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

3 as well — and tube industry probably will never go back to pure nickel in applications where these other metals have proven so satisfactory. Thanks to conservation, it's now unlikely that there'll be any shortage of receiving tubes in first-half 1952, in opinion of industry and govt, executives who should know. There may be spot shortages of one tube type or another, but there are many who think even this could largely be avoided by standardizing tube types. Industry is leary of doing its own standardizing — because of the possible anti-trust angles — but Govt, has no such hesitancy, and its experts are now gathering data for such a project. Govt, would consult electronics industry before it ordered compulsory standardization. Picture tubes may be due for standardization treatment, too. But first-half 1952 should see continued trend toward larger sizes. And they'll be plentiful. * ♦ * * Go to any TV dealer today, and you can see evidence of conservation in newmodel TVs, without even removing back from set. Composition board and plastic have replaced rear steel plate and picture tube cup. Knobs are plastic. Metal cabinets are disappearing. Stainless steel is no longer widely used for trim. Look inside the sets and you'll see very few aluminum or copper-plated chassis. Picture tubes are held in place by cloth webbing. There are fewer metal-coned CR tubes. Hook-up wire is finer gauge, resistor and capacitor leads are shorter. There are some changes that may not come without govt, orders (Vol. 7:40). Sets still have plenty of metal trim. This is a competitive situation; no set maker wants to take the lead by making his set less attractive — but it's doubtful if any would be loathe to go along if his competitors untrimmed their sets at same time. Standardization of lines presents similar problem. There's some sentiment in NPA for limiting number of models any manufacturer may make. For example. Govt. may hold each manufacturer to one table model and one console in 14, 17 & 20-in. sizes only, perhaps coupled with outright ban on TV-phono combinations. NPA assures that no such move is imminent, and that it will get the industry's ideas before it decides on any standardization orders. * ♦ ♦ * So-called "new model ban" announced this week by NPA won't bar change overs in TV industry, despite generalizations to contrary in daily press. Order actually reserves new machine tools almost solely for military and defense-supporting production, doesn't ban use of new dies in existing machines (see Mobilization Notes). Some materials-saving changes are actually improvements over old designs. Many industry engineers — and, of course, manufacturers — hail the new low-voltage electrostatically-focusing picture tubes (Vol. 7:20-21,33-34,40) as such a step. They save copper, cobalt, steel, aluminum, cut manufacturers' costs and are said to produce picture that stays in focus without adjustment. Some current models use new picture tube, and most TV set manufacturers are expected to come out with it before mid-1952. Concept of a "utility model" TV with simplified conservation circuits has not been thrown out the window. For discussion of long-range conservation planning and details of TV-radio materials-saving measures, see page 7. FEE-TV FORCES TALK IT UP & MARK TIME: Subscription TV agitation continues — though prospects of its coming to head at the FCC are still long way off — with Paramount Pictures' (Telemeter) promotional activity currently outdistancing that of Zenith. A 9-page brochure Issued by International Telemeter Corp. (50% Paramountowned), dated Sept. 10, really stirred up the cats among exhibitors. It was later reported withdrawn — "because it doesn't represent Paramount's views." Brochure was titled "The Story of Telemeter," described system, said that TV's technical progress has been great, whereas "on the economic side the road has been less rosy"; added that it will be good for movie business ; that it will help sports ; that it won't eliminate free TV; that it will lower cost of entertainment, etc. Also, that "it will eliminate many of the secondary costs that now go into the