Presto

CROSLEY INTRODUCES "COMMUTER"
CAMERA-TYPE POCKET RADIO
The Crosley Corporation recently announced the Com-
muter, a new pocket, camera-type radio listing at $19.95. It
is said that the performance, tone and selectivity are amazing
in a set of this size. It comes in a stylish aluminum case pat-
terned after the design of a jewel case. It is equipped with a
handy gray leather carrying handle. Streamlined, the case has
a polished trim, hinged snap cover, which when raised turns
the set on and places the loop in operating position. The set
weighs only three pounds and five ounces, complete with bat-
teries. Dimensions are 8 inches wide, 4-M inches deep and
2-Va inches high.
The Crosley Commuter uses a small standard 1.5 volt "A"
battery, with an average life of 4 hours, which can be pur-
chased at any drug, hardware, or 5-and-10 store, and a new
67.8 volt "B" battery which has an average life of 40 hours.
An entirely new type and new style of miniature radio
tubes has been designd expressly for compact portable re-
ceivers. Powerful 1.5 volt, they have exceptionally low bat-
tery drain. .The Crosley Commuter is equipped with a 3-inch
permanent magnet dynamic speaker which gives remarkable
tone quality for so small a receiver.
The set covers the American broadcast range from 500
to 1600 kilocycles (187 to 550 meters).
PHILCO CORPORATION CELEBRATES
15 MILLIONTH JUBILEE
On November 14, 1940, just fifteen minutes before quitting
time at a manufacturing plant at Tioga and C Streets, Phila-
delphia, a new production record was set for the radio in-
dustry.
Philco Corporation had completed production on its 15
millionth radio receiving set, approximately one-third of the
total number made by the entire radio industry. A nod from
a worker making a final assembly line test signified that the
radio was in perfect working condition as it rolled to a stop
before a group of spectators, including Mayor Robert E. Lam-
berton, newspaper representatives and photographers, and a
group of the corporation's executives.
George E. Deming, Philco Vice President, in charge cf
Production, presented the Mayor with the console type radio-
phonograph as the factory whistles sounded the close of the
day's work and marked a production achievement made pos-
sible by extensive engineering and research. A small silver
plaque mounted below the control dial on the set read, "The
15 Millionth Philco radio presented to His Honor Mayor
Robert E. Lamberton, By the Philco Corporation, November
14, 1940."
To the left of the Mayor, and taking an active part in the
presentation, stood William Martin, 65 year old Philco Radio
Laboratory employee who has been actively engaged at Philco
for twenty-eight years. He stated that he had seen the first
Philco set made in 1928 and hoped to be on hand for the 100
millionth presentation. "I went to work for Philco when it
was called the Philadelphia Storage Battery Company," said
Martin as he recalled some of the earlier days of the corpora-
tion.
"We were originally called the Helios Electric Company,"
Martin continued. "Of course the company was incorporated
in 1892' about twenty years before my time. "In 1906 the name
was changed to the Philadelphia Storage Battery Company
but it wasn't until January of 1940 that we became the Philco
Corporation.
"Maybe you remember the old 'trickle chargers you used
to charge your storage batteries at home? We invented those
in 1923. We made the first 'socket power' units so that radios
could be operated entirely from house current, too."
Martin continued to recall Philco achievements and seemed
particularly pleased with their latest invention, the photo-
electric phonograph pick-up that plays music from a beam
of light without necessitating needle changes.
Philco executives present included: Harold W. Butler,
Vice President in Charge of Employee and Labor Relations;
John Ballantyne, Treasurer; Ernest B. Loveman; T. E. Ken-
nally, General Sales Manager; David Grimes, Chief Engineer;
John Gilligan, Manager of Specialty Sales; and Joseph Gillies,
Works Manager.
RADIOLA SERIES DESIGNED FOR
SERVICE DEALERS
A new series of Radiola receivers, made by RCA Manu-
facturing Company, especially designed and built for the ex-
acting needs of the service dealer, is being formally an-
nounced to parts distributors and servicemen throughout the
country.
The Radiola series, including six AC-DC table models in
the price range $9.95 — $19.95, a battery-operated, AC-DC
portable, and a record player attachment, was first placed on
the market during the National Parts Show in Chicago in
June.
RADIOLA MODEL 510
PAGE TWENTY-SIX
John C. Marden, Manager of Radiola Sales, says that this
is the first step in a program to make the service man "sales
minded". Mr. Marden points out, "That the Radiola line has
been designed to give tube and equipment distributors han-
dling RCA products an additional line consisting of small
radio receivers in order to broaden their activities with their
customers, the service dealers. The line is the sort to cut
down the high initial investment that would normally be nec-
essary where a distributor is entering a new field."
PKIOSTO MI'STC TTMTCS
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