Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1946)

solder a score or so conventionally. Another method of circuit-making that promises terrific speed is a photographic process which, however, still has some quirks. Another is the method of Promenette Radio & Television Corp., Buffalo, N. Y., which consists of spraying metal into a grooved plastic chassis. Dr. Brunetti sees as likely the development of the plug-in sub-assembly. Whole major units of a set can be removed, tested and replaced as easily as are tubes normally. Major set exporters, whose markets seldom have skilled repairmen, are particularly keen about that idea. Most companies are saying little about their work along these lines, but the faUowing were principal makers of VT fuses and coinponents and can be presumed not to be passing anything up: Emerson, Bendix, GE, Globe-Union, Philco, Western Electric, Westinghouse, Wurlitzer, Zenith, Raytheon, Sylvania. STilL IV1AKJNG 2-BAHDEHS: GE’s Dr. W. R. G. Baker hasn’t yet answered our telegraphed query, but the two other major manufacturers of twoband FM sets have — and what they say tells its own story well enough to require no embellishment. We asked them, simply, whether FCC Acting Chairman Denny’s flat avowal that the high vs. low band issue is settled and that the 88-108 me band is flnal (Vol. 2, No. 43), means they will now stop making two-band FM sets. These v/ere the replies: E. F. PtIcDonald Jr., Zenith: “Re your telegram, Mr. Denny made his statement before election. There is no question in my mind now that the Senate and House investigations will force the restoration of 50 me to FM and thereby restore FM to the farmer who needs it most. We intend to continue to manufacture two-band FM radio receivers only.” Ray H. Manson, Stromberg-Carison: “Answering question, our plans are to continue production of two-band FM receivers because present indications are that pre-war low-band FM transmitters will continue as main source of satisfactory high power FM broadcasts until late next year when high power FM transmitters with suitable antennas and towers will be available for adequate FM broadcast coverage on the new high band.” NO SHOWS TO SHOW; One of the little ironies in TV set merchandising, now that dealers in some cities have sets to show (Vol. 2, Nos. 44, 45), is that there are no daytime programs for demonstrations — except, of course, for Saturday football games. New York’s department stores are open Thursday night, but few small or large dealers are open most evenings. How, then, sell sets if there are no programs? There was a lot of chiding of the video folk in the trade press this week, and even Time Magazine took cognizance of the anachronism. WBKB’s Capt. Bill Eddy in Chicago was first to come up with an answer, agreeing to transmit daily 12-3 p.m. in addition to 7:30-9 p.m. weekdays. In New York, NBC and CBS are simply putting out test patterns during daytime, although the former (RCA-owned) did put on about 15 hours daytime for initial distributor-dealer promotion. DuMont also telecasts test patterns daytime, but its INS moving tape does offer an element of value for demonstration purposes. Last Saturday’s Anuy-Notre Dame telecast, incidentally, was hailed by Variety — and justly — as the biggest TV promotion since the Louis-Conn fight in June. It was well handled, held interest throughout, attracted scores of viewers wherever TV sets were available. STAs FOR F?r! TOTAL 102: Topeka’s WIBW-FM (Capper) started a hot FM promotional campaign Nov. 10, coincidentally with its first emission of FM signals under an ST A — bringing to 102 the total number of FM stations (licensees or grantees) now allowed to program. WIBW-FM is now on the air 3-9 p.m., non-duplicated. As part of big FM buildup it is planning formal opening Dec. 1, with local merchants, Kansas broadcasters and set distributors participating. Thirteen others granted (or to be granted in the next few days) since our last STA listings in Supplement No. 44 and in Vol. 2, No. 42 are: WMAZ-FM and WMGL, Macon, Ga.; WCOA-FM, Pensacola, Fla.; WINC-FM, Winchester, Va.; Unity Corp. Inc., Toledo, O.; WLWA, Cincinnati; KPDRFM, Alexandria, La.; WOAI-FM San Antonio, Tex.; WBCM-FM, Bay City, Mich.; WCOD, Richmond, Va.; WOPI-FM, Bristol, Tenn.; Southern Minn. Bestg. Co. (KROC), Rochester, Minn.; WJLS-FM, Beckley, W. Va. There were 9 CPs and 2 Conditionals in this week’s FCC decisions (see Supplement No. 44F herewith) . Pi^OVlES BUY TV SCRIPT: Understandably, Broadway and Hollywood usually turn up their noses at the often not-so-hot dramatic productions on TV, which of course is still starving for income and still doing its best job on sports and public events. Yet the film fraternity is sufficiently intrigued with the potentials of TV that its moguls seldom miss an opportunity to have a look at it when in New York. Thus Sylvan Simon, president of Radio Cinema Theatres Cox'p. of California, and a director of some note, while in New York Sept. 22 watched the NBC-Dramatists Guild production of the Nelson Bond-Davis Kent fantasy, “Mr. Mergenthwirker’s Lobblies.” Offered to the films before