Television digest with electronic reports (Jan-Dec 1953)

13 Topics & Trends of TV Trade: TV sets and automobiles, sometimes referred to as “production brothers,” look more like production twins this year — their output curves showing remarkable parallel so far, with every indication their total production for year will be roughly the same. Motor vehicle industry, operating free of govt, re, strictions this year for first time since Korean War started, produced 5,772,071 passenger autos and trucks in first 9 months, compared to 5,524,370 TVs in that period. A further comparison: Auto industry expects to produce about 7,300,000 units this year, which would be second only to the approximately 8,000,000 units turned out in 1950, its best production year. It’s generally expected TV industry will also turn out about 7,300,000 sets this year, which would place it second to 1950’s record of nearly 7,500,000. Compared to last year, parallels are even more striking and show how both industries have expanded apace, despite wide difference in average price of their products. Auto industry had produced 3,879,734 units at end of 9 months last year, compared to 3,670,591 TVs. Govt, mandate limited auto production last year to 4,500,000 ; it actually produced 4,336,477 units, compared to 6,096,279 TVs. We’re not offering the comparison as proving anything more than perhaps another indication of the vitality of the American economy — plus the growing feeling that TV has become as essential to the American family as an automobile — some think even more essential. There’s also the added consideration that second TV sets in the home are bound to become much more common than 2 automobiles. Here’s latest month-by-month breakdown of both — the TV figures from RETMA, the automobile from Automobile Manufacturers Assn.: TV Auto January 719,234 565,172 February 730,597 583,001 March — 810,112 700,685 April 567,878 723,532 May 481,936 643,487 June 524,479 661,992 July 316,289 705,132 August 603,760 615,386 September ____ 770,085 573,684 Picture tube sales in first 9 months of year totaled 7,522,862 valued at $179,133,671, compared to 3,908,745 worth $85,526,225 in same 1952 period, reports RETMA. Rectangular 20-in. and larger represented 72% of sales. Sept, picture tube sales totaled 875,712 worth $20,524,677, compared to 879,169 at $21,736,186 in Aug. and 788,107 at $17,232,438 in Sept. 1952. Receiving tube sales in first 9 months totaled 347,152,450 valued at $237,934,820, compared to 245,689,629 at $176,938,899 in same 1952 period. Of sales, 235,196.724 went for new sets, 87,823,262 replacement, 15,518,657 export, 8,613,707 Govt. For Sept., receiving tube sales totaled 38,929,539 worth $27,401,566, compared to 38,600,494 worth $26,886,528 in Aug. and 34,196,286 at $24,432,748 in Sept, last year. * * * * How Motorola grew between 1928 — when it was founded by pres. Paul V. Galvin and his brother Joseph with $565 capital — and 1953, when it anticipates record $225,000,000 in sales, is told in lengthy but interesting article by Ray Vicker in Nov. 4 Wall Street Journal. Article says company has already achieved its goal of a minimum of 10% of TV market, adds company’s proportion of sales last year was TV 45%, communications & electronics 30%, auto radios 18%, home & portable radios 7%. It says Motorola expects to have 100 pilot models of color sets by end of year, output of “several thousand” in 1954. Trade Personals: M. Robert Wilson resigns as Halli crafters sales v.p., his duties to be absorbed temporarily by marketing v.p. Richard A. Graver . . . Charles F. Adams Jr., Raytheon pres., appointed vice chairman of new Naval Reserve Evaluation Board . . . Ernest A. Marx, director of DuMont international div., returns from inspection of electronic installations in 8 European countries . . . Edward W. Allen Jr. appointed mgr. of publicity & publications, DuMont Labs, in charge of all corporate and divisional publicity except DuMont network, which continues under David O. Alber Assoc, and A. Lescarboura . . . Ray Brewster, ex-asst. to pres. Fred D. Wilson, elected commercial v.p., Capehart-Farnsworth ... A. W. Keen promoted to commercial engineering mgr., Sylvania picture tube div., Seneca Falls, N. Y.; J. E. Schlener, ex-sales engineering supervisor, appointed merchandising mgr., Sylvania electronics div., Woburn, Mass. . . . Stanley D. Crane promoted to director of engineering & research for special products, Raytheon TV-radio div.; Wm. T. Welsh, sales mgr. of Raytheon power tube div., named asst. v.p. . . . Paul W. Jansen promoted to sales mgr. for sound recording tape, Minnesota Mining & Mfg. Co. . . . Moorhead Wright appointed mgr. of management development services, GE . . . Henry D. Clark appointed sales training mgr., Westinghouse TV-radio div.; John C. Drewry named northwestern district sales mgr. . . . Edson J. Freeman named Latin American export rep, Admiral Corp. Interamericana . . . H. G. Boehm appointed director of international div., P. R. Mallory Co. . . . Harry R. Carradus, chief accountant, advanced to asst, treas., Philco Corp. of Canada, succeeded by Merritt L. Harding, from Philco International headquarters in Philadelphia . . . Ira L. Lavin, onetime NARDA managing director, named Chicago district mgr., CBS-Columbia . . . Lee Girson resigns as eastern sales mgr., Muntz TV . . . Caywood Cooley, asst, to Jerrold pres. Milton Shapp, named v.p.-gen. mgr. of Jerrold Service Corp.; Robt. J. Tarlton becomes mgr. of new community operations div., encompassing antenna systems in which company holds interest . . . Edward A. Altshuler, ex-Kaye-Halbert, named marketing director of Berlant Assoc., Los Angeles (tape recorders) . . . Sid Cohen named midwestern district sales mgr., Spirling Products Co., Hicksville, N. Y. (antennas) . . . Irwin Stange, ex-Muntz TV, named Los Angeles area sales mgr., Sentinel Radio. Distributor Notes: Capehart-Farnsworth appoints Henry N. Clark Co., Boston, replacing Bieglow & Dowse, now DuMont . . . Emerson appoints Graybar for Columbus & Dayton and G. Fetter Puthuff Co., Jacksonville, Fla. . . . Arvin appoints Home Appliance Distributors Inc., San Antonio (George Delavan Jr., pres.) . . . Philco Distributors, Philadelphia, appoints Dave Brody gen. sales mgr., replacing James J. Shallow, now gen. mgr. of Philco accessory div. . . . Hough-Wylie Co., Charlotte (Philco) expands distributorship to cover North and South Carolina . . . Hoffman Sales Corp., Seattle, appoints Paul Van Dusen gen. mgr.; Kansas City branch appoints Darrel Await to new post of dealer mgr. . . . Raytheon Distributor Inc., Chicago, appoints John H. Kelly gen. sales mgr. . . . GE Supply Co., Charlotte, names E. L. Dugger TV-radio district mgr. . . . American Television Co. (Emerson & Majestic) opens sales offices at 3511 Oak Lawn, Dallas. Completion of 200,000-sq. ft. extension to Seneca Falls, N. Y. tube plant for construction of 24 and 27-in. picture tubes and for “pilot production” of color tubes was announced this week by Sylvania. Div. gen. mgr. W. H. Lamb said 82,000-sq. ft. have been earmarked for color screen work, production of color tubes, equipment development & storage. He added : “It is too early to predict just when Aye will fully equip and operate this section of the plant for complete color work.”