News Briefs
June 1963 Radio-Electronics

June 1963 Radio-Electronics [Table of Contents] Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Radio-Electronics, published 1930-1988. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.

A pair of items from this June 1963 Radio-Electronics magazine "News Briefs" column stands out: "Born 15 years ago this month were the transistor, June 30, and the long-playing record, June 21." Hard to imagine being there to reading that back in the day. Also noted was the world's first IEEE convention, held March 25-28 in New York City. Subjects presented 250 papers at 54 session. This online document discusses the IRE's award recipients to be honored at that March 1963 meeting. This doc is typical of the extremes corporations go to in order to specify and control their "brand," in this case the simple IEEE "kite" logo and text - sheesh! More TV sets were then in use abroad than in the U.S., reported Television Factbook. At the end of 1961, there were 54 million sets in foreign countries. By October, 1962, the total was 65 million, as compared to 60 million in the U.S. That, of course, is the sum of all countries other than the U.S.

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News Briefs

IEEE Convention Meets

The first IEEE International Convention, held in New York City during the last week of March, was attended by 70,432 engineers and scientists from more than 40 countries.

The convention was actually a continuation of the former IRE Annual Convention, since the AIEE (American Institute of Electrical Engineers) had held their annual winter meeting in January. Next year's convention will be a truly combined effort of the two organizations.

Subjects presented in 250 papers at 54 sessions ranged from a selection of communications frequencies for use on the moon to the use of ultrasonics in diagnosing heart trouble.

Probably the chief subject was the comparatively new laser, to which a special evening panel session was devoted. Computers and computer science ran it a close second, while communications, once practically the only subject discussed at the annual conventions, was dealt with in a few scattered sessions.

One-Station FM

In the last 8 months, 35,000 Americans have bought FM radios without knobs or dials. The sets don't need any, because they receive only one station.

Auditron Corp., a New York firm under the direction of radio veteran Emmet Poons, sells the sets through FM stations by mail order. Special uses include weather radios for steamship and tugboat use, and medical broadcasts for doctors, with waiting-room music for office hours!

FCC Takes $ Action

FCC's Safety & Special Radio Services Bureau has imposed $300 in forfeitures against Vincent R. Banville, Sr., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Citizens-radio licensee, for unauthorized communications, improper identification and false call signal.

This is the first monetary forfeiture action taken by the FCC under Section 510 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and section 1.80 of the rules.

Teenagers

Born 15 years ago this month were the transistor, June 30, and the long-playing record, June 21.

Foreign Countries Pass US in TV Ownership

More TV sets are now in use abroad than in the US, reports Television Factbook. At the end of 1961, there were 54 million sets in foreign countries. By October, 1962, the total was 65 million, as against 60 million in the US.

Seventy-five foreign countries have 2,563 TV stations, while the US has 619, but the American total excludes low-powered translators and repeaters, though their equivalents are counted in the foreign total. Also, the US runs 35 stations for servicemen in US and overseas locations where English-language shows would not reach them.

The new nations of Africa playa large part in foreign TV growth, with the emphasis on commercial TV - even in countries where TV is run by government bodies.

Leading set-owning countries are: United Kingdom, Japan, West Germany, USSR, Canada, Italy, France.