Wikipedia

United States Television Manufacturing Corp.

The United States Television Manufacturing Corporation, also known informally as U.S. Television Manufacturing, and in some advertisements as UST, was an American television manufacturing and distribution company known for its early large-screen television sets, intended for use in bars and other public spaces. The company existed from 1945 to 1950.

United States Television Manufacturing Corp.
IndustryElectronics
Founded1945
Defunct1950
HeadquartersManhattan, New York City
Key people
Hamilton Hoge, president
ProductsTelevision sets

History

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The United States Television Manufacturing Corporation was founded in 1945 in Manhattan, New York City,[1] to produce large-screen television sets and, later, conventional models. In April the following year, it announced an initial public offering of 99,000 shares of 50-cent par value common stock at US$3 each.[2] The Guaranty Trust Company of New York was appointed registrar.[3]

Headed by president Hamilton Hoge,[4] with his brother John Otis Hoge as vice president,[5] U.S. Television Manufacturing aimed its initial product at taverns, clubs, fraternal organizations and similar business consumers, reasoning that with parts and materials remaining in short supply following World War II, the company needed to sell fewer but higher-priced units.[4]

 
Two views of U.S. Television Manufacturing Corp.'s Tavern Tele-Symphonic projection-TV set

On September 18, 1946, U.S. Television Manufacturing held a public demonstration of large-screen rear-projection television, with sets at department stores including Bloomingdale's and Macy's in Manhattan, Bamberger's in Brooklyn, and Abraham & Straus in Newark, New Jersey, showing live coverage of the Joe Louis-Tami Mauriello heavyweight boxing championship at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx. The company said it had already begun delivering sets to customers.[6]

By July 1947, the company was producing 300 units a month of its initial model, it said, which were distributed by dealers in 13 states and the District of Columbia. It announced plans to produce a taller model with a 475-square-inch screen and AM-FM radio reception, to sell for US$1,995 excluding installation charges, and two home-consumer models: one with a "10-inch direct-view cathode-ray tube (CRT) screen, giving a 54-square-inch image", plus AM-FM radio and phonograph, for US$895; and a rear-projection TV with the same features but a 390-square-inch image, for US$2,275.[7] The direct-view model's price was reduced to US$745 in November 1947.[8]

In March the following year, the large-screen projection-TV set increased in priced to US$2,495, with the company announcing shipment to distributors in 15 cities within two to three weeks and plans to produce 50 to 75 sets monthly. The company also announced plans to market a television set for theaters and auditoriums, with a variable screen size of 9 x 12 feet to 12 x 16 feet, for US$3,495.[9] By October 1948, the company was marketing what it called two "improved" models with 475- and 675-square-inch screens.[10]

 
Product sheet for models T508, T521, T525 and T530 in the Tavern Tele-Symphonic line

Additionally, by January 1948, the company was producing a tabletop model with a 10-inch screen giving a picture size of nearly 9 by 7 inches.[11] By November, U.S. Television Manufacturing Corp. subsidiary Zetka Television Tubes, Inc., of Clifton, New Jersey, was manufacturing 12- and 15-inch CRTs, with glass blanks supplied by Corning Glass Works.[12][13]

In December 1948, the company dropped prices, citing increased supplies of 15-inch glass CRTs. The home console with radio and phonograph was now US$1,095, and table models $695 and $325.[13]

Among its advertising and promotional efforts, the company said in August 1947 that it would launch a direct-mail campaign to 41,000 tavern-owners nationwide, via the advertising agency Huber-Hoge & Sons.[14] In January the following year, it announced that the same agency would launch a $250,000 print-ad campaign for its tabletop sets, emphasizing quality over price.[15]

Following the public company's 1950 report on earnings, registering a loss,[16] no further reports were issued.

Products

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A CRT fires upward to a mirror that reflects a back-projection screen image on U.S. Television Manufacturing Corp.'s Tavern Tele-Symphonic model.

Each line of television includes built-in radio and phonograph.[17]

Projection TV set
  • Tavern Tele-Symphonic (includes at least models T508, T521, T525, T530), US$1,995
  • Tele-Symphonic, US$2,275
  • Tele-Symphonic Modern, US$2,275
Direct-view TV sets
  • Telesonic (available in modern and period cabinetry), US$895
Radio-phonographs
  • Dumbarton, US$239

Model numbers

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  • T502, T507, T508, T521, T525, T530, T621, T10823[18]

Key personnel

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  • Hamilton Hoge, president
  • John Otis Hoge, vice president (died November 18, 1953, age 44)[5]
  • Ira T. Kitzmiller, controller; formerly with RCA for 14 years[19]
  • A.D. Heller, chief engineer,[20] followed by
  • Antony Wright, chief engineer; former manager of TV-engineering section of RCA[21]
  • Irving Mageff, project engineer[22]
  • K. Blair Benson, senior engineer[23]
  • William H. Higgins, sales manager[7]
  • Philip Goldberg, distributor, Buffalo, New York[24]
  • Kenneth Golden, distributor, The Bronx[24]

