Television digest and FM reports (Jan-Dec 1949)

to make no major commitments other than current requirements until you have seen and compared Admiral's brilliant new line on display Jan. 9, Chicago Furniture Show," Only hint out of Admiral comes from distributor reports that its salesmen are talking about new plastic 12}4-in. table model. Several manufacturers tell us they're already sold out for first quarter 1950, and DuMont's Ernest Marx issued statement that its receivers will continue on allocation indefinitely "even though our January, 1950 production will be double that of January, 1949." DuMont's regional distributor meeting at Chicago's Drake Hotel Jan. 11 has expanded into national distributor meeting, devoted mainly to sales training ; DuMont has no new line or prices in immediate prospect despite earlier indication of new models in February. * !)=!(! * Hallicraf ters new line has 7 new sets, retains one. It comprises; Model 716. plastic table 12-in., $199.95 ; 750, console 12^/4-in. , $259.95; 740, console with doors, 1254“in. , $289.95; 745, table 16-in., $279.95 (previous price was $319.95); 750, console 16-in., $339.95; 760, console with doors, 16-in., $369.95; 770, console with AM-FM-3 speed, 16-in., $439.95; 605 held over, 19-in. console with FM, $545. Features of line; 12 & 12)^-in. sets have 17 tubes, 2 rectifiers; 16-in. have 18 and 2; 19-in., 23 and 2; all have built-in antennas; all 16-in. are rectangular-tubed, due for delivery in mid-January. GE has new line of 5 sets, to be shown first at Chicago Furniture Mart. They're priced as follows; Model 10T6, plastic table 10-in., $179.95, down $10 from old Model 805; 12T5 , wood table 1234-in., $239.95, down $40; 12C107, consolette 1234in., $289.95, down $30; 12C109, consolette with doors, 1234-in., $319.95; 19C101, consolette with doors, 19-in., not yet priced. All except 10-in. have built-in antennas. All save 19-in. have 18 tubes, 3 rectifiers, black tubes; 19-in. has 19 and 3, won't be ready for delivery until late February. Emerson adds 5 new sets to line in mid-January. Table models with 10-in. tube will be same as current plastic $180 Model 614 but with picture enlarger switch. There will be table and 2 consolettes with 1234in. , not yet priced. Table 16-in. is expected to be priced around $290. Meeting of company salesmen Jan. 6-7 is not convention. Stromberg-Carlson* s new line; Hampton, 1234-in. console $339.95 (Monterey in blonde, $349.50); Salem, 1234-in. period, $389.50; New Yorker, 19-in. console, $539.50 (blonde $549.50); Emperor, 19-in. period with compartment for 45rpm, $645; Chinese Classic 19-in. with AM-FM-3 speed, $965. All have built-in antenna, all 1234-in. have switch for enlarging picture to full circle. Bendix officials indicate announcement soon about manufacture for privatelabel, presumably for Associated Merchandising Corp., buyer for 32 dept, stores, including Abraham & Straus, Brooklyn; Bloomingdale , New York; Emporitun, San Francisco; Filene's, Boston; Strawbridge & Clothier, Philadelphia; Boston, Milwaukee. Also for Interstate Stores Buying Corp.. 30 stores in smaller cities. Bendix will show own TV line at Chicago Mart, holds sales meeting in Hotel St. Clair there Jan. 6. Sears Roebuck's 1950 catalog won't be out till March, but its retail stores will offer 1950 Silvertone line comprising; 1234-in. table, $220; 16-in. table with rectangular tube, $260; 1234-in. console with AM-FM-3 speed, $470. Retained in line is 10-in. plastic table at $160. By mid-February, Sears expects to have 14 models. Meanwhile, mid-winter flyer quotes these prices on old lines; plastic 10-in. table, $155; 1234-in. walnut consolette, $200; latter in mahogany, $220. Making sets for Sears; Air King, Colonial, Hallicraf ters , Tele-tone, Meek, among others. Ansley has decided to sell via distributors henceforth, quitting direct-todealer method. . .Macy' s-New York on Dec. 29 advertised it had 300 "specially priced" 16-in. private-brand Hyde Park sets at $219. . .Vim-New York chain Dec. 29 advertised Electromatic 1234-in. table at $130. . .Buffalo ' s Bestway Stores offered 10-in. Admiral plastic table for $119.95 (list was $169.95), promising to refund full price within year on purchase of any 16-in. Templetone resumed TV production last week, after hiatus of 6 months, offering 16-in. Temple console at $269.95 direct to dealers as first of new line; prom