Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1949)

PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY RADIO NEWS BUREAU, 1519 CONNECTICUT AVE. N.W., WASHINGTON 6, D.C. TELEPHONE MICHIGAN 2020 •VOL 5, NO. 43 October 22, 1949 PICTURE SIZE UP, SET SIZE DOWN: Demand trend is so markedly toward larger pictures that it won't be surprising, by this time next year, to see the 16-in. picture tube make same inroads on currently hot 12^-in. that latter is now making on 10-in. As for 7 and 8/2-in., they don't seem to have much long-range chance — though former is still selling and latter is gaining some adherents. A sleeper may be the new rectangular tubes, too, also conducing to larger pictures (Vol. 5:41-42). Trend is even more succinctly put by key tubemaker; "Size of picture is upward, size of set downward." Remark on demand for larger picture in smaller sets was provoked by CBS-RCA color TV demonstrations (Vol.5 :41-42) , particularly former's v/hich necessarily showed small pictures — 10 and 12-in. — due to size of color wheel. That simply isn't big enough, it was said, either for monochrome or color. Best-liked pictures at RCA demonstrations were black-and-white on 16-in. It's 16-in. that customers want most, would buy most if prices were lower. And they should be cheaper in next year's models, in fact, some are already at |300 level. As for 10-in. . while it's still in big demand, one important tubemaker said he could discard it and stay with 12% and 16-in. and still run at capacity — but doesn't dare risk ill will of old-line customers still on 10-in. Faith in 16-in. is attested by RCA in putting new Marion, Ind. plant into production on that size only — metal-coned. Faith in size, always held by DuMont who would never go vinder 12-in., is attested by new 19-in. models (Vol. 5:41). ♦ !jc * This week, RCA disclosed new 16-in. tube only 17)^-in. long (vs. present 22)^in.). It will begin going into its own and customers' TV sets in December, with quantity deliveries in January. It's the metal-coned, obviously RCA's answer to new rectangular-shaped glass tubes announced by Owens-Illinois (Vol. 5:42). Actually %-in. shorter than standard 10-in., new tube (called 16GP4) will permit more compact chassis, smaller cabinets, new styling, should conduce to lower production as well as shipping costs. It has 70-degree deflection, tinted face plate (called Filterglass by RCA) which increases contrast, cuts down outside reflections. Face plate is Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co.'s Teleglas (Vol. 5:32,34). GE says it also has new short-necked 16-in. tube, same as RCA's; will also begin deliveries in December. SEN. JOHNSON FAVORS COMPATIBILITY: Senator Ed Johnson has finally seen RCA's color — and likes it. What's more, "compatibility" is of prime significance to him. Immediately after RCA put on its 16th demonstration Friday — and it looked to us like the best yet — we asked Senate Interstate & Foreign Commerce Committee's chairman, the man who forced whole color issue (Vol. 5:6-17) and who praised CBS's showing so effusively (Vol. 5:34), what he thought now ; "It was a fine demonstration. I was agreeably surprised. The RCA system shows great promise. CBS's system is better perfected, but RCA's has the feature of compatibility which CBS's does not. RCA's system has a potential of acceptance comparable to none." How about report on color TV he has requested from committee headed by Dr. Condon, director of Bureau of Standards? "I asked Dr. Condon, yesterday, not to report until the color hearing is Copyright 1949 by Radio News Bureau