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

3 Topics & Trends of TV Trade: Manufacturers readying new price lists for TVs produced Nov. 1 and thereafter are almost invariably planning to incorporate new 10% excise tax, into price, rather than quote separate tax item to customers that would automatically reveal distributor cost. This is apparent from informal reports received since tax was enacted (Vol. 6:38). On Sept. 29 Internal Revenue Bureau released these instructions as guide for businessmen and information for consumers: “Television sets: Beginning Nov. 1, 1950, there will be a 10% tax collected on the manufacturer’s selling price of television sets. It should be noted that this tax is not a retail tax; that the payment thereof is the responsibility of the manufacturer, producer, or importer, and that the tax applied to their selling price. However, there is no prohibition against the amount of the tax being passed on to the consumer. The tax also covers television chassis, cabinets, tubes, speakers, amplifiers, power supply units, built in antennae and the like.” Practically identical instructions were issued with respect to deep-freeze units, only other new excise in Revenue Act of 1950. * Philco’s second price boost covers 13 of its 33 sets, runs $10 to $30 per set. These are the new prices, the increases (listed in parentheses) being from prices announced last month reported in Vol. 6:31 (for description of sets see TV Directory No. 11) : 14-in. rectangular: Model 1443PW, $379.95 ($20); 1443PM, $399.95 ($20); 1443PL, $429.95 ($30). 16in.: 1601, $229.95 ($10); 1601T, $249.95 ($10); 1634M, $319.95 ($20); 1634L, $339.95 ($20). 17in. rectangular: 1836M, $379.95 ($20); 1836L, $399.95 ($20); 1838, $469.95 ($20); 1872, $449.95 ($20); 1874, $499.95 ($20); 1874L, $529.95 ($30). Philco also added to line 2 new sets: Model 1634W, 16-in. walnut console, $299.95; 1836W, 17-in. rect. walnut console, $359.95. * * * * Hoffman raised prices $10 to $25 on 17 sets in line of 22, keeping only 14-in. prices unchanged. Following are new prices (increases in parentheses); for description of all sets see TV Directory No. 11: 16-in. (each up $10); Model 635, $269.95; 634, $279.95; 877, $.349.95; 878 & 876, $359.95; 867, $389.95; 868 & 866, $399.95; 951, $489.95; 952 & 950, $499.95. 19-in.: 891, $459.95 ($20); 892 & 890, $469.95 ($20); 961, $575 ($25); 962 & 960, $595 ($20). * * ♦ ♦ Imperial Television Mfg. Co., 2034 E. 48th St., Los Angeles (of which Tele-tone distributor Wood & Cies is subsidiary; Vol. 6:29), makes 4 basic sets with 18 variations in cabinets. All sets contain Tele-tone chassis and are advertised as “Tele-tone Imperial.” Basic set in each group is Tele-tone’s Imperial model. Line follows: Model 2217, 17-in. rect. console with doors: Windsor, walnut, $279.95; in mahogany, $289.95; Coronet, mahogany, $289.95; in blonde, $309.95; Provincial, $299.95. Model 3117, 17-in. rect. console with AM-FM-phono: Georgian, walnut, $399.95; in mahogany, $419.95; Catalina, mahogany, $419.95; in blonde, $449.95; Provincial, maple, $439.95; Normandie, blonde, $459.95. Model 3019, 19-in. console: Winthrop, walnut, $339.95; in mahogany, $349.95. Model 3119, 19-in. console with full doors: Wakefield, walnut, $369.95; in mahogany, $379.95; Bel Aire, mahogany, $379.95; in blonde, $399.95; Salem, maple, $389.95. ♦ * ♦ ♦ New Magnavox set is 17-in. rect. 18th Century mahogany Embassy console with AM-FM-SW-phono, $775. First of Raytheon’s series of 9 “truth about television” ads broke in newspapers in 44 TV cities Sept. 24, designed to “help build up a sound dealer organization, and incidentally benefitting other reputable set manufacturers as well as ourselves.” First ad ran 1000 lines, others will be somewhat smaller. Under caption “3 reasons why you should buy your television set fi’om a dependable dealer,” fii'st ad notes: (1) He’s here to stay. (2) He offers good products. (3) He takes care of his customers. Then it gives public these “Eight Good Guides for Better Television Buying”: 1. Buy your TV set through a reputable dealer In whom you have confidence. 2. Ask for names and telephone numbers of several purchasers of the make of set you’re thinking of buying. Ask for references in your neighborhood. 3. Make sure the dealer or agency handling your service policy Is technically competent and financially sound. Ask for and check his references. 4. Make sure the manufacturer of your set not only is reliable but also has a recognized background in electronics. If the manufacturer is not known to you, ask for proof. 5. Make sure the set you’re buying is up to date and contains the latest developments. Don’t be fooled by trick names for circuits. Contrary to some manufacturers’ claims, there is no magic about television ! 6. Make sure the cabinet housing your set is well constructed and finished. Use the same care you would In selecting fine furniture. 7. Examine the picture critically and listen to the tone quality, too. Make sure the tone is at least equal to what you would expect from a good radio set. 8. Ask for proofs of dependability, such as testimonial letters, certificates of approval by recognized testing laboratories etc For your own safety, make sure the set bears the seal of Underwriters’ Laboratories. Unscrupulous racketeers in guise of TV dealers and servicemen are preying on uninformed public, says Lloyd Wendt in October Better Homes & Gardens article titled “Look out for the Television Tinkers!” Citing “3-way switch” — bad set, exhorbitant installation and service fees, no service— Wendt recommends reputable dealers and servicemen as guard against being “taken.” He tells of Bronx dealer who sold rebuilt 10-in. rag-tag chassis in console with RCA nameplate as new RCA 16-in. set which didn’t even work! Wendt emphasizes: “If you don’t know your merchandise, know your merchant!” * * He Jjc Plant expansions: Westinghouse new $1,500,000 TV plant with 400,000 sq. ft. in Raritan Township, just outside Metuchen, N. J., is planned as “last word in industrial design” . . . Hoffman Radio adds seventh plant, 2 buildings with 17,000 sq. ft. at 335 S. Pasadena Ave., Pasadena, giving company total 260,000 sq. ft.; other 6 plants are in Los Angeles . . . Federal Telephone & Radio has leased 130,000 sq. ft. of added manufacturing space in Passaic, N. J.; Federal Telecommunications Laboratories has leased former Isolantite plant, with 75,000 sq. ft., in Belleville, N. J. . . . National Video Corp., picture tubemaker, has purchased site at Milwaukee & Kilbourn Aves., Chicago, will erect 150,000 sq. ft. building for expansion of production, now reported at 50-60,000 tubes per month . . . GE reopening Clyde, N. Y. plant Dec. 1 for manufacture of germanium products used in electronics equipment, allowing room for expanded govt, production at Syracuse; T. E. Jamro will be in charge of Clyde plant. * * * * New Kaye-Halbert sets added to line (Vol. 6:18) : Model 731, 17-in. rect. walnut table, $279.95; in mahogany, $289.95; in blonde, $299.95. Model 733, 17-in. rect. walnut console, $319.95; in mahogany, $329.95; in blonde, $339.95. Unique “Owner’s Club Service Plan”, sponsored by company’s Los Angeles distributor, works this way: Set owner pays $10, all repairs done at factory for $3.95 per job. First year there’s no charge for parts since they’re covered by manufacturer’s warranty. After first year, owner has to pay for parts at dealer’s cost.