Music Trade Review

Issue: 1946 Vol. 105 N. 5

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
G.E. Announces Novel
Self-Charging Portable
A new and revolutionary type of self -
charging partable radio, incorporating
features which proved valuable under
rugged military conditions, has been
developed by the Receiver Division of
the General Electric Company's Elec-
tronics Department and was introduced
on May 2nd at a press meeting in the
Ambassador Hotel, New York. The
new receiver weighs about 20 pounds,
and it powered by a two-volt leak-proof
storage battery. It plays for 20 hours
on a single charge. The battery can
then be recharged rapidly by plugging
it into ordinary house current. The
receiver is designed to play at any vol-
ume while the battery is being charged,
or it can be charged silently.
In presenting this all-purpose re-
ceiver, Paul L. Chamberlain, manager
of sales for the Receiver Division, dis-
closed that the General Electric Com-
pany is the exclusive manufacturer of
this type of radio which, he said, has
an efficiency previously found only in
the larger and expensive console models.
High quality performance of the
portable, he said, is made possible
through the utilization of electronic
and mechanical features which were
perfected during the war. Other im-
provements were attained through
modernization and refinement of other
elements, he said.
The transmitter that was used for
liaison purposes by command tanks
(part of Signal Corps equipment SCR-
506) was on display and a comparison
was drawn between its construction
and the new General Electric portable.
Mr. Chamberlain stated that the tool-
ing cost of this new receiver was in
excess of $150,000.
The self-charging portable is being
made in two models:
Model 250 is designed for standard
broadcast reception. It has five tubes
(Turn to page 24)
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, MAY, 1946
Sophie Tucker Fans Swell
Sales at Miami Associated Store
A gala event was staged recently by
the Associated Stores, Miami, Fla.,
when Sophie Tucker in person greeted
SOPHIE TUCKER AUTOGRAPHS
M. McCarthy, manager of the Miami
store, and his able assistant, George
Klein, interrupted the program, now
RECORDS
scores of fans for -over two hours.
Miss Tucker looked regal, and smiled
affably.
She was seated at a table,
with record albums at her side. June
Campbell and Terry Wood, two young
women employees of the store, assis-
ted in placing the albums before her,
one after another, for the coveted sig-
nature. Herbert A. Brennan, vice pres-
ident and general manager of Associa-
ted, had come from Tampa for the
event, and stood near, an interested
spectator.
Ernest A. Reyer, manager of Asso-
ciated's record division, was also pres-
ent. He did good service in replenish-
ing the album stock from packing
boxes, and shelves, as the sale pro-
ceeded.
Sophie Tucker fans had taken time
by the forelock. They had stationed
themselves near the table before her
arrival, or in near-by record rooms, to
try out her recordings. It was chiefly
an adult attendance.
IN
ASSOCIATED
MIAMI
STORE
Tucker songs and satirical hits fea-
tured over the loud speaker. Charles
and then, with an invitation to those
lined up outside.
Approximately 125 albums, were
sold during the afternoon and more
than 200 single records. 'Mail orders
continued to come in for a fortnight.
The line-up extended all the way
through the store, and out onto the
sidewalk.
Earlier in the season, Xavier Cugat,
popular "Rhumba King" was featured
at the Associated in a "personal ap-
pearance." Mr. Cugat wrote his name
on each individual record of the "Wal-
ter Winchell Rhumba," which topped
the sales list, and made sketches at
chain-lightning speed on each album
sold.
Clever caricatures of himself,
and also of Mr. McCarthy and George
Klein, highlighted the event.
Approximately 100 albums, and
more than 200 single reords were sold.
Between $700 to $800 were rung up on
the cash register.
23
IT
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
G.
E. PORTABLE
(Continued from page 231
in addition to a disc-type battery charg-
er. No rectifier tube is used or needed.
It is equipped with a three-gang con-
denser for super selectivity. This radio
has a three-way tone control. To assure
the best reception, a long-range an-
tenna is built into the case. The com-
plete set weight 19% pounds. In size,
trains. This set weighs approximately
20V-i pounds. In size it is 14% inches
wide; 10% inches high, and 5-13 16
inches deep.
Both of these portable models are of
sturdy die-cast construction through-
out, designed to stand up under out-of-
doors punishment. Aluminum compart-
ments provide efficient shielding. A
hinged cover protects the dial and con-
New General Electric Portables. Model 250 and Model 260
it measures 14% inches wide; 10%
inches high, and 5-13/16 inches deep.
Model 260 has standard broadcast
and five short-wave bands. It has six
tubes in addition to a disc-type battery
charger. No rectifier tube is used or
needed. It has a three-gang condenser,
