Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1948)

I SARTIH GODEL's authoritative NP(VS service OF THE VISUAL BROADCASTINS AND fR£(?UENCY MODULATION arts and INDUSTRY . , — RADia HEWS BMJ519CCMCTlCUTAYLH.W,WASH!TOS6.,aC.TElEfil0a£KlCHl3AH 202a ^ VOL 4, NO. 30 July 24, 1948 priaes of TV receivers aren't going down rSSUSilED WEEKLY BY TO BUY OB KOI TO BUY, HOW OR LATER? anytime soon, if at all. Quite the contrary, no matter what the oracles forecast for the dim, distant future. Price-cutting and radio tie-ins may be rife in some places, but they're the exception rather than rule — and manufacturers are pulling out dealerships and threatening prosecutions under the Fair Trade Act. Considering today's inflationary spiraling of wages and materials, let alone impending scarcity of picture tubes and sets (Vol. 4, No. 29) making for sellers' market, outlook for price reductions is slim indeed; in fact, some price increases have already been posted, some incorporated into costs of new models, more expected. Actually, one British manufacturer (Scophony) is even reported talking about exporting TV sets to the American market. So when you're asked by friends whether they should wait for next fall or next winter or next year before buying that TV set, you can assure them with reasonable certitude; (a) that TV sets aren't going to get any cheaper very soon, at least not the quality lines; (b) that waiting for next season's models is exactly like waiting for next season's car — of course they'll be somewhat improved, but look what you're missing in the meantime; (c) that, as we heard one manufacturer advise a friend, "The best set is the one you'll buy just before you die." FM's CAUSE CELEBRE TO COURT: Maj . Armstrong's long-threatened FM patent suit against RCA (Vol. 2, No. 52; Vol. 4, No. 13) went to court this week, NBC also named defendant as party to "monopolistic control of broadcasting." Triple damages are sought, which would be levied against every FM receiver and transmitter made or licensed by RCA, but amount isn't specified. Complaint filed in Federal District Court, Wilmington, contends RCA "belittled" his invention, sought to induce FCC to allocate to FM "so small a niimber of useable radio frequencies as to make its development and use on a national level impossible," refused to take out license and led others to infringe. No comment yet from RCA, but its officials have indicated they've long expected suit. Big company claims own FM system, has licensed others to use it, though most of the other big FM makers (Philco, Emerson, Crosley are notable exceptions) hold Armstrong licenses. Litigation is newest step in cause celebre which Maj. Armstrong has carried to FCC (losing out on low-band) and to Congress (where bitter hearings aren't adjourned yet). NEW NAMES AND OLD IH TV FiElD: New companies, new trade names, new models continue to reveal themselves as we receive replies to questionaires for our revised Directory of TV Manufacturers & Receivers. For example; Cornell Television Inc., 385 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn (formerly Telectro Corp.), offering 10, 12, 15-in. and projection models. Coronet Radio & Television Corp. , 500 W. 52nd St., New York., planning 10 and 16-in. models next January. Federal Television Corp. . 210 E. Ninth St., New York (formerly Westminster Television), 12, 15-in. models. Audar Inc . . Argos, Ind., table model in October. Harold Shevers Inc., 33 W. 46th St., New York, 10-in. with AM-FM-phono. Televista Corp. of America. 114 E. 16th St., New York (formerly Signal Electronics Inc.), 10-in. table model with magnifier sealed onto tube, also 10-in. table with AM-FM. Watterson Radio Mfg. Coro., 2700 Swiss Ave., Dallas, Te;c., O'l/y.-l.-' “ 1943 ty TLiiio No ■ . Eu/on'i