Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1960)
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16
JUNE 20, 1960
More about
NEW TV-STEREO LINES: Longer TV lines, more empha
sis on furniture and strong trend to 19 & 23-in. picture sizes (Vol. 16:23 pl8) continue to be among the main trends as more manufacturers show new lines, and details about other lines mentioned earlier in these pages become available. Here are some highlights:
Emerson & Du Mont
Emerson’s new TV line, shown to distributors in N.Y. this week, contains 29 basic models of 19 & 23-in. sets, at $188-$598 list, plus a group of 17 & 21-in. holdovers. This compares wth last summer’s basic 18-set line at $178$498. The 23-in. sets begin at $198 (table model). New to the line are three 23-in. TV-stereo-AM-FM combinations at $498-$598, in addition to four 21-in. combo holdovers. Emerson will offer its previously-announced “TransViewer” 10-in. battery-operated TV in limited quantities at about $250 plus $5 or $80 for the battery (depending on type), but — in the words of Emerson Pres. Benjamin Abrams — “it probably will have more interest than sales.”
Due to be dropped in this fall, as reported here last April (Vol. 16:14 pl7) are 2 or 3 color sets in both the Emerson & Du Mont lines. Pres. Abrams reiterated that the company had lost $2 million on color production, but stated: “We want to keep our finger in color until it becomes a going business. That will be in about 4 or 5 years.” He added: “With the exception of one company, Emerson has produced more color sets than anyone else in the industry.”
Emerson’s short phono line has 2 monaural portables ($19.88 & $39.88), 3 stereo portables ($29.88-$98) , one consolette ($128), one console ($248) — plus the British import Wondergram pocket portable phono.
Du Mont showed 12 new TV & TV-combination sets, all 23-in., starting at $260 for a table model and topped by 2 TV-stereo-radio combos at $1,250. This time last year, Du Mont’s new-set prices ranged from $230 to $895. Its 3-set stereo AM-FM console line is priced at $450 (2 sets) & $470. Du Mont div. sales dir. George Cohen announced that the company’s restricted dealer policy, instituted last year, will be continued.
Magnavox
Although it doesn’t have a regular line-change, Magnavox will be dropping in several new sets — including 19& 23-in. sizes — in time for next month’s Music Show in Chicago. Pres. Frank Freimann informed dealers in a letter that the company will return to the active color fold (as predicted here Vol. 16:14 pl7) with a 21-in. color TVstereo combination. The TV-stereo combination line will include three 21-in., four 23-in. & four 24-in. sets.
Also due to be dropped in are four 19-in. table & portable sets (starting at $189.50), six 23-in. sets. The line will include 2 promotional 21-in. models ($219.90 & $239.90) and five 24-in. sets. A new 23-in. combo in the $450-$475 range may be introduced in the fall. The stereo line will have 22 consoles at $149.50-$1,250.
Symphonic
Symphonic Electronic Corp., large phono manufacturer, last week showed its first line of TV sets (Vol. 16:22 p22), as yet unpriced. The 8-set line consists of 19-in. bonded portable & table model, 23-in. non-bonded console, three 23-in. bonded consoles (including one with remote), two 23-in. TV-stereo-AM-FM combos (one remote). Symphonic also showed $19.95 to $489.95 phonos.
Philco
Having already announced its 19-in. TV line (Vol. 16:24 pl6), Philco last week unveiled its group of 7 basic 23-in. consoles with bonded tubes, ranging from $239.95 to $329.95 with a “open list” on top-of-the-line console. Philco also will carry over a 21-in. console at $229.95 & $239.95. . Again this year, the company’s promotion will stress the “Cool Chassis” design, in addition to a new “Crystal Cascode Tuner” incorporating a ladder-grid tube for increased sensitivity.
Philco also announced a new shii't-pocket 6-transistor radio, the “All American” at $29.95.
Hoffman
Hoffman’s new 19-in. portable (Vol. 16:24 pl6) is one of the few portables to feature a bonded tube. It is the leader in a line of 25 basic sets (including six 17 & 21-in. holdovers), as opposed to its 10 basic models introduced at this time last year. Among Hoffman’s features are 22,000 volts of picture power in most 23-in. sets, full-year warranty on all parts & tubes. The stereo line consists of 2 portables and 2 consoles. Radios are the sun-powered Trans-Solar, now $49.95, a 7-transistor set at $29.95 and an 8-transistor at $34.95. Hoffman’s distributor-dealer convention next year will be in Paris in May, it was anounced at this year’s Las Vegas convention.
Answering $150,000 libel suit brought by Hartley Products Co., (Vol. 16:14 pl8). Consumers Union told Bronx County Supreme Court that its rating of the Hartley loudspeaker was fair comment. Asking a dismissal of the suit — the outgrowth of an “unacceptable” rating published in CU’s Consumer Reports — CU stated that its report on the speaker “constitutes fair comment and the honest expression of opinion based upon adequate tests.” It denied malice or intent to injure Hartley’s business. CU’s answer listed the tests given the loudspeaker. It also asked dismissal of the complaint on the grounds that the action was filed more than a year after the alleged offense and is illegal under the statute of limitations.
Philco will develop, design & market specialized production equipment for outside purchasers through the new equipment development & mfg. operations of its Lansdalc div. under gen. mgr. Stuart L. Parsons. The group, which formerly developed equipment for tube-semiconductor operations of Philco and its licensees, is currently making & delivering Fast Automatic Transfer Line automated transistor production lines for Philco transistor licensees CBS Electronics, General Transistor, Sprague Electric and Semiconductors Ltd.
Canadian TV’^ slumped in April, as distributor sales to dealers slipped to 20,777 units from 27,612 in April 1959. The year-to-date volume totaled 100,578 units, compared with 116,786 TV’s sold in Jan.-April 1959. The 4-month breakdown (corresponding 1959 figures in parentheses) ; portables, 19,527 (21,281); table models, 19,572 (34,876); consoles, 56,945 (56,234); combinations, 4,534 (4,395). For April 1960 (vs. April 1959): portables, 6,166 (6,644); table models, 3,578 (7,291); consoles, 10,293 (13,073); combinations, 740 (604).
Control of Recordlo Corp., Charlotte, Mich, maker of tape recorders, has been purchased by Creative Electronics, Chicago. Creative Electronics Chmn. Donald Heinisch & Pres. Stephen Barr have taken similar positions in Recordio Corp.