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

9 Topics 8l Trends of TV Trade: Jerrold Electronics claims 1,000,000 people live in towns where contracts have been signed to use its community antenna equipment (Vol. 7:29). Company says installations are now being made in following towns: Pennsylvania — Ashland, Bangor, Bellefonte, Coaldale, Coal Township, Harrisburg, Lansford, Lewistown, Lock Haven, Mahanoy City, Oil City, Palmerton, Plymouth, Pottsville, Port Carbon, Shamokin, So. Bethlehem, St. Clair, Tamaqua. New York — Dansville, Watertown, Corning. In addition, Jerrold reports contracts in following: Grass Valley, Cal.; Cumberland, Md.; Biddeford, Me.; Pikesville & Maysville, Ky.; Beckley, W. Va.; Kingspox-t, Tenn.; Newport, Ark.; Uvalde, Tex.; La Salle-Peru, 111. Company says that over $100,000 worth of sets have been sold in Lansford, Pa., first to get installation (Vol. 7:2). ^ ^ Three industry groups will appear before Senate Finance Committee next week to oppose Administration’s I’equest for 15% hike in manufacturers’ excise taxes on TV-radios in revenue bill H. R. 4475 (Vol. 7:20-21). Scheduled to testify Aug. 2 are RTMA, pi’obably represented by chairman Robert C. Sprague, and NARTB govt, relations dii’ector Ralph W. Hardy. Mort Farr, NARDA president, will be heard Aug. 1. Also appearing before committee Aug. 2 will be L. G. Homey, Bendix, and J. M. Mai'ks, Fada. GE’s Dr. W. R. G. Baker reappointed chairman of RTMA’s TV committee for ensuing year, other members named by Chairman Sprague being: Benj. Abrams, Emerson; Robert S. Alexander, Wells-Gardner; Max Balcom, Sylvania; W. J. Barkley, Collins Radio; H. C. Bonfig, Zenith; John W. Craig, Crosley; Allen B. DuMont; J. B. Elliott, RCA; E. K. Foster, Bendix; Paul V. Galvin, Motorola; W. J. Halligan, Hallicrafters; L. F. Hardy, Philco; W. A. MacDonald, Hazeltine. Admiral’s Ross Siragusa told Retailing Daily’s Martin Rosenbloom July 23 that, barring further materials restrictions, Admiral will have produced 650,000 TVs this year (as against reported 1,000,000 in 1950); that recent “free radio-phonograph” wdth each TV console moved 15,000 sets between April 28 & May 14; that refrigerators have been moving at rate of 300,000 a yeai\ * * « « IT&T moves further into appliance field with purchase, announced this week, of Coolei’ator Co., Duluth, makers of I’efx'igerators, freezers, electric ranges. Company was bought for undisclosed sum, involving stock and cash, fronx Gibson Refrigerator Co., Greenville, Mich. IT&T’s other manufacturing subsidiaries include Capehart-Fai’nswoi’th (TV & I’adio sets). Federal Telephone & Radio and Federal Telecommunications (broadcast ti-ansmitters, microwave equipment, etc.). Value of electronics exports tripled in May, compared with year ago — $16,717,022 vs. $5,721,446 — according to Census Bureau. TV sets aren’t listed as such, but Census plans to specify them in breakdowns beginning first of year. Lion’s share of May exports, $7,896,103, is listed in “special category,” understood to include radar, air navigation aids, etc. Included in May breakdown are: 1791 home type radio phonogi-aphs worth $163,832; 22,575 other home type receivers, $582,988; 4381 automobile sets, $164,564; 8863 I'adio sets not elsewhere specified, $1,829,993. Receiving tube sales first 6 months of 1951 totaled 215,902,325 units, compared with 170,375,921 same period last year. RTMA i-eport shows 153,957,766 tubes sold for new equipment, 50,105,634 for replacements, 10,358,858 for export, 1,480,067 to govt, agencies. June sales were 27,667,099 compared with 32,480,668 in June 1950. Trade Miscellany: Westinghouse introduces new TV