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

9 Nobilizalion Notes: German and Italian electronic components are available in sufficient quantity and quality to help relieve predicted shortages of American-made parts. Electronics Production Board chairman Edmund T. Morris Jr. and Lt. Col. Carl B. Lindstrandt, of Defense Dept.’s Electronic Production Resources Agency, reached that conclusion after visiting 12 European manufacturers, 7 in Western Germany and 5 at Milan, Italy. Among points made in report this week on October trip: (1) “The importation of up to 500,000 German selenium rectifiers, using Swedish selenium, would help to avert an impending shortage of rectifiers needed by several impoi-tant defense-supporting and civilian industries, and the home radio-TV receiver industry.” (2) While precision wire-wound resistor facilities are available in Europe, “production at present is extremely small due to lack of orders.” (3) Carbon resistors are available “in considerable quantities.” (4) Approximately 40 lbs. per month of fine enameled resistance wire is available. (5) At least 2 potentiometer manufacturers are capable of producing precision variable resistors in quantity. (6) “Most of the companies have both technical and production facilities equivalent to comparable companies in this country and several are carrying on interesting technical developments.” Technical details about foreign manufacturers and their products are available from NPA Electronics Div. :<c « « * Limiting factors in transmitter production — not only TV, but AM & FM and all other types — are delays in delivery of components and lack of engineering and technical personnel. That was consensus of 9 transmitter makers who met with NPA for first time Dec. 19. Allotments of controlled materials haven’t held up manufacture of transmitters and related military projects as much as shortage of components, they said. Unanimously, the manufacturers agreed scarcest item is Mu-metal, high nickel content alloy used as shielding. Hardest-to-get components include relays, nickel-bearing transformer laminations, small electric motors, mica and gas capacitors, crystals, meters, coils and special tubes for military work. Manufacturers agreed most serious manpower headaches resulted from shortage of senior engineers, layout draftsmen, technicians (testers or troubleshooters), wiremen, toolmakers, machinists. J. Bernard Joseph of NPA Electronics Div. presided at meeting attended by: R. H. Hollister, Collins Radio; Lester H. Carr, Continental Electronics, Washington, D. C.; C. E. Williams, DuMont; E. Labin, Federal Telecommunications Labs; Parker S. Gates, Gates Radio; Frank P. Barnes, GE; T. A. Smith, RCA; William Zillger, Standard Electronic Co., Newark; C. W. Miller, Westinghouse. * * * * Electronics Miscellany: Victoreen Instrument Co., Cleveland, as of Dec. 29 acquires all stock of Pioneer Electronics Corp., Salem, Mass., Pioneer to operate as subsidiaiy; Cyrus W. Haller, onetime Sylvania executive, now Pioneer president, elected president of Victoreen, succeeding Winfield Kendrick, retired . . . Robertshaw-Fulton Controls Co. buys out Fielden Instrument Corp., Philadelphia industrial electronics measurement equipment, which will be operated as subsidiary . . . Electronic Instruments Inc., Brooklyn (Harry R. Ashley, president), has purchased 6-story, 30,000-sq. ft. plant at 84 Withers St., Brooklyn to house offices and factory . . . Chatham Electronics Corp. to build 100,000-sq. ft. one-story plant on 17-acre tract at Route 10 & Okner Blvd., Livington, N. J. Metals forecast for 1952: DPA says defense and defense-related production and construction will take more than 40% of nation’s supply of carbon steel, G0% of copper and aluminum. And these other developments this week provide clues to metals situation in coming year: Nickel, for which defense requirements next year exceed total supply, will probably be most critical electronic material by end of 1952. But Dr. John F. Thompson, chairman of International Nickel Co., forecasts 30% increase in nickel supply by 1954 over pre-Korea level, due to expansion by established producers and opening of new mines. International Materials Conference announced U. S. will get slightly more of the free world’s tungsten, a little less molydenum during fii’st quarter 1952 than cui'rent fom’th quarter 1951. At least 7,000,000 lbs. of aluminum will be lost as result of walkout this week at Reynolds’ Troutdale, Ore. plant, NPA officials estimate. Cadmium producers, distributors and consumers urged NPA to relax order M-19, which controls use of the metal. Producers said they have 2-month supply on hand and defense demands haven’t been as heavy as anticipated. * * * ♦ TV servicemen got long-sought materials relief this week when CMP Regulation 7 (maintenance, repair & operating supplies) was amended to give them priority on materials needed for installations. Installers of all “domestic appliances” are included in regulation, which permits them to use their MRO quotas for installation materials (antenna lead-in wire, etc.). At same time, NPA amended CMP Regulation 5 to permit manufacturers to obtain materials for installation of equipment in existing buildings on priority basis. Order establishes separate minimum quarterly quotas of $1000 each for MRO supplies, minor capital additions and installations. Bottleneck-breaking regulation issued by NPA Dec. 19 is expected to be big help to defense electi’onic manufacturers and laboratories. New Direction 4 to Regulation 2 permits manufacturers of tubes and resistors to arrange delivery of small rated (priority) orders without regard to chronological receipt of orders. Only type order that can’t be bumped by small order under new regulation is one carrying DX super-priority rating. Size of orders coming under Direction 4 is tightly limited. For example, no manufactm’er is permitted to ship more than 50 tubes of any one type to any one customer in a month. ■ Dividends: Motorola, quarterly 62%^ and extra of 37% both payable Jan. 15 to stockholders of record Dec. 28; Allied Electric Products (Sheldon), 11%^ payable Dec. 28 to holders Dec. 17; Canadian Admiral, 15^ payable Dec. 29 to holders Dec. 17; IT&T, 20<J payable Jan. 23 to holders Dec. 21; Technicolor, 50^ payable Dec. 27 to holders Dec. 19; Reeves-Ely, 10^ payable Dec. 28 to holders Dec. 14; Packard-Bell, 25^ payable Jan. 25 to holders Jan. 10; Emerson, 25^ payable Jan. 15 to holders Jan. 4. International Resistance Co. holds stockholders’ meeting Jan. 9 to vote on proposed increase in authorized common shares from 1,097,225 to 1,500,000. With 1,067,163 shares now outstanding, company plans to sell 250,000 more through F. Eberstadt & Co. and Zuckerman, Smith & Co., proceeds to be used for additional working capital and product development. M. H. Cogan, president of Symphonic Radio & Electronic Corp., Boston, has sold controlling interest to New York group headed by Max Zimmer & A1 Jacobs, Apex Electronics, and including Sidney Joffee, Pathe. Electrical & Musical Industrial Ltd., London (EMI) reports net income of £838,122 for fiscal year ended June 30 vs. £456,666 for preceding fiscal year.