Television digest with AM-FM reports (Jan-Dec 1951)

7 sumer Finance (Vol. 7:16), which purports to show "little or no decline" in number of consumers considering 1951 purchases of TV, refrigerators, furniture, etc. "TV Cut Price Jamboree" was being advertised in New York, customer invited to name own price. New York Times April 26 reported out-of-town stores unloading many off-brand and a few top brand TVs in city at lower than distributor prices, being so hard-pressed to meet bank commitments. ^ V ^ ^ Philco furlough of 5000 employes this week continues through next week, as planned (Vol. 7;15) — but RCA Victor's complete shutdov/n of all TV and some radio production, ordered last Monday (April 23) at 6 plants, was wholly unexpected. At first, it looked like full week layoff of 5857 employes, but NPA came to rescue Thursday with favorable action on adjustment of steel limitation. About 90% of workers at Camden and Indianapolis were called back to jobs immediately, and next day (April 27) plants in Bloomington & Monticello, Ind. and Pulaski, Va. were back at work. The 175 laid off at Canonsburg, Pa. radio plant are due to return May 1 when month's allotment of steel is available. RCA officials state emphatically that steel order M-47 (Vol. 7:10-11,14) alone was cause of shutdown — there was no motive of deliberately "vacationing" from TV-radio production due to becalmed market. Previous layoffs (Vol. 7:13-15) had discounted that "seasonal" condition, and company claims to be better off than most with respect to inventory. Employment situation in industry at large, however, continues bad, has the unions no less than employers worried. IBEW local chief in Chicago estimates that area's layoffs in TV and components plants at 15,000 or more. Another Chicago report had Zenith laying off 5000 this week, giving inventory-taking as reason. Nearly all TV-radio plants shut down in July, of course, for summer vacations, usually first 2 weeks — and no exception is likely this year. Big question is whether, even if inventories persist, factories will offer usual new models in June-July, further aggravating market. Chances are most will, so far as we can learn, particularly since so much hullabaloo over uhf tuners has already been raised (Vol. 7:14-15) and everybody seems to anticipate lifting of freeze and opening up of new markets much earlier than seems likely (see p. 1). TV production dropped to 122,489 (3116 private label) in week ending April 20 — lowest since 1950 post-Xmas week's 105,968 and lower than any other save last year's summer vacation weeks. Factory inventories rose to 455,950 from 386,307 week before and 324,859 first week of second quarter (ending April 6). TV output for quarter's 3 reported weeks: 140,964 first week, 155,576 second, 122,849 third. Radios fared better, thanks largely to seasonal auto and portable output. Third week's total was 549,767 vs. 561,652 second week, 332,463 first (Vol. 7:16). Radios for week ending April 20 were: 158,504 home, 147,587 auto, 43,676 portable. Factory inventory of radios was 175,014. FEAST AND FAMINE IN TUBE INDUSTRY: Despite shortages, despite trade slump, the production of receiving tubes is humming along at remarkable rate, with demand high. But picture tube industry is in doldrums. In this field probably more than any other — because it's purely TV — current trade slump is reflected and future TV production trends forecast. And picture tube business is bad — with no signs of pickup in near future. Larger CR tube makers report business down — from "a little" to "way off." But some middle-sized ones are operating at about 50% of capacity, and smaller manufacturers are creeping along with production as low as 15% of normal. Bottom may not have been hit yet; at least nobody's reporting any increase in orders. These are straws in the wind in the depressed CR tube situation: Corning Glass Works is discontinuing picture tube bulb production at its new Albion. Mich, plant, and is converting to manufacture of sealed beam headlights, electronic tube and incandescent lamp bulbs. TV bulb production will be limited to Corning, N.Y.