line, some table radios and portables, in about week (Aug. 6), reports it plans biggest TV-radio ad campaign this autumn . . . Philco International putting on special August drive to promote sale of its tropic radios & radio-phonographs, offering foreign dealers special prizes for window displays . . . Hoffman Radio reported planning regional warehouse at 321 Grand Ave., Chicago, to stockpile TVs, radios, replacement parts . . . Kent Television, Brooklyn, leases 8000 sq. ft. additional space at 187 Varet St. . . . Tel-A-Ray Enterprises Inc. has purchased 75,000 sq. ft. factory in Henderson, Ky., for manufacture of antennamounted TV boosters, etc. . . . General Radio, Cambridge, Mass., building 3-story brick plant in W. Concord, Mass., for production of electronics gear . . . Dukane Corp. is new name of Operadio Mfg. Co., St. Charles, 111., brand name under which firm makes intercom and sound equipment, sound slide film projectors and magnetic tape recorders . . . Canada modifies credit controls, effective Aug. 1, to permit trade-ins to be applied towai’d down payment on all types of goods . . . Western Union Services Inc., recently formed TV receiver-servicing subsidiary of big telegraph company (Vol. 7:16), plans TV and newspaper pi’omotion campaign, thru United Adv. Agency, N. Y. . . . CBS-Columbia Inc. (formerly Air King) names Beller Distributors Inc., Newark (Jack Gaei’tner) for northern N. J. and for Oi’ange & Rockland counties in N. Y. . . . Raytheon moves into Mexican market with appointment of Television Continental, Mexico City (Pedx’o Block, mgr.). 4c * * Scott Radio (Meek) showing “most expensive and exclusive home instrument of its type ever offered to discriminating music lovers” — model called “Limited Edition,” a TV-radio-3 speed phono with separate amplifier unit and special 15-in. speaker, to list at $2000. Picture tube is 24-in. Cabinet is mahogany breakfront credenza, 68-in. wide, 38-in. high, 24-in. deep, styled in 18th Century, French Provincial and modern. Price-wise, this unit exceeds DuMont’s 30-in. “Royal Sovereign” at $1795 (Vol. 7:26) as most expensive set on market. Arvin is out with 14 new models, one holdover — latter being its 8% -in. “portable” at $130 (GE picture tube). Three new 17-in. tables list at $250, $270, $280; two 21-in. at $370 & $380. Three 17-in. open consoles are $300, $320, $330; one 20-in. $450; two 21-in. $400 & $420. Consoles with doors include one 17-in. at $350, one 20-in. at $450, and 21-in. French Provincial at $500. All prices include tax, with warranty extra except on the 8% -in. Sets may be easily converted to uhf or color, Arvin says. Company also has 30 new radio models in AM, FM or both. B Audio & Video Products Corp., specializing in technical installation for ad agencies and factory I’epresentatives for Ampex magnetic tape i-ecording appai’atus, Altec amplifiers and speaker's, etc., has moved to old WQXR studios at 730 Fifth Ave., New Yoi'k, may soon float stock issue. President is Chai’les E. Rynd, ex-ABC v.p. & ti’easurei', with Richai’d Rynd v.p. W. Oliver Summerlin, ex-Capitol Records chief recording engineer, is engineering v.p. Other directors are Pei'cy L. Deutsch, founder of World Broadcasting System; Fred M. Thrower, ABC-TV sales v.p.; Thomas P. Robinson, ABC-TV sales service mgr.; Russell 0. Hudson, ex-ABC Hollywood. Roy Rogers got temporary injunction from Fedei'al district court in Los Angeles this week restraining Republic Pictures from syndicating his old cowboy movies to TV (Vol. 7 :26-27) — case seen as test whether studios have right to sell for TV sponsorship old films that weren’t originally meant to accompany advertising.