of losing their franchises. Leaders of RETMA and National Electronic Distributors Assn, said they were surprised by subcommittee’s inquiry, agreed that no parallel exists between TV-radio parts and auto distribution. Said Leslie F. Muter, RETMA treas. and pres, of parts-maker Muter Co.: “It seems to me that parts jobbers carry many products of many companies, and I just can’t see how any charge of economic concentration can be sustained.” L. B. Calamaras, exec, v.p. of NEDA, said he was amazed that such an inquiry would be undertaken along lines proposed. 4: * % ^ RCA made and sold more than 1,000,000 TVs in 1955 and anticipates even greater expansion next year, said pres. Frank M. Folsom in year-end statement. He also said 1956 “will be the first big year of color production and sales, pointing to mass output and lower prices”; that industry-wide color set sales could account for $175,000,000 at retail next year; that RCA will make more than 200.000 color sets in 1956. He estimated industry TV production this year at 8,300,000 (though official industry figures place total closer to 7,600,000 as result of cutbacks in last 2 months). He said RCA, achieving $1 billion in 1955, during next decade will double its sales volume, reaching $2 billion in 1965. He also foresaw big expansion in defense billings, estimating RCA backlog of military orders at $275,000,000 at year’s end. Philco pres. James H. Carmine, an exponent of the “let’s go slow” approach to color, says this of its immediate future: “Color TV in 1956 will become a factor — although still a relatively small one — in the TV market. Even though sales of color TV receivers may not exceed 250.000 next year, they will have an important effect on the year’s total dollar volume of business, opening the door for large-scale commercial production in 1957.” In year-end statement, he also predicted 1956 production and sales of more than 7,400,000 black-&-white sets, more than 1.500.000 room air conditioners (compared to about 1,150,000 in 1955), 4,000,000 refrigerators (up from 3,600,000). He also foresaw big expansion in use of transistors, with Philco leading the way. Assets of Empire Coil Co., acquired by Storer Broadcasting Co. when it bought Herbert Mayer’s broadcasting properties (Vol. 10:2,44), will be sold at public auction Jan. 18 at factory in New Rochelle, N. Y. Included in sale will be $300,000 in raw materials, plus manufacturing, toolroom and office equipment. Auctioneers are Milton J. Wershaw Co. & David Weisz Co., Los Angeles. Raytheon bids for hotel-motel trade in special campaign starting in Jan., in which it’s offering special bonuses to distributors for TV sales to hotels & motels. It’s also scheduling 2-color ads in major motel publications, along with direct mail promotion to motel owners. Motorola will introduce a 21-in. table model at $210 and 21-in. open-face console at $330 at Chicago winter markets Jan. 9-20. Bound and Indexed We will index and bind, between embossed hard book covers, a limited quantity of all 1955 issues of the Television Digest Weekly Newsletters, plus the semi-annual TV Factbooks with all Addenda, plus all Supplements and Special Reports. This volume will provide a handy and handsome permanent reference for your own or your company library. Orders will be taken until Jan. 6. Price: $25 per volume. Emerson introduced 12 new fill-in models this week, ranging from 21-in. open-face console at $178 to 24-in. console at $328. It also showed a new color consolette at $794, supplementing its full-door console at $894, but sales v.p. Michael Kory declined to give details, saying only that “many engineering circuit improvements have been incorporated in the new color receiver.” In black-&-white models, two 21-in. consoles and one 24-in. consolette have built-in remote control units, each with self-contained speaker permitting viewer to turn off receiver speaker so as not to distui'b other occupants in room. Other features of new models include top tuning and side controls. Pres. Benjamin Abrams said Emerson’s long-awaited “Tinkertoy,” or modular design set (Vol. 11:50), will be marketed in 60-90 days. Fill-ins are 21-in. table at $198; 21-in. consoles at $178, $258, $276, $328; 21-in. consolettes at $216, $286; 24-in. consolettes at $198, $284, $334; 24-in. console at $328. Emerson also introduced its third transistor radio, a portable receiver containing 6 transistors and retailing at $58. Its other transistor radios are priced at $44 & $48. CBS-Columbia returns to 17-in. production after 2 years, introducing full new line at 16 basic , TVs ranging from 17-in. ebony table model at $150 to 21-in. “low boy” blonde console at $420. Features of line are top or top-front controls, 2 new redesigned chassis, 3-speaker sound systems and optional remote control unit, latter $20 extra. In addition, some of sets have horizontal “robot” tuning, with automatic channel selection accomplished by “finger-tip pressure on the robot button” on top front of set. Besides 17-in. price leader (also available in mahogany & blonde at $160 & $170), the 21-in. table models are $180, $230, $240, $250, $280; 21-in. consoles $250, $280, $300, $320, $370, $390, $400; 24-in. table $280; 24-in. console $300; 21-in. “low boy” $420. Also introduced were an all-transistor radio at $100, plus a portable transistor radio at $70, 2 table radios at $20 & $30, 3 clock radios at $30, $37.50 & $45. Trav-Ler Radio’s new line of 14 TVs, introduced at distributors convention in Chicago this week, ranges from 17-in. table at $110 to 21-in. TV-radio-phono combination at $370. All have aluminized picture tubes. The 17-in. tables are priced at $110, $130 & $160; 21-in. tables, $130, $150 & $180; 17-in. consolette, $170; 21-in. consolettes, $190, $220 & $230; 21-in. consoles, $240 & $260; 21-in. combinations, $300 & $370. Also introduced was a transistor radio to retail at $50. Factory value of electric appliances will rise to record $4,800,000,000 next year, up from $4,500,000,000 in 1955, according to National Electrical Manufacturers Assn., which reports 1955 factory unit shipments of 7,900,000 TVs, 7,800,000 home radios, 4,400,000 washing machines, 4,025,000 refrigerators, 1,600,000 electric ranges, 1,290,000 room air conditioners, 1,100,000 electric fi’eezers, 900,000 water heaters. Survey of consumer buying plans will be undertaken in Jan.-Feb. by U of Michigan Survey Research Center for 11th straight year, under commission by Federal Reserve Board, which will publish results in June.