Television digest with AM-FM reports (Jan-Dec 1950)

8 its ovm interest in the CBS system will be far better for the industry and for the public... We should feel indebted to CBS in the long run for having created the demand for color units. It's still not too late to get together and present a united front for progress in the industry. " He also believes that "CBS, which has so much to gain if its method succeeds, should help some of the manufacturers of components absorb tooling costs on necessary mechanical parts, of which there is no supply." What CBS has to gain, if any sizable production develops, is a good question. " Pat ent s are a controversial subject and I'd rather not talk about them," says one of CBS's manufacturing allies. CBS says it is quite satisfied with its patent position. Other patent experts state flatly; "CBS has nothing to sell." Another angle on finances of CBS, whose earnings are best ever (see Financial & Trade Reports), is that excess profits tax could encourage it to spend very heavily on color promotion. * * * * Guerilla fighting on color issue, which seldom hits newspapers, is really rugged. Important Vendors Relations Committee of National Retail Dry Goods Assn, (mainly dept, stores) called in CBS and RCA representatives for straight facts on what to tell prospective TV customers. CBS produced president Frank Stanton and v.p. Adrian Murphy ; RCA sent distribution v.p. Robert A. Seidel and v.p. Joseph Heff ernan, general attorney. Reports of what happened are conflicting. One had Stanton with "committee eating out of his hand", other had him apologizing for his and Godfrey's "wait 6 months" broadcasts (Vol. 6:42-44). But reliable NRDGA spokesman had this to say after meeting; "Looks like it's still black-and-white for a long time." He quoted from Oct. 20 bulletin to members, to this effect; (1) Color is on the way. (2) It will be some time before there will be a substantial number of sponsors. (3) Sets can be adapted for about $20, converted for about $70. (4) Color picture is limited to 12)^-in. (5) Black-and-white is not a poor investment. And, he added: "There's no reason to change those recommendations because of the meeting." CBS is reported having lots more trouble clearing time for network shows since color decision. Coolness of stations is said (by Billboard) to be responsible for cancellation of hour-long Walt Disney film scheduled for Christmas sponsorship by Coca-Cola; it went to NBC-TV (Vol. 6:44). Dr. Allen DuMont continues his slash-bang attack on decision. On Wed. , Nov. 15, 8:30-9, before national meeting of Men of Science and Industry in WaldorfAstoria, he has announced, he'll take another swing at FCC-CBS. His appearance will be carried by DuMont netv/ork, include demonstration of whirling disc converter. Among guests will be presidential assistant Dr. John R. Steelman and Bureau of Standards director Dr. Edward U. Condon. ^ ^ t * Novel sidelight on color decision: FCC left out a basic factor in its order amending engineering standards to permit CBS colorcasting. This is specification of "reference white." CBS had specified exact standard during hearing, but FCC must have simply forgotten. This has exasperated industry engineers who say that one glance at standards by any engineer could have saved FCC needless embarrassment. Tri-color tube developer Charles Willard Geer (Vol. 5:42,45), in speech at University of Southern California this week, advised public to “use the same good common sense in buying TV as in purchasing a car.” He pointed out that people don’t rush out to get rid of their cars when they hear of a new automatic transmission or developmental work on diesel engines for autos. Startling claims of color conversion on any set, simply through addition of one receiving tube, are reportedly made by Dr. Jenny W. Bramley, mathematician recently appointed to faculty of Monmouth Junior College, Long Branch, N. J. She says she has patented invention involv ing secondary electron emission. Story is reminiscent of claims of one Charles A. Birch-Field, Hamden, Conn., who said he had tube to convert AM sets to TV (Vol. 4:44). Color photography expert Leopold Godowsky, co-developer of Eastman’s Kodachrome, compared color TV and photographic systems, concluded dot-sequential system most promising. In Rochester speech this week, he said: “It seems to me, and you do not have to be an electronic engineer to recognize the fact, that in a color TV system where the so-called dot-sequential system is an inherent part of electronics, this autochrome counterpart has all the photographic advantages without the disadvantages.”