Other

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Headquarters

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A December 1945 advertisement seeking a senior engineer for the company listed an address of 106 Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, New York City.[1] By July 1947, the company's office was located at 1 West 61st Street in Manhattan.[26] An advertisement from this time gives a company address of 3 West 61st Street.[17]

Earnings and revenue

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The company reported a net loss of US$98,000 for the first six months of 1946. For the same period of 1947, it posted an estimated net profit of US$188,355 after taxes and after utilizing one-half of the company's 1946 tax loss of US$176,707. The half-year net profit represented 59 cents each on 319,000 common shares.[27]

For full-year 1947, the company reported net sales of US$1,907,874, resulting in a net loss of US$132,686. In 1948, U.S Television Manufacturing Corp. turned a net profit of US$27,035, representing 4¢ each on 341,475 common shares.[28] The following year, the company reported a loss os US$195,094.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Positions Open". Proceedings of the IRE. 33 (12): 50a–54a. December 1945. doi:10.1109/JRPROC.1945.232896. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  2. ^ "4 Stock Offerings Total $24,000,000". The New York Times. April 3, 1946. Retrieved December 4, 2015. (subscription required)
  3. ^ "Financial Notes". The New York Times. April 16, 1946. Retrieved December 4, 2015. (subscription required)
  4. ^ a b "Business World". The New York Times. January 1, 1947. Retrieved December 5, 2015. (subscription required)
  5. ^ a b "John Otis Hoge". The New York Times. November 19, 1953. Retrieved February 13, 2016. At his death, Mr. Hoge was president of the United Safeway Company, a distributor of drug products, and was a partner of Huber Hoge & Sons, an advertising agency here. He previously had been vice president of the United States Television Manufacturing Corporation. (subscription required)
  6. ^ "U.S. Television Goal $10,000,000". The New York Times. September 19, 1946. Retrieved December 4, 2015. (subscription required)
  7. ^ a b "Larger Television Is Promised Soon; United States Corporation Set Will Have 475-Inch Screen and Be Ready in 30 Days". The New York Times. July 19, 1947. Retrieved December 4, 2015. (subscription required)
  8. ^ "Television Set Price Cut $150". The New York Times. November 14, 1947. Retrieved December 4, 2015. (subscription required)
  9. ^ "3-by-4-Foot Picture in U.S. Television Set". The New York Times. March 27, 1948. Retrieved February 13, 2016. (subscription required)
  10. ^ "2 Large Television Models Out". The New York Times. October 20, 1948. Retrieved February 13, 2016. (subscription required)
  11. ^ "Enters Table Model Field". The New York Times. November 14, 1947. Retrieved February 13, 2016. (subscription required)
  12. ^ "Video Tube Output Doubled". The New York Times. November 25, 1948. Retrieved February 13, 2016. (subscription required)
  13. ^ a b "Television Prices But by Producer". The New York Times. December 23, 1948. Retrieved February 13, 2016. (subscription required)
  14. ^ "Advertising News and Notes". The New York Times. January 15, 1948. Retrieved December 4, 2015. (subscription required)
  15. ^ "Advertising News and Notes". The New York Times. January 20, 1948. Retrieved February 13, 2016. (subscription required)
  16. ^ a b "$5,338,889 Cleared by Credit Concern ... Other Corporate Reports". The New York Times. May 5, 1950. Retrieved February 13, 2016. (subscription required)
  17. ^ a b "New UST 5 in 1 Console Joins World's Fast Growing Television Family" (advertisement), via "Postwar American Television: United States Television Advertisements". Hilliard, Ohio: Early Television Foundation. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  18. ^ Schematics, via "Postwar American Television: Television Technical Data – Postwar Black and White". Hilliard, Ohio: Early Television Foundation. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  19. ^ "Business Notes". The New York Times. October 20, 1947. Retrieved December 5, 2015. (subscription required)
  20. ^ "Business Notes". The New York Times. May 16, 1947. Retrieved December 5, 2015. (subscription required)
  21. ^ "Business Notes". The New York Times. September 23, 1947. Retrieved December 5, 2015. (subscription required)
  22. ^ "Business Notes". The New York Times. October 27, 1947. Retrieved December 5, 2015. (subscription required)
  23. ^ "Business Notes". The New York Times. September 11, 1947. Retrieved December 5, 2015. (subscription required)
  24. ^ a b "Business Notes". The New York Times. November 10, 1947. Retrieved December 5, 2015. (subscription required)
  25. ^ a b "Business Notes". The New York Times. January 29, 1948. Retrieved February 13, 2016. (subscription required)
  26. ^ "Mark-Ups Ample, Say Radio Makers; Scoff at Retail Dealer Charge Installation of Television Leaves Them No Profit". The New York Times. July 20, 1947. Retrieved December 5, 2015. (subscription required)
  27. ^ "Petroleum Group Earns $4,926,388 ... Other Corporate Reports". The New York Times. September 16, 1947. Retrieved December 5, 2015. (subscription required)
  28. ^ "Chrysler Profits Total $18,707,951 ... Earning Reports of Corporation". The New York Times. May 6, 1949. Retrieved February 13, 2016. (subscription required)
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