Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-05
MIDGET RADIO CUT
1890 RETAIL SALES
a. Per Cent Drop From 1929
Shown in Distribution
of Receivers.
BY ROBERT MACK.

The advent of the midget" receiver
universal price-cutting and the general
business depression combined to cause
a A per cent loss in radio receiving set
sales last year as compared with 1929.
Retail set business totaled 1882, 1913,
900 as against 1892, 100000 for the pre-
cedlng year, and the public received
more for its radio dollar than ever be-
fore. According to Radio Retailing, a
leading trade publication, the average
list price for 1880 set, less tubes, was
$87. In 1929 it was $l33.
Despite this rather dismal showing,
total unit sales of radio receivers ex-
ceeded expectations-again due TO the
midget" and to drastic price reductions
all along the line. Whereas 1929 saw
4,438, 900 sets cleared for new produc-
ton peak, last year 1928, 600 sets, m
Guiding radio-phonograph combinations,
were sold.
Expects 1881 Increase.
The midget" was the big radio de-
velopment of last year. Low-priced
and compact, it met the public pocket
book in a depression year. Although
the midget trend did not become Sc
rious factor until Fall some 100000
sets were sold before January l, or 80
per cent of the total sales. The indus
try expects this ratio to exceed so per
cent during 1881.
"Overproduction, followed by dump
ing while still rampant and INDUCED
In by certain going concerns with ma
tional regulations, was less responsible
for the destruction of price standards
than was the availability of brand name
products released by bankrupt COM
at any price to obtain ready cash or by
the deliberate fabrication of trade
marked merchandise for dumping pur-
poses only" the trade publication will
say in its next issue.
The replacement business in tubes
was not what the industry expected.
With 100000 modern sets in homes
as of January /, it was estimated that
at least 100000 tubes should have
been replaced during the year. Actually
only 100000 were sold as replace
set.
The industry feels there should be as
many radios in use as there are paSsen-
ger automobiles. On this basis, taking
into consideration requirements, and
families which will have two sets, it
feels there exists future market for
not less than 100000 sets in private
homes alone. Moreover, besides the
"plug-in" prospects, less than 20 per
equipped with suitable radio battery"
sets, and the remaining 80 per cent of
fer a potential market for the new bat
terry sets.
The aggregate radio business for 1880,
including parts, tubes and accessories, is
placed at S500,951, $780, as compared
with S842, $4,000 in 1929. Accessories,
including tubes, represented S158,234,-
600 of the 1880 total, and S242, $50 900
Of the receipts for 1929. Parts realized
S6000,000 last year and S7,500,000 in
1929, while automobile radio set sales
totaled $4,000 units in 1880, realizing
$4,519,500. In 1929 such sales were
negligible.
The industry has laid its plans care
fully for 1881. Production is being adj
tusted to demand, to avoid a recur-
renee OF last years experience which
saw many old-line manufacturers fall
victims of overproduction. In June the
1922 lines will be introduced to the
trade, but the manufacturers are not
showing their hands until then.
tcopyright. 1880. By the Consolidated Press.)