1940-1949 - The War Years - Growth
1945
The FCC changes the FM band from near 50 Megacycles to the present 88 to 108 megacycles. This rendered many sets obsolete, and set back Armstrong's development of FM as an alternative to AM. This may (!) have been the plan all along by those involved with AM broadcasting.1946
Lee Deforest grows increasingly unhappy with the state of broadcasting. To him, radio had become 'a stench in the nostril of the gods of the ionosphere.'He addresses the National Association of Broadcasters at their annual meeting in Chicago. DeForest's 'Open Letter' 150 K Wav
RCA This is the first console I found and restored. It's a big set, with 2 short-wave bands, broadcast band, and a large internal antenna that can be controlled from the front. It has a tuning eye, and 3 position tone control. There are inputs for a phonograph, and your TV sound. I really love the style...deco?...and with that big speaker it sounds real good!
Table model radios are the big seller. Over 15 million sets are produced. About half a million of those were FM receivers.
Selenium rectifiers begin to replace vacuum tube rectifiers.
1947
Radios are shrinking in size, and over 800 thousand FM receivers are produced.Miniature tubes, rectifiers, transformers, and printed circuit boards are used.
John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shokley invent the Transistor.
CrosleyThe Crosley company started in 1921...and stuck around for many years. Powel Crosley called his sets the "Model T's" of radio for their good quality at a low price. This radio is a neat little AM and Short-wave.
1948
The FCC announces a three month freeze on new TV station applications.It lasts nearly four years! TV picks up steam. 10 inch screens are the most common.The LP or Long Play phonograph was introduced.
The first Transistor is introduced to the public.
1949
4 million TV sets are produced, far exceeding projections.10 inch screen TV's have dropped in price by a third since 1947 - from $300 to $200.
The 45 RPM record is introduced.
FirestoneYes...the same Firestone that makes tires. Everyone it seems was making radios. This radio features 2 short-wave bands, broadcast band and push-button tuning. The wood is beautiful! I gave up on this restoration many times, before I got the electronics working.
By the end of the year, there are 98 television stations and 2021 radio stations on the air.
$628 million dollars is spent on radio advertising this year.
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