Evening star., 1929-12-06
RADIO ESCAPES
FROM DEPRESSION.
Tentative Trade Figures Dis
cuSsed at ParIey Show
Healthy Industry.
BY MARTIN CODEL.

Classed no longer among luxury goods.
radio has stepped out OF a perlod OF
depression, traced variously to over
production, the stock market crash and
its relative newneSs as an industry.
Tentative trade figures made avail
able during the National Business Sur
Fey Conference and remarks Of various
industrial leaders who attended the
conference reveal no apprehension about
the condition of the radio industry
among the others more basic in the
national economy.
Frequent illusions were made to radio
In the course of the conference called
here Thursday by the United States
Chamber of Commerce. Julius H.
Barnes, chairman. referred to radios,
along with telephones and automobiles,
as possessions to which American homes
now properly aspire under their present
standard of living. DR.. Julius Klein,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce, cited
radio, along with aviation, as neces-
sary industry. healthy but by virtue of
its neTuess in need of readjustment."
Increase in Purchases.
Clarence L. Collins, president of the
National Electrical Manufacturers As
sociation, reported that there has been
an increase of 20 per cent during the
last three months in purchases by radio
manufacturers of materials that 60 into
the making of radio sets, such as wire.
sockets, condensers, etc. He predicted,
however, that the first six months OF
1880 would see a substantial decrease in
the amount of such materials sold to
radio manufacturers, but he did not
venture any predictions about the pro-
duction of radio sets in their completed
form.
From o. H. Caldwell, the former Fed
eral radio commissioner, who is now
editor Of a leading radio trade journal,
comes the report that 1929 will mark
the greatest volume of radio buying by
the public in all of radios history. He
estimates that total sales for the year
will exceed those of 1928 by Is to 40
per cent, amounting to perhaps $780,
600 900. Some 3,500,0O0 radio sets have
been manufactured this year and mar
keted at a total retail value of $450,-
100000. according to Mr.. Caldwell
About 150000,0o0 tubes have been
turned out at value of about S62 2000,-
600. Radio phonograph combinations
have doubled or trebled in sales, loud
speakers alone having diminished in
volume.
Figures to Be Checked.
All these are given as tentative hg-
ures, which await check-up after the
present holiday trade.
Radio is the public's cheapest annuse-
ment," Mr.. Caldwell states. "a radio
set gives free access to the greatest
aggregation of talent ever assembled
Probably $12,o00,oo0 will be spent or
program features alone during 1880
There is no bigger bargain than radio
set at any price. The home market is
still far from saturation. In the aver
age community two houses out of every
three are prospects for a modern re-
ceiver"
M. Il. Aylesworth, president of the
National Broadcasting Co., attended the
conference, and oficially rendered Mr.
Barnes and his committee an offer tc
utilize the networks of his company al
any time it desires in the furtherance
of the scheme of industrial co-opera-
ton suggested by President Hoover. Mr.
Aylesworth also gave a glowing report
on the state of the broadcasting side oi
the radio industry.
THE National Broadcasting Co. anC
the sponsors of its programs, Mr.. Ayles.
worth said, will spend at least S12,'
000,000 themselves on bringing radio
programs to the people next year. WI
md no letdown In broadcasting inter.
est and no inclination on the part o.
our sponsors to forsake broadcasting."
(CoryriSht, 1929, BY North American News
paper Alliance)