and a three-way tone control. However,
in this model the controls operate by 12
push buttons. In addition to the built-
in long range antenna, it has a spe-
cially designed removable loop anten-
na for use in difficult reception places,
such as automobiles, airplanes and
OPA Grants Increase
in Radio Tube Prices
Increases in manufacturers' ceiling
prices for radio receiving tubes and al-
lied special purpose tubes were an-
nounced by the OPA on May 1st. Al-
though an increase factor was given
for tubes sold as replacement parts as
well as those sold as original equip-
ment, consumer costs for replacement
tubes will not be affected, the agency
said. Two increase factors were given
to manufacturers, the first providing
for a 20 per cent advance from March,
1942, ceilings on sales of tubes to re-
sellers for replace ment purposes and
the other a 15.5 per cent increase for
all other sales of tubes, including those
used as original equipment on radios.
New Retail Outlet
The Colorado Electric Co., 22 North
Tejon St., Colorado Springs, Cal., op-
erated by W. J. Peyser, Jr., plans to
expand and handle pianos, musical in-
struments, radio phonographs, records
and sheet music.
24
trols. The back panel provides easy
access to the power cord for AC oper-
ation and instant view of the battery
charge indicator.
The built-in "beam-a-scope" antenna
makes an outside aerial unnecessary.
Another feature, which will be in all
of the new General Electric receivers,
is the G-E Alnico 5 speaker.
The estimated cost of operation ap-
proximates one cent for 20 hours of
playing. This compares with the two
cents per hour cost of operation of a
standard dry-cell battery portable.
New Bendix Electronic
Phonograph Pick-up
An entirely new "armored vacuum"
tube in the tip of the phonograph tone
arm instantly translates mechanical
sound from the record into electronic
modulations in what Bendix claims to
be "the world's first direct action elec-
tronic pick-up" which has just been an-
nounced by L. C. Truesdell, general
sales manager for Radio and Televi-
sion, Bendix Radio Division of the Ben-
dix Aviation Corp. He declared the
device to be revolutionary in its sim-
plicity and capable of reproducing the
full beauty of recorded music including
delicate tones now lost to other than
the best studio type reproducers. The
new pick-up is ideal for consumer use
said Mr. Truesdell because it resists
abuse and is incapable of damaging
records, practically abolishing record
wear and high replacement costs.
Basic operation of the new device
was described by W. L. Webb, Bendix
Director of Research and Engineering
who said: "We believe this to be the
simplest and most direct pick-up of
sound from records. The mechanical
undulations are transmitted from the
record groove by a filament which in-
troduces them directly into the electron
stream within the new 'armored vac-
uum' tube—all within a small frac-
tion of an inch. By this means many
intervening steps are eliminated to-
gether with the danger of loss of fidel-
ity, trouble possibilities and increased
cost of manufacture.
"Our use of the armored vacuum
tube means that the new pick-up is ab-
solutely temperature and humidity
proof. The Bendix Radio Electronic
pick-up will neither deteriorate from
disuse, nor does it require any special
protective measures to insure its op-
eration."
The new pick-up contains further
advantages in overcoming scratch and
possessing a minimum of distortion,
Webb continued.
"Our design has banished record
damage, and we believe it is of prime
importance that our instrument is safe
in the hands of the public including the
naturally careless children," Webb em-
phasized.
"Record wear is eliminated by the
fact that less than two-thirds ounce
pressure is exerted on the record.
"When it becomes necessary, the en-
tire reproducing element may be re-
placed by simply plugging in a new
tube," said Webb.
A practical attitude on marketing
the new product was displayed by Gen-
eral Sales Manager Truesdell, who
stated: "The new Bendix Radio Elec-
tronic Pick-up will be introduced on
newly designed Bendix AM-FM Ra-
dio-Phonographs
incorporating new
high quality automatic record changer
mechanisms."

-

Ansley Completes New
Wage Contract
The Ansley Radio Corp. of 41 St.
Joes Avenue, Trenton, N. J., manu-
facturers of high quality radio-phono-
graph combinations, electronic pianos,
and a new built-in-radio, the Ansley
Paneltone, has just completed its con-
tract negotiations for a renewal of their
contract with Local 11486, IBEW,
A.F.of L. This new contract extends
for one year and includes a 15^ per
hour pay increase, progressive vaca-
tion schedule, seven paid holidays and
several other benefits. All of these new
benefits went into effect as of April 29.
Employees covered by the contract in-
clude all production workers in the
Radio Department, the Machine Shop,
and in the Woodworking Shop where
the company manufactures its own
cabinets.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, MAY, 1946

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