POPULAR ALL-ELECTRIC.

Shannon News, 24 December 1929, Page 2

POPULAR ALL-ELECTRIC.

INCREASE IN VALVE PRODUCTION FORTUNES SPENT ON RESEARCH. The valve shortage of a year ago was responsible for making the -valve division of the radio industry an alert, upstanding giant.- Last year one-fifth of all radio expenditures went into valves. This year it is not a far estimate to believe that a quarter of all radio sales will go into valves.

"The leap forward of the valve industry does not mean that the public is being charged more for the valves it uses," said the president of a large valve company recently'. "'"lt is largely a reflection of the development of the all-electric set; the development pi new and easier uses and the general expansion of radio use. Valves give more service than ever before, but radio sets are being put to greater and more continued use than ever before. It is not unusual 'for household radio sets to be in use, all day and all evening. Electric sets, "having made unnecessary battery replacement and battery charging, have made it possible for constant use. Improved broadcasting programmes have made continued use desirable. From the morning exercises to the evening's slumber hour music there is a steady plenitude of broadcast attraction, and this, naturally enough, has its reflection in increased valve use. "There is a tremendous competition existing between valve manufacturers, a competition not only for expanding markets, but for improvements. Every valve company of any importance whatsoever'is- spending a fortune on its research department. There ovists that constant double purpose in all valve research, to make the valves better and to make them lower priced. SHORTAGE IS POSSIBLE.

"Never before was there a radio season where valves gave so much for their cost," said the speaker. "I think it is accurate to say that there will be a shortage and also an overproduction. There wilL be, as there was last year. a shortage of good valves. There wiM also be an overproduction, because of the fact that so many new manufacturers have entered the valve field. But this overproduction will be based mainly on normally unsaleable merchandise, due, to inexperience in manufacture. "The present powerful position of the valve industry means, I believe, a great deal to the progress of radio industry'. I believe that the most imaginative radio engineers are a part of the valve division; that they are doing most to make reception better, easier, more powerful; that their researches and results are making possible much better sets."