Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1949)

THE RCA 1950 LINE BEGINS AT $170: RCA's 1950 line has lO-in. model at $170, plus six 12)'2-in. starting at S250, seven 16-in. starting at $500, one projection held over at §795. Industry's biggest entity thus also takes leadership in startling "price breaks" that apparently will feature New Year market. Its retention and reduction of 10-in., its biggest seller during 1949 at §200, is predicated on belief that lowprice field needs further broadening and some families are ready for second sets. The 10-in. at §169.95 is down from $189.95 price tag tentatively fixed several weeks ago (Vol. 5:51). Here's the full line: 10-in. ; Model TlOO, metal table, §169.95. 123^-in. (blonde wood in parentheses) : Model T120, metal table with matching table, §229.95; TC124 & TC125, consolettes, §279.95 (§299.95); TC127, consolette with doors, §299.95 (§319.95) ; TA128, console with AM-FM-3 speed, §439.50 (§459.50) ; TA129, period console with AM-FM-3 speed, switch for enlarging picture, §495 (§525). 16-in. ; Model T164, wood table with drop panel for controls, §299.95 (§319.95) ; TC165, consolette, §349.50 (§369.50) ; TC166, consolette in traditional cabinet, §369.50 (§389.50) ; TC167, consolette with doors, §399.50 (§419.50) ; TC168, period consolette, §435; TA169 , console with AM-FM-3 speed, §650 (§675) ; SIOOO . console with AM-FM-SW-3 speed, §795. Pro j ection : Model 9PC41 (300 sq. in.), §795. All 10 and 12^/2-in. sets have 21 tubes, one rectifier; 16-in., 22 and 2. Featured are short-necked 16-in. metal-coned tube (Vol. 5:43); filter-glass or "black" tubes ; 3-speed phonos but with 2 turntables, one for 78 & 33 l/3rpm, other separately for 45rpm ; all save metal table models with built-in antennas, metals having built-ins concealed in legs of matching tables. Service contract remains in effect, optional, but an alternative is offered for first time. It provides complete installation, year's parts and tube warranty, 90-day unlimited service on 10-in. sets for §22.95 for built-ins, §39.95 for outdoor antennas; §24.95 & §44.95 on 12)^-in. ; §29.95 & §49.95 on 16-in. Service calls after 90 days offered at flat §5.75 per call. PRICE TRENDS & OTHER TRADE NOTES: Looks like the mass producers, taken by surprise by Philco's new 12)4-in. at §200 (Vol. 5:52) will vie to see who can offer lowest prices in each category of models and tube sizes. This week, RCA broke price of its 10-in. table model down to §170 and 16-in. to §300 (see above). Hallicraf ters came out with 12-in. (sic) plastic table model at §200 and announced line of 16-in. with rectangular tubes starting at §280. GE's new line omits 16-in., starts with 10-in. plastic table at §180 and 12)4-in. v;ood table at §240, has first 19-in. not yet priced. And Stromberg-Carlson announced it's dropping 10 & 16-in. to concentrate on 12)4 & 19-in. consoles. Those are the early ones to report. Next week. Admiral , Motorola. Emerson. Tele-tone , possibly others, are due out with new lines and new prices. Philco may even have more to tell its distributors at Palmer House convention, Chicago, Jan. 46. Admiral ' s fire is being held for its convention in Chicago's Drake Hotel, Jan. 57; Motorola's in Chicago's Stevens Hotel, Jan. 10. Tele-tone shows its new line at New York's Park Sheraton, Jan. 3. Emerson salesmen meet in New York Jan. 6-7. Last few weeks had everybody hard at work on cost estimates to meet competitive pace set by Philco and RCA. Even RCA's new 10-in. was originally down for §190 (Vol. 5:51), then repriced to §170 when Philco made known its 12)4-in. walnut table at §200. GE had its plastic table 10-in. at §200, then cut it by §20. Admiral published ad telling trade to "hold everything" until it saw new line Jan. 5: "22 brand nev; models, more revolutionary in design, more sensational in value than those that rocked the industry just a year ago." Ad went on: "Urge you