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THE WORLD OF RADIO
NEW ATWATER KENT LINE INTRODUCED
AT CONVENTION OF DISTRIBUTORS
N important two-day conference of
Atwater Kent distributors from all
sections of the country was held at
the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, Philadelphia,
on January 7 and 8, at which time there was
introduced an imposing new line of Atwater
Kent radio receivers.
The new models include Model 99, a ten-
tube superheterodyne, available in either
highboy or lowboy cabinet with visual tuning
by means of a neon automatic indicator light
as the chief feature. The highboy is listed
at $122 and the lowboy at $112.
What will prove one of the most popular
receivers in the line is Model 96, an eight-
tube superheterodyne, using three 35's, two
27's, one 24, one 47, and one 80. This also
has visual tuning as well as a full-vision dial
automatic volume control, tone control, static
reducer, etc., and is equipped with an electro-
dynamic speaker. The highboy is listed at
$99 and the lowboy at $89.
Model 94 is a seven-tube superheterodyne
without visual tuning, but embodying enough
of other important features. In this model
the highboy is listed at $79 and the lowboy
at $69.
Model 92 is an attractive compact with an
eight-tube superheterodyne chassis, an electro-
dynamic speaker, full-vision dial, tone con-
trol, automatic volume control, etc. This is
listed at $59.50.
A
Model 90 is a seven-tube superheterodyne
compact, listing at $49.50, and there are in-
cluded in the line the Atwater Kent auto-
mobile radio, two direct current sets, and two
battery sets, which remain unchanged.
The business sessions, which were held on
Friday, were preceded by a banquet at the
Bellevue-Stratford on Thursday evening,
where a topical playlet served to amuse the
guests greatly, particularly as it was woven
around Atwater Kent radio activities and the
doings of the distributors. A "Court Astrol-
oger" read in the stars a mighty fine thing
for the Atwater Kent Co., the distributors
and dealers during 1932. Following the ban-
quet, the guests were supplied with bundles
of stage money and spent an hour or so flirt-
ing with the goddess of chance in an impro-
vised gambling hall.
At the business session, F. E. Basler, gen-
eral sales manager, acted as chairman and
reviewed the radio situation briefly, referring
particularly to the fact that a roll of over
240 radio manufacturers had dwindled to a
scant score, although the Atwater Kent Co.
has continued right along. After referring
to the new line and to possibilities, he intro-
duced A. Atwater Kent, president of the
company, who gave a brief talk. During the
course of the day other executives also ad-
dressed the distributors, among them being
P. A. Ware, David Bauer and Frank Aiken.
RADIO MANUFACTURERS
PROTEST SPECIAL SALES TAX
Means Committee at the hearing arranged by
the Radio Manufacturers' Association in-
cluded Hon. Frank D. Scott, legislative coun-
sel of the association; Arthur T. Murray, of
Springfield, Mass., president of the United
American Bosch Corp.; B. J. Grigsby, of
Chicago, president of the Grigsby-Grunow
Co.; William J. Barkley, of Newark, N. J.,
president of the DeForest Radio Co., and A.
M. Ferry, of Washington, representing radio
tube manufacturers. Major I. E. Lambert,
of Camden, N. J., counsel for RCA Victor
Co., and several other industry representa-
tives also were present at the hearing.
Leaders of the radio industry appeared
January 23 before the Ways and Means Com-
mittee of the House of Representatives in
opposition to the proposed 5 per cent sales
tax on radio and accessories, declaring that
such a tax would cause increased prices to
the public, reduce sales, increase unemploy-
ment and would raise negligible additional
taxes for the government. The radio spokes-
men were followed immediately before the
House Committee by a large delegation of
automobile industry leaders in a similar plea
against increased taxes on their industries.
That radio is not a luxury but a great
agency of communication and human devel-
opment was strongly urged by the industry
spokesmen. For over a year radio receiving
sets and tubes have been generally sold to the
public below cost with great losses to all but
a few manufacturers, it was stated. It was
emphasized that the proposed special and dis-
criminatory tax on radio could not be ab-
sorbed and must be passed on to the public.
That the radio industry was willing to
bear its share of the additional needs for
federal revenue and would recommend in-
stead a small general sales tax on all manu-
factures was stated by the industry witnesses
before the House Committee.
Those testifying before the Ways and
18
TWO NEW ASSOCIATIONS
FORMED IN RADIO FIELD
Fred Wiebe, of the Brown Supply Co., St.
Louis, Mo., was recently elected president of
the National Federation of Radio and Elec-
trical Associations; and James Aitken, of the
Aitken Radio Corp., Toledo, O., president of
the National Association of Radio, Refriger-
ation and Electrical Distributors.
These two associations supersede the Na-
tional Federation of Radio Associations and
the Radio Wholesalers Association. The
names were officially changed by action of the
board of directors in order that they might
encompass the broadened scope of activities
of the former organizations and provide for
their expansion.
THE
MUSIC
TENTH ANNUAL CHICAGO
RADIO-ELECTRICAL SHOW
The Tenth Annual Chicago Radio-Elec-
trical Show held at the Coliseum during the
week of January 18-24 emphasized very
strongly the fact that the radio industry, or at
least the distributing element, has branched
out sharply into many other lines of electrical
home equipment, although radio still holds a
very prominent place in their plans. Alto-
gether, there were displayed forty-two new
models of radio receivers, ranging in price
from $27.50 to $1,095; the great majority
of them being of the super-heterodyne type,
indicating that this circuit will still be the
most popular in the coming months.
The total attendance at the show w~as
215,491, which exceeded the expectations of
the show- management. This figure exceeds
by over 21,000 the number who attended the
last show and was held to indicate the gen-
eral interest of the public in home electrical
equipment of all types.
The radio manufacturers who had added
other lines, particularly refrigerators, were
much in evidence and in these electric ice
boxes the public showed particular interest;
a large number of them bringing rules and
tape measures with them to select models
which would fit in special positions in their
homes.
One of the novelties of the show was
"Ernie" the electrical maid, which not only
washes and irons clothes, but washes the
dishes and performs some fourteen other
household tasks, disappearing under the sink
when not in use. The actual sales of radio
equipment to wholesalers exceeded all pre-
vious figures and in some cases were so much
that manufacturers will be forced to increase
factory production.
J. R. McDONOUGH NAMED
RCA VICTOR CO. HEAD
J. R. McDonough, formerly executive vice-
president of the RCA Victor Co., has been
named president of that company to succeed
E. E. Shumaker, who resigned recently. Mr.
McDonough, who is thirty-seven years old,
entered the employ of the Radio Corp. of
America in 1924 and later became assistant
to the president of that corporation. He joined
the RCA Victor Co. in 1931.
COMBINE PHOTOPHONE
WITH RCA VICTOR CO.
RCA Photophone, Inc., has been consol-
idated with the RCA Victor Co. The lines
of the two companies are closely associated
and it is expected that the connection of
sound motion picture recording and reproduc-
ing with the radio laboratory should give
impetus to the introduction of sound repro-
ducing equipment in homes, schools, etc., as
well as in theatres. The staff of the Photo-
phone Co. has been transferred to Camden,
N. J.
TRADE
REVIEW,
February, 1932