Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-28

tural phenomena, the high n
deity craze is one Of the most
intriguing. Washington's Curl
Gus will be able to study it
in it's least inhibited state at
the Hotel Harrington next
week end.
On Friday, Saturday and
Sunday most of the city's lead
ing dealers in photographic
equipment, and some manu-
facturers as well. will become
temporary tenants Of two Of
the Harrington's lower floors
for the purpose of displaying
their wares. Beds and dressers
will be supplanted by turn
tables, amplifiers and loud
speakers. Hotel guests will re-
tire to loftier (and quieter)
quarters. And-if expectations
prove correct-roomS and cor
ridors then will be damned by
a single minded tribe whose
chief concern at least for the
moment. is the degree Of per-
lection in the electrical dupli-
cation of the tweet of the pic
colo, the growl Of a 32-foot
organ pipe or the ping of the
triangle, or of all 100 pieces Of
a symphony orchestra at once.
This event which may con-
fidently be expected to produce
more decibels, and ringing
ears, than any other nom
political gathering in Wash
ington history. is the Capitals
first High Fidelity Fair.
Future Assured
High fidelity now is old
enough commercially Give
years or 500 and widely enough
established residentially to as
sure a prosperous future.
Manufacturers who two years
ago were ignoring it have now
become eager advocates. But
only the surface has been
scratched. A tremendous po-
tential of public interest re-
mains to be excited.
Those cooperating in the
Harrington project are aiming
at the segment of this poten-
tial residing here. And on the
basis of enthusiasm already
demonstrated washington is
one of the Nations best hi-f1
markets. the expectations are
high.
The uninitiated will be
curious as to what awaits
him. There will be some
so exhibit rooms. Practi-
cally all Of them will have
record playing apparatus in
operation. In few cases, how
ever, will there be monographs
of the conventional, ma
hogany console sort. High f.
deity has now reached the
furniture-conscious stage, and
there will be impressive-look-
ing cabinet displays. But chief
attention will be on what goes
inside those cabinets to make
the music come out. These
insides are called, by those in
the know, components. They
include amplifiers, preampli-
fer equalizers. pickups and
pickup arms. speakers and
speaker housings. turntables.
record changers. radio tuners
and tape recorders.
Some New Items
Some of these items will be
new and therefore newsworthy.
For instance, several Washing
ton engineers have recently
formed a company, the Labor
atory of Electronic Engineer
ing, which will make and sell a
speaker system housed in what
goes by the mysterious name
of a catenoidal folded horn.
Two models, at 500 and $295.
will be displayed, and the
sponsors are hoping their prot
duct will win national notice.
William C. Shrader, of George
town, will show a giant corner
horn topped by new Jim
Lansing acoustic lens, a fancy
design and name for a high
frequency "tweeter," Elabor-
ate corner systems also will
be shown by Audio Consul
tants. of Alexandria. and De-
Tort of Washington.
A highly publicized new
conner in the pickup line, Fer
ranti, designed by the British
engineer, D. T. N. Williamson,
will interest the experts. The
Weathers pickup, another
type that has won comment at
audio shows. will also be in
evidence. along with GE and
Pickering, already widely
known. Elaborate control de-
vices made by such firms as
Fisher, Brociner, and McIn-
toSh will be on hand to tempt
confirmed devotees. And there
will be several complete as