Television digest with electronics reports (Jan-Dec 1958)

Trade Report February 22, 1958 ^ ^ REAR-SEAT AUTO TV IN GN's FUTURE: Automobile televisions — for back-seat viewing, j of course — may not be very far off as optional or standard equipment, judging from pleased public reaction Oldsmobile has been getting to its showings of the prototype models made for it by General Motors' Delco div. They're operating models that fit into compartment in back of the front seat, are slidable into viewing position. Tube size is 9-in. Regular circuit tubes are used, number undisclosed, along with transistor power supply that converts car's 12volt DC into 110-volt AC. V aerial is mounted on car roof. Set has concealed extension cords, can be taken out and used also as portable in the home. Only 9 models have been made thus far for Oldsmobile, as yet the only member of GM family interested, and they've been displayed at Chicago & Detroit auto shows thus far. According to sales mgr. Victor Sutherland, "we've had very, very good reaction." While "purely experimental now," he told us, "it's undoubtedly out there in the future." Next year's car models? we asked him. "Don't know yet," was reply. Big Delco radio plant at Kokomo, Ind. (B.W. Cooper, gen. mgr. ; H.M. Stelzl, sales mgr.) isn't much publicized but it makes all radios going into GM cars, also makes them for Studebaker & Packard. It also makes high-power transistors and has some 750 customers for its products. It's undoubtedly the largest maker of auto radios in the world, accounting for most of EIA weekly figures. Others making auto radios are Motorola, for Chrysler & Ford; Philco, for Chrysler; Bendix, for Ford; Stromberg-Carlson, for Edsel. Note ; Kokomo plant frankly tells us Oldsmobile prototypes will have to be more ruggedly constructed, more carefully shielded from ignition interference — but il these are relatively minor problems. It's recalled that someone several years ago got publicity in connection with a front-seat TV demonstrated to unenthusiast ic traffic executives in London. Also, that Emerson in late 1956 brought out 8)4-in. 25-lb. portable at $124 operable on car battery by means of inverter (Vol. 12:25). TV-Radio Production: TV set production was 98,841 in the week ended Feb. 14 vs. 103,730 preceding week & 116,134 in 1957 week. Year's 6th week brought production to 648,961 vs. 664,493 last year. Radio production was 211,545 (68,874 auto) vs. 224,149 (76,794 auto) in preceding week & 319,386 (135,055 auto) last year. For 6 , weeks, production totaled 1,370,457 (491,742 auto) vs. 1,644,712 (783,501 auto). ' MAKERS RULLISH ON STEREO PLAYERS: Most of the major TV-radio-hi-f i manufacturers, it now appears, have decided within the last month that they must get into stereo i phonic player production (Vol, 14:2,4) — and you can expect stereo disc phonos to be on the market by fall. Command decisions have been made, we're told, despite word f ro^ many component suppliers that stereo disc engineering is still developmental | and despite lack of firm statements by record makers as to autvunn plans. It's in j hands of latter, after all, that the fate of stereo phonos really rests. j Plans to rush stereo phonos — even if only mockups and handmades — to June distributor showings were freely discussed with us this week by several makers. The thinking about stereo's market impact has advanced sharply (see p. 14) since Jan. markets (Vol. 14:2) when there was general doubt that any maker could get a finished production model ready by fall. Now, fall marketing of a substantial number of ^ | brands is not only possiblebut‘ probable. Philco for one "is bullish on stereo," pres. James M. Skinner told us. Said | another major set maker: "Most high-end hi-fis this fall will be stereo equipped." ( .1 Still another even talked costs of making a monaural console into a stereo \anit. 12