Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-22
NEW RADIO PLANT
WORLDS LARGEST
AtWater Rents Factory at
Philadelphia Scene of
Dedication Ceremony.
BY MARTIN CODEL.

PHILADELPHIA. May 22-Thirty-
two acres of factory space, honeycomb-
ed with conveyor belts that carry parts
miles upon miles for assembly into COM
piete radio sets, now constitute the larg-
est radio factory in the world A twin
unit of the Atwater Kent factory, the
Ford production plant of radio, was
dedicated yesterday with much ado
amog the Philadelphia citizenry. Sena-
tor Dill of Washington, leader in radio
legislation, was among those present to
pay tribute to the six years of industrial
romance represented in the growth OF
Arthur Atwater Kent's giant enterprise.
The new 16-acre plant IL an addition
to and virtually a duplicate of the old
plant, which has failed to meet ire
mendously increased production demand
for radio sets. Mr. Kent made his dedi-
catory speech with a Salutation to the
effect that his own feelings about the
present and future of radio were con
cretely presented in the form OF TINS
big. new factory"
If technical revolutions or the en-
Croachment of televiSion are causing
him any pause about audible radios
future prospects. he did not display 1t
when hls expanded plant was formally
opened.
Employs 1000 Workers.
Now employing 1000 workers, the
factory's addition will make it possible
to keep Is 900 busy. The Atwater Kent
Co. leads the whole radio industry IN
output units. In total volume of whole
sale business it is near the top. 1t is
one of the keeneSt trade rivals of the
giant radio concern under whose patents
it is licensed, namely, the Radio Cor
poration of America. A strong bid is
being made for foreign trade, despite
the fact that the domestic market is
still ripe because foreign broadcasting
developments have not kept pace with
American.
Senator Dill pointed out to the 1000
or more guests at the dedication that
the United States, with only about six
per cent of the worlds population, has
some 70 per cent of the worlds radio
sets and broadcaSting stations. With
ABOUT 10000. 900 homes equipped with
radio, a market for sets still exists
among some 100000 homes. This is
in addition to the vast replacement
market. And all this development i'll
the short space of about eight years.
Mr.. Kent's own business six years ago
was the production OF Ignition equip
ment.
Aside from business romance in his
industry, which hardly is out of its
Swaddling clothes, there Is romance IN
the actual manufacture Of radio set.
One set contains more than 900 parts.
A tube. has, seven parts. AS Senator
Dill remarked, these parts travelled
about 100000 miles to be put together.
A list of materials and the history Of
their production and then to the factory
affords great lesson in physical
geography.
Parts From Many Countries.
Far from producing all the concom-
itant parts, the American maker has to
depend upon foreign mines and quar-
ries, animals and vegetables, lakes and
rivers for his materials. No nation and
no continent furnishes all the substances
that so into the finished radio set.
The imagination was stirred particu-
1arly when modern radio receiving set
was placed in a copper box, which was
sealed and inserted in an opening in the
giant corner stone of this Philadelphia
factory. HOW win posterity look upon
such meager invention when it is
able to see as well as hear by radio?
The engineers, usually the most con-
sentative of prognoSticators, confidently
assert that television Is within the range
of possibility and may soon be an &C
complished fact.
win this little radio receiver, capable
Of picking up infinite similar energies
from the unknown and magical ether
and converting them into voice and
music from far away, be regarded as an
anachronism and mere curiosity by fu-
ture generations, when men ike Ntkola
Tosla. the inventor. predict that homes
will be heated and lighted and auto
mobiles powered by radio?
(Copyrtght, 1929, by North American News
paper Alliance.)