Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1949)

offering two 12*/4-in. chassis for custom installations: table model $398.50, con solette $465. .. Jackson Industries' new TV set line under own brand (Vol. 5:19) is being advertised as 10-in. table at $199.50, 12-in. table $249.50, 12-in. consolette $279.50, 16-in. consolette $359.50. Ansley is second to offer 3x4-ft. Frotelgram picture thrown on outside screen (first was Fisher; Vol. 5:19), has chairside "Telemovie" with 35 tubes at $795, also 12xl6-in. "Contemporary" using Frotelgram at $695. .. Olympic has added 3 new sets: 10-in. table at $199.50 (old one with expanded picture is $229.95), 12’/2in. table with expanded picture $299.95, 16-in. console $499.95 — says production now is running 200 per day, hopes to double by fall ... Tele-King has reduced prices: 10-in. table down $10 to $219.95, 12)^-in. table down $30 to $299.95, 10-in. consolette down $30 to $259.95, 12*i-in. consolette down $30 to $359.95; its 16-in. consolette, due June 15, will be priced "under $400"... U.S. Television has cut price of 15-in. consolette with FM from $625 to $569.50. .. Industrial Television Inc, has reduced price of 12-in. table from $410 to $379, 12-in. consolette from $470 to $429. Zenith *s 15-in. models due on market early in June are "Stratosphere" consolette (154 sq. in. circular picture) at $545 and same in console ("Sovereign") with AM-FM-3-speed phono at $795. .. Tele-tone will show 4 new sets at Chicago Trade Show next week, prices to be fixed thereafter: 7-in. portable, 10-in. plastic table ("under $200"), 12)4-in. table, 16-in. table ... Starrett ' s new line includes 16-in. consoles with AM-FM at $729 called "Jackson" (modern) and "Lowell" (period) ; same with 3-speed phono called "Cleveland" at $849. . .Federal Video Corp.. now at 200 Kosciusko St., Brooklyn, has new 15-in. line, all with 30 tubes, 4 rectifiers: table model $525, consolettes $550 to $675, consoles with AM-FM-LP not yet priced. Now that they're turning out plenty of bulbs (Vol. 5:17), the glass makers are working on experimental wrinkles — not the least impressive of which is "builtin" filter; it's simple matter to tint face plate of tube to reduce "halo" effect and surface ref lections .. .Prices of Remington-Rand 12)^-in. tube (Vol. 5:19) are $24.95 to manufacturers, $38.64 to distributors, $48.30 to dealers, $60 to consumers; it's the only TV tube it makes... GE has cut consumer prices on 4 tubes: 10-in. from $44.50 to $41.50, same aluminized from $49.50 to $44, 12-in. from $66.50 to $60, same aluminized from $73.75 to $63.50. Philco’s one-week shutdown in February, (Vol. 5:7), plus big unloading of radios at cut prices (Vol. 5:11), served to reduce its first quarter 1949 sales volume to $53,006,000 from $58,661,000 for same 1948 period. Net income for quarter was $915,000 (49^^ per common share) compared with $1,959,000 ($1.16) for same 1948 period. Said president Wm. Balderston: “While April figures are not yet available, it is believed that a satisfactorv showing was made. The temporary problems of the first quarter have been overcome and, in addition, steps taken to reduce expenses in keeping with the return to more competitive conditions. With the demand for TV continuing strong and our new facilities nearing completion, the outlook for our overall business in TV and refrigeration equipment looks quite favorable.” Predicted spring recovery has not made its appeai-ance and “there appears to be every reason to expect that general business is headed for stabilization at a considerably lower level than dui’ing recent years.” Thus, Stewart-Warner’s president James S. Knowlson, speaking at stockholders meeting in Richmond May 11. Sales for quarter ending March 31 were $14,706,155 vs. $17,338,552 in same 1948 period; profit for quarter was $404,292 (.Slf* per share) vs. $902,094 (70(*). Ad Hoc engineers had a little fun as they brooded over their curves. Take this quote from one Bureau of Standards propagation laboratory report: “In the above, X denotes the weight to be given to a virgin listener (one who now has no available service) . . .” Accretions to TV “set populations” as of May 1 : St. Louis, up 3,350 during April to May 1 figure of 28,850, according to Union Electric Co. Detroit, up 4,500 to 55,000, according to WWJ-TV. Washington, up 3,700 to 44,500, according to stations’ committee. ClevelandAkron area, up 13,700 to 52,383, according to WEWS. Cincinnati, up 3,000 to 23,000; Dayton, up 600 to 5,300; Columbus, up 4,500 to 5,800, according to Crosley. Milwaukee, up 2,914 to 24,503, according to WTMJ-TV. Zenith’s $39.95 FM-only table set, formerly the “Ace” (Vol. 5:13), has been renamed “The Major” in honor of FM inventor Maj. Edwin Armstrong, and it’s now in production. Company claims its 10 uv/m sensitivity is about 10 times as good as most FM sets. It should pretty much eliminate need for outside antennas except for reception at great distances. Philco strike ended last Monday, May 9, week after it started (Vol. 5:18,19), 6,500 workers retuiming to jobs. Company agreed to consider wage increases “if and when, in the opinion of the union, a national wage pattern within the industry is established,” and agreed to Washington’s Birthday, Good Friday paid holidays, hospitalization benefits, etc., contract running to April 30, 1950. All RCA Victor plants close down for usual summer vacation June 24-July 12, but RCA Service Co. will continue normal operations. DuMont plant closes for annual vacation first 2 weeks in July. Dr. Allen B. DuMont called on President Truman Friday, also visited Sen. Johnson, discussing TV with both.