Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1949)

tion, so shouldn't be used in any calculations of 1950 sales — particularly in view of continuing downward trend of prices (Vol. 5:51). Note t We'll have new Directory of TV Manufacturers & Receivers ready for you in few weeks, listing all firms making TV sets and cataloging their products. TRENDS & TOPICS OF THE TV TRADE: There's nothing yet in the trade picture to negative the consistently bullish reports we've been publishing on current TV-radio business and 1950 outlook — especially outlook for next quarter (Vol. 5:51). Even Retailing Daily's Dec. 22 Chicago report of 5-20% decline in retail TV sales volume from recent highs, doesn't betoken any real clouding of the horizon, for all stores agreed business is still far ahead of expectations. Reasons for decline were attributed variously to (1) early Xmas buying, (2) shoppers shying away from TV because of publicity about brand scarcity, (3) news of new and cheaper models after Jan. 1. Fact remains that factory and distributor inventories of brand-name sets, which account for perhaps 90% of industry's volume, are practically non-existent — and that industry leaders continue to view the scene with great satisfaction. Nobody expects anything like the "recession" that followed last winter's boom. More forecasts: Westinghouse president G. A. Price predicts 3,500,000 TV sets will be sold next year, calling TV trade "most spectacular performance among consumer goods." A comparatively slow starter in TV, Westinghouse probably will rank among dozen top producers before next year is out. Mr. Price says company is in creasing electrical appliance production 15% during first 1950 quarter, presumably lumps in TV. GE's Dr. W. R. G. Baker says 80% of his company's 1950 receiver business will be TV, forecasts 3,500,000 sets (half of them table models) ; adds that TV programs will be available to 65% of American people by end of 1950. Emerson plans to double TV output next year, which president Ben Abrams thinks will be "greatest year in the history of the electronics industry." He calculates industry output of between ZYz & 4 million TVs. Motorola's Walter Stellner reports current trade "100-600% ahead of last year," says Xmas sales would have been far greater had TV manufacturers been able to meet demand. Motorola's Quincy, 111. plant capacity (radios only) will be doubled in order to free Chicago plant for more TV production. Radio output will be hiked from 2800 to 3800 per day. * ^ Radio & Television Weekly says 12,000 TV sets are now being installed daily. Sylvania's president Don Mitchell forecasts 3,750,000 TVs will be sold in 1950 — plus some 5,000,000 picture tubes (vs. 3,500,000 picture tubes this year). Replacements will be important factor, he says. Altogether, he expects 200,000,000 receiving tubes of all kinds to be sold next year vs. about 190,000,000 this year. "Older models turned in for newer models," as in auto industry; total sales of more than 3,000,000 TVs; price-reduction pressures on the parts industry and its mechanization — all conduce to favorable 1950, in opinion of components maker Victor Mucher, Clarostat. Meanwhile, he notes: "TV sets are operating night after night, piling up hundreds of hours of wear and tear, to the gratification of tube and component manufacturers as well as local servicemen. Close to 2,000,000 TV sets are well over 2 years old. That means occasional replacement of other tubes ... resistors and capacitators are apt to let go, while controls get noisy or flickery. All of which is sweet music to servicemen, parts jobbers and of course parts manufacturers." 5|C >!: ^! >}! Add Chicago conventions: DuMont distributors from 17 Midwest cities to meet in Drake Hotel Jan. 11. This week DuMont regional men held 3-day sales parleys in E. Paterson. New DuMont line not due before February ... Two more minor companies reported out of TV business: Videodyne Inc., Stamford, Conn. (B. Rodkin) ; International Television Corp. , New York (John B. Milliken) .. .Eureka Television & Tube Co., Hawthorne, N.J., one of smaller tube makers, reports production now entirely concentrated on all-glass 16-in., that 19-in. all-glass is set for February deliveries. TV boomtown Cleveland, where 17,775 sets were sold in November (total now in use, 119,000), may or may not be representative — but in our book it was signifi