Weekly television digest (Jan-Dec 1960)

VOL. 16; No. 48 15 The New Systems: Dry-seal process has been closely guarded industry secret during its year of development. Basically, it is this: An elastic vinyl gasket grips curved implosion glass, holding it at a fixed distance (about one-eighth inch) from face of picture tube, on which gasket rests. Gasket also rests against escutcheon, which can be used (along with a wire tube harness) to hold entire picture-tube & implosion-plate assembly in place. Set & tube makers see great promise in this simple system, which has basic Underwriters Labs safety approval (although some glass made for the system has been rejected). Wells-Gardner, large private-brand manufacturer (Western Auto, Montgomery Ward, etc.), is enthusiastic, has been quietly using dry-seal method for some time, now is said to be using it in most of its sets. Motorola is understood to be planning to use the technique in several new sets. Admiral, Zenith & RCA reportedly are "interested." Dry-seal process is joint year-long effort of the following firms: (1) Pittsburgh Plate. (2) Kimble. (3) Rauland Corp., Zenith's tube-making subsidiary, where work was coordinated under project engineer Joseph Fiore. (4) Conneaut Rubber & Plastic Co., Conneaut, Ohio, div. of U.S. Stoneware Corp., Akron, maker of chemical & medical plastics & ceramics. Conneaut developed the elastomeric (rubber-like) gasket which separates implosion glass, picture tube & escutcheon. Advantages of dry-seal implosion-plate process revolve largely around cost. It is installed by set maker as port of TV assembly process. As used now by Wells-Gardner, it is claimed to make possible a cost saving of about $2 a set over bonded 23-in., but moimting procedure is said to be so flexible that modifications of process may increase savings another 25-to-5O0. Picture-tube replacement costs to consumer, according to dry-seal protagonists, would be cut $15 at retail, on basis of today's costs (bonded 23-in. replacement, $75 regular unbonded "strong" 23-in. replacement, $60). Other claimed advantages: A 23-in. set using dry-seal weighs 3-to-4 lbs. less than bonded-tube type. Implosion plate can easily be removed by TV technician for tube replacement or servicing. Dry-seal glass contour shield can be used with any size or shape of tube, including 24 & 27-in., still being made for original equipment market, and it "makes older tubes look modern." Since it uses conventional tube, it cuts down high rejection rate of bonded tubes (a point which some tube makers dispute, claiming they've now mastered art of producing bonded tubes with low rejection rate). There are disadvantages, too, of course: Although vinyl gasket is claimed to provide completely dust-proof seal, there's still air-space between faceplate & implosion glass. Unlike bonded-on implosion plate, this results in double reflection, although closeness of glass surfaces converges reflections and makes them less objectionable than in old-fashioned flat-glass sets. There are also claims that implosion protection may be somewhat less than bonded tube provides. Corning officials are extremely dubious of high cost-saving claims by dry-seal proponents. In addition, they state that their own firm experimented with similar approach before finalizing on bonded-shield, and found that gasket doesn't keep dust out, that reflections were objectionable. They also express doubt that this approach could stop an implosion. Another competitor to Coming's bonding process is so new that most tube & set makers haven't seen it yet. It's Pittsburgh's improved laminating technique, which already has an important feather in its cap — RCA is applying it to its forthcoming improved color tube (see next page). It's understood Pittsburgh has shown new process only to RCA, Rauland and GE, will gradually acquaint other manufacturers with it. Lamination process is somewhat like Coming's bonding technique — curved implosion plate glass is affixed by tube maker to front of picture tube. But, although Pittsburgh officials are silent, it's understood they are claiming these advantages: (1) Laminating procedure is vastly simplified, requiring tube-maker expenditure of only $15-$20,000 to adapt existing machinery. (2) Process can be used with any size or shape of conventional tube. (3) Resulting tube can be made & priced cheaper than bonded-shield type. (4) Laminated implosion plate can be removed easily to recover glass bulb for re-use. Process is said to be made possible principally through development of cheaper, simpler-to-use resin for cementing implosion plate to tube. Only comment from Pittsburgh officials was this: "If our company knew 18 months ago what it knows now about laminating, we wouldn't have lost that first round." Sounding out tube & set makers about du Pont's Mylar safety shield, which is designed to be permanently affixed to picture tube (Vol. 16:47 pl6), we found generally bearish reaction. Two principal draw