Evening star., 1927-10-29
100000 HOMES
RADIO EQUIPPED
1,750,000 Sets Sold Annu-
ally in u. S., Government
Trade Agents Told.

At the present rate Of radio equip
ment turnover, it will take IA years
to place q radio set in every home in
the United States, o. II. Caldwell of
the Federal Radio Commission told
the district and cooperative office
managers of the Bureau of Foreign
and Domestic Commerce at their con-
ference now being held in Wash.
ington.
Formerly identified with the radio
retailing trade, Commissioner Cald-
we'll. before accepting the Govern
ment post, was closely concerned with
the distribution factor. and cited some
statistics that We're highly interesting,
in view of the effort being made by
the Department of Commerce to help
the young industry chart it's sales
course these next few years through
dealers stock surveys.
Mr.. Caldwell said that the rate of
radio set sales is about 100000 a
year, and that at least half of these
represent requirements. Only 25 per
cent of the homes of the country, or
about 100000, are equipped with
radio sets, he said.
On the other hand, there are 16, ,000,-
600 wired homes and 100000 tele-
phones, according to Nlr. Caldwell's
statistics. There are Loco 900 phono-
graphs. And if radio is regarded in
some quarters as an expensive luxury,
he points to the fact that there are
$4,000, 900 passenger automobiles in
use in this country. The cheapest
car represents n greater investment
than the highest grade radio set. and
there are those who think the latter
is as indispensable.
In urging the Government trade
agents gathered here from their offices
in all parts of the country to help
put q radio set in every home" Mr..
Caldwell characterized the radio set
as 1.-The most marvellous piece of mer-
chandise we can find There is a set
made to suit every pocketbook, he
said. So much valuable information
and instruction is going out over the
air, quite aside from the entertain
ment, that the home is no more COM
plete without radio than without its
daily newspaper.
1t was the opinion Of Mr. Caldwell,
who is technically trained man, that
prospective purchasers ought to get
adequate sets in order to get the
proper tone values in reception. The
higher-gra transmitters today are
emitting tonal quality that is "about
perfect" Barring unusual disturb.
ances, there is no reason why listeners
cannot obtain splendid reception from
their local stations, at least, if they
use good sets and maintain them care.
fully.
Victor Herbert's Naughty Mariet-
the United States Army Band are
the outstanding attractions tonight of
WRC. The musical comedy will be
presented during the Philco hour,
with Jessica Dragonette, lyric So
prano, singing the leading role. She
will be assisted by Doris Doe, con-
tralto; Colin O'More, tenor. and
Charles Robinson. bass baritone.
The Army Band concert also will
be favored with musical comedy
air. The featured selection is the
score from High Jinks," which will
follow the opening march, Sousa
lei Captain" Other selections in
clude the waltz "Tres Jolie" and THE
Mill in the Forest"
WRC will open it's evening program
with a dinner concert by the Waldorf
Astoria Orchestra. An announcement
of the foot ball scores and the weekly
Bible talk will follow. The stations
late dance program will be provided
by the Club st. Marks Orchestra.
LOl oCH W. StCItldIE Ol
the Washington Chamber of Com
merce, will discuss the proposed de-
velopment of Washingtons park sys-
tenn before the microphone tonight of
WMAL. The topic of Mr.. Hyde's talk,
which will be broadcast at 9:15 o'clock,
is planning Washington's Park Sys-
tenn" Another talk on the finger
print system used by the Army by
Christopher G. Bennett also is sched-
uled.
WMAL's musical attractions in
Clude a dance program by the Blue
bird Orchestra and recital by Alice
3. Harvey, pianist.
The extraneous noises and static
which have been rampant on the wave
lengths throughout the week diminished
somewhat last night and permitted
the signals of the out-of-town stations
to come through with a fair degree
of clarity. Reception also was marked
by fair volume and an unrestricted
range for tuning activities, Stations
in all sections responded willingly,
but many of them We're afflicted by
fading, which was quite prevalent
during the late hours.