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THE WORLD OF RADIO
GOOD ATTENDANCE AT ANNUAL
RADIO TRADE SHOW IN CHICAGO
A
LTHOl GH regarded somewhat of a
disappointment in certain quarters,
the annual radio Trade Show held
New Officers of the R. M. A.
in Chicago last month proved generally sat-
President, FKKD. 1"). WILLIAMS, Indianapolis.
isfactory. There were fewer exhibits than
in previous years and considerable space was
First
Vicc-Prcsidrnt,
HARRY
A. BKACII,
given to electric refrigerators and electric
Rochester, N. Y.
home equipment outside of radio, but there
Sfcond
I'icf-Prrsidi'nl,
MKADE B R I \ K I ,
Har-
were enough new radio receivers shown to
rison, N. J.
live up to the name of the exposition.
In radio there was a distinct tendency to
Third liic-Prisidrnt,
LESLIE K. MITKR, Chi-
step up the price range and although there
cago.
were midgets to be had at around $20 list
Trrasurrr, K. N. RAUI.AMI, Chicago.
the majority were listed at $49.50 or better
and a very substantial proportion of console
sets were well above the $100 line.
Those operating the show declared them-
that the saturation point was far in the
selves well pleased with the attendance and
future, despite the cry of the pessimists. IK
stated that over 14-.000 individuals had regis-
stated that there were some 16 million radio
tered during the show period. General
sets in operation in homes, but that many
estimates were considerably below these
of them were obsolete and ready for replace-
figures, but nevertheless there was a very
ment. While this replacement business was
substantial turnout of all sections of the
in itself important, it must also be consid-
country. The registrations indicated that the
ered that there are over 13,000,000 homes
attendance was only about 3 3 per cent off
in the country not yet equipped with radios.
from last year.
Mir h of the time during the first two or This means a wide field for sales.
The Wednesday session of the Radio
three days was given over to various asso-
Manufacturers' Association was devoted to
ciation meetings. On Monday morning there
the presentation of reports by the various
was a conference of tube manufacturers to
committees, all of whom showed considerable
discuss the great progress that had been
activity during the year. The question of
made during the year in developing new
more intensive Federal regulation was dis-
types of tubes and what the future seemed
cussed and the members of the trade w e n
to hold for those essential radio factors.
warned to be on their guard against ex-
On Tuesday was held the general open
tremes in that direction. The patent situation
meeting of the Radio Manufacturers' Asso-
is being cleared up gradually and there has
ciation, at which Mayor Cermak of Chicago
been no increase in the problems there.
delivered his message of greeting. Owing
Fred D. Williams, president of P. R. Mal-
to the absence of Harry A. Shaw, president
lory & Co., Inc., of Indianapolis, Ind., was
of the National Association of Broadcasters,
elected president of the Radio Manufacturers'
his paper on ''Some Broadcast Problems" was
Association.
read by Paul W. Morency, vice-president
Other officers were elected as follows:
of the association. Mr. Shaw urged that
First vice-president, Harry A. Beach of
there be closer cooperation and teamwork on
the Stromberg-Carlson Tel. Manufacturing
the part of both radio manufacturers and
Company, Rochester, N. Y.; second vice-
broadcasters to the end of developing better
president, Meade Brunet of the RCA Radio-
programs for the purpose of holding public
tron Co., Inc., Harrison, N. J.; third vice-
interest. T h e principal -speaker was Merle
president, Leslie F. Muter of the Muter Co.,
Thorpe, editor of ''The Nation's Business,"
Chicago; and treasurer, F.. N. Rauland of
who devoted his time chiefly to urging that
the Rauland Corporation, Chicago.
business men insist upon economy in gov-
Four new members of the board of direc-
ernmental operation
and declared
that
tors to serve for three years were elected
Congress must be made to see that the
as follows:
budget could only be balanced by reducing
W. S. Symington, president of the Colonial
the overhead instead of placing additional
Radio Co., Buffalo; S. W. Muldowny, chair-
taxes on business that had already been so
man of the board of the National Union
badly hit.
Radio Corporation, New York City; C. B.
Harold A. Lafount of the Federal Radio
Smith, president of the Stewart-Warner
Commission delivered an interesting talk on
Corp., Chicago; and Franklin Hutchinson,
the present development in television at the
president of Kolster Radio, Inc., Newark,
same session.
N. J.
In his opening address President J. Clark
Four resignations from the board and an
Coir of the association declared that 1he
radio men were evidencing their faith in the equal number of replacements were an-
nounced. Resignations were accepted from
future by investing millions of dollars in new
A. L. Walsh of Newark, N. J . ; R. W . Jack-
radio equipment and products. He stated
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW,
June-July,
1932
son, New York City; K. K. Kauer, Provi-
dence, R. I.; and E. V. Hughes, Peru, Ind.
They were replaced by J. M. Spangler of
the National Carbon Co., New York; J.
Clarke Coit, president of the U. S. Radio &
Television Corp., Marion, Ind., and past
president of the R M A ; R. A. O'Connor,
president of Magnavox, Ltd., and Roy Bur-
lew, president of the Kenrad Corporation ot
Owensboro, Ky.
GERMAN MUSIC INSTRUMENT
EXPORTS SHOW DECLINE
According to a report submitted by U. S.
Vice-Consul Bernard F. Heller, of Dresden,
the exports of musical instruments by Ger-
many showed a falling off of 45 per cent
during the year of 1931 as compared with
1930 with the United States remaining the
most important market. The report reads in
part:
Germany's exports of musical instruments,
accessories and supplies decreased by about
45 per cent during the year 1931, as com-
pared with 1930, and were about 40 per cent
of those for 1929, the values of musical in-
strument exports being $11,428,760, $20,581,-
526 and $27,835,766 in the respective years.
All export items show decreases, but those for
phonographs and records, pianos and "other
instruments" were particularly noticeable.
Despite a considerable decrease in exports
during 1931, the United States remained the
most important market for musical instru-
ments and supplies of German origin, with
a value of $1,437,282. Decreases were notice-
able in exports of all instruments and acces-
sories except cellos and string basses. Con-
siderable decrease was recorded in the value
of mouth organ and accordion exports.
Norway and Sweden, classified together,
comprised the second best market during 1931,
but also showed a decline.
Great Britain
still maintains third place, with a value of
$913,206—a decrease, caused mainly by fewer
purchases of pianos and phonographs. Switzer-
land, the Netherlands and Czechoslovakia
follow, in the order named. Argentina, which
ranked fourth in 1930, fell to seventh place
for 1931, exports to this country being nearly
60 per cent less, and valued at $517,888, as
compared with $1,219,988.
Denmark was
the only country which showed an increase in
the value of exports from Germany.
German piano and grand piano exports,
including parts, show a large value decrease
for 1931—to $3,013,794 from $6,097,560 in
1930, a decrease of more than 50 per cent.
Sweden is now Germany's best customer for
pianos and grands, but is closely followed
by the United Kingdom and Italy. Argen-
tina, first in 1930, now ranks fourth. Exports
of pianos and grands to other South Amer-
ican and Central American countries show a
decrease in value, although the quantity re-
mains the same. Shipments to British South
Africa show a large decline in both quantity
and value.
17