Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1959)

18 AUGUST 10, 1959 RADIO IMPORTS CLIMB: Japanese electronic equipment imported into the U.S. during the first 4 months of 1959 was worth $11.4 million at the factory — ^more than half as much as the entire 1958 volume ($20.7 million) and nearly fourfold the volume for the same 1958 period. Radios continue to account for about 85% of the dollar volume of Japanese exports to U.S., accoi'ding to figures for April, latest month for which official Japanese govt, statistics are available. Increases over March (Vol. 15:23) are shown in the transistor and phono categories, but neither market is showing a spectacular month-to-month rise. Figures on U.S. imports of Japanese tape recorders, available for the first time, show that 918 units came into this country in March at a factory value of $48,574, or an average of about $52.90 each. Recorder figures for April aren’t yet available. The 1958-59 tables of U.S. imports of selected Japanese electronic items, printed in these columns June 8 (Vol. 15:23), may be brought up to date with these new figures foi April and the first 4 months of this year (radio figures include re-exports) : April 1959 April 1958 Jan. -Apr. 1959 Product units value units value units value TOTAL RADIOS 387,245 $2,906,786 147,213 $882,132 1,282,698 $9,877,820 tube radios 25,543 129,044 not available 108,775 606,273 3 transistors & up 196,109 2,651,387 not available 632,468 8,821,924 less than 3 165,593 126,395 not available 541,366 450,573 PHONOGRAPHS 1,125 29,632 0 0 2,945 72,841 tubes 462,892 93,151 35,610 11,371 1,190,865 284,143 TRANSISTORS 72,054 45,388 0 0 113,833 74,924 COMPONENTS speakers 24,580 81,833 not available not available microphones .... 11,842 19,645 not available not available fixed capac 501,064 29,666 not available not available variable capac. 15,892 3,926 not available not available TOTAL ELECTRONICS — $3,441,878 — $1,112,868 — $11,415,040 Image orthicon tube studies by the Air Force, along with a report on military applications of color TV, have been released to industry by the Commerce Dept. The reports are: (1) Art Image Orthicon with Narrow Range of Electron Energy in the Scanning Beam (PB 151589), describing a method of improving low light-level performance. (2) Effects of Bright Point Light Sources on LowLevel Image Orthicon Detectors (PB 151587), discussing high brightness point source effects. (3) Microphonia Effects in Image Orthicons (PB 151588), describing experiments to solve microphonic problems. (4) A Military Color TV System (PB 151586), reviewing technical possibilities & limitations. All are available for each from Office of Technical Services, U.S. Dept, of Commerce, Washington 25, D.C. General Bronze Corp., has been awarded a patent for a magnetic radio antenna, developed by v.p. Ira Kamen, which the company says may obsolete mobile antennas that protrude from vehicles. The patent (2,895,129) indicates that a unique configuration of magnetic materials in the proximity of an electrostatic component can produce an omnidirectional high-gain, low-noise antenna. TV-radio sales paced generally better business in N.Y. department stores during July, N.Y. Times reported Aug. 4 on the basis of a survey of the 8 major metropolitan area stores. TV-radio departments “did especially good business in most of the stores,” the survey found, gaining 170% & 38.1% over July 1958 in 2 stores. Japanese camera manufacturer Yashica Co. is entering the export radio field. The forerunner of a complete line is a 6-transistor portable U.S. -priced at $39.95. Finance GOOD BUSINESS FOR SET MAKERS: Led by Motorola and Zenith, both reporting record 2nd-quarter and first-half sales & earnings, 5 more TV-radio manufacturers last week came up with financial reports showing substantially improved profitability and business volume. This follows on the heels of similar good reports in the preceding week by Admiral, Packard-Bell, Westinghouse and Trav-Ler (Vol. 15:31), RCA’s earlier report of record first-half sales (Vol. 15:30) and GE’s rise in sales & earnings (Vol. 15:29). Motorola’s 2nd-quarter sales were 49% higher than in the same 1958 period, while its earnings were more than 4 times the year-ago figure. Pres. Robert W. Galvin said orders for consumer products have “exceeded our most optimistic predictions” and the communications & industrial electronics div. had the best June sales in its history. For the 6-month period, he stated that every division of the company increased its sales & profits over a year ago. Military business now comprises about 20% of Motorola’s total sales, he added, and the company’s roll of employes has increased 30% from a year ago. Motorola’s statement for 6 months ended June 30: 1959 1958 Sales $128,867,246 $84,544,562 Net income 5,886,371 1,478,297 Earned per share 3.04 76^ Shares outstanding 1,935,131 1,935,131 For 3 months ended June 30: Sales $65,214,062 $43,650,070 Net income 3,269,944 800,515 Earned per share 1.69 41^ * * * Zenith’s 6-month sales in 1959 were 43% above the comparable 1958 figure, while 3-month sales were up 47%. For the 6-month & 3-month periods, profits were up 65% & 63% respectively over the similar 1958 periods. Pres. Joseph S. Wright said earnings & sales in 1959 came almost exclusively from civilian products. For 6 months ended June 30: 1959 1958 Consolidated sales $106,862,800 $74,470,506 Net income 4,901,721 2,989,684 Earned per share 1.66 1.01 For 3 months ended June 30: Consolidated sales $47,642,024 $32,296,774 Net income 1,577,830 952,925 Earned per share 54(S 32(S * * ♦ Philco bounced back smartly in the first half and second quarter of this year, showing a net income of $2,386,000 for the half as compared with a deficit of $1,442,000 for the same 1958 period. Pres. James M. Skinner Jr. said all divisions participated in the increased sales and operated profitably. He said the progress should continue during the 2nd half but possibly at a lesser rate because of the recession recovery during the last half of 1958. The report for 6 months to June 30: 1959 1958 Sales $181,345,000 $149,895,000 Net income (loss in ’58) , 2,386,000 (1,442,000) Earned per share 54<* — Shares outstanding 4,069,629 3,984,787 For 3 months ended June 30: Sales $85,787,000 $75,869,000 Net income (loss in ’58) . 797,000 (344,000) Eai’ned per share 17^‘ — Jk Wells-Gardner & Co. indicates that the private-label business is also enjoying considerable improvement over 1958. Its first-half sales were 32% above the comparable figure for last year, and its 6-month & 3-month operations were profitable. Pres. Robert S. Alexander said the com