Du Mont Laboratories
1931
-Dr Du Mont signed personal notes at a local bank and borrowed against his life insurance, raised $25,000 for CRT operations (CRTs were German made and the best lasted 25- 30 hours).
-Du Mont bought a second hand mercury pump, and a second hand stem-making machine (to exhaust and seal tubes, respectively), moved the car out garage of his 8 room house at 9 Bradford Way, just off Bradford Avenue, hired a 3 man crew and began making CRTs.
First employe Apprentice Machinist John Hinck was hired at a fulltime salary of $10 per week to hammer out and assemble parts (Role also listed as welding expert and vacuum operator). $1 per hour Stanley Koch a glass blower (went full time 1933, eventually became Head of Tube Research Lab) and $1 per hour Albert Steadman (Brother in Law. Full time 1940, going from compounding chemicals to Chief Chemist). Shop/ lab begun with $1000, half from a friend, who got it back at/ the first opportunity.
-At a research cost of $25,000, 2 CRTs were sold, for $35 each.
-In the Lab, workbenches and 2 machines added. Soon, equipment for: ore refining, increasing city gas pressure, boosting electricity, blowing glass and soldering added, plus intensive record keeping.
-$70 in receipts for the year
- 01 March: W2XCD begins airing films (2 examples: People Who Live In The Desert (US, 1930) and Lumbering in British Columbia (Canada, 1930))
-06-11 April: Police Patrol (US,1925) aired, first full length film televised. Directed by Burton King for Gotham Productions
1932
-$1850 in sales, including perfected CRT
1933
-4 (20?) employees. Operations moved to a store front neighboring a fish-monger. Address: 532 Valley Road, Upper Montclair. Near the Abline Stamp Company and a laundry. Later: second, adjacent storefront added (542?)
-$12.000 made
-Du Mont pays himself $6,000 annually
1934
-5 buildings occupied
1935
-First all-electronic set designed
-Labs incorporated in Delaware
-Original CRT “plant” (5 stores with holes in the walls for access) had a line of CRTs and several oscilloscopes.
1936
-Labs begin recruiting TV- interested college graduates
-12 employees
-$18,000 made
-Approximately $65,000 in sales
1937
-first all-electronic sets made
-4 channel, 12” electronic deflector set marketed
-small TV research program joins CRT operations, following Dr. Du Mont’s 5 week European TV-system tour. Also, upon return, factory and equipment mortgaged and $35,000 raised.
-$100,0000 made (also given as $10,300)
-”Magic Eye’ tuner sold to RCA for $20,000 (also reported as $19750 and $36,000); Labs retained manufacturing and non-radio rights. Funds went towards purchase of former pickle factory and experimental license applied for. 30 more employees hired
-”Resonoscope” showed pitch of the voice. Used by CBS.
-01 October: Schatzkin, Loewi & Company underwriters to Labs’ SEC filing, which covered 20,000 shares of $1 par value common stock at $12 per share. Money to provide machinery, equipment, plant improvements and working capital
-03 October: H. Victor Schwimmer appointed by SEC to investigate if a stop should be put on Labs (hearing to begin 09NV) for inaccurate filing of SEC application
-09 October: Increase in CRT and oscillographs leads Labs to announce move to 2 Main Avenue (Passaic plant) in early FB 38. 22,000 square feet, 2 stories. Current 42 employees (6 Engineers) to be doubled. Building on a triangular plot, each side 435 feet long.
-SEC states that Dr. Du Mont President and Secretary, Henry Schatzkins VP and Loewi Treasurer. Labs net worth: $118,000 (included stock for manufacturing and plant equipment).
1938
-January: former plant occupant, Anna Myers Food Products Company’s lease expired at 2 Main Avenue. 6,000 square feet per floor, 3 floors (?) basement used by TT Goldsmith for research. Approximately 35 lab employees (3 working on TV) left hat stores and moved in
-06 February: labs release “Phasmajector” image emitter, placing sweep function of CRT at transmitter. Reduced vacuum tubes by 6 or 7. Narrowed bandwidth and was multi-system. Made possible 882 or 1000 lines.
-February: Labs announce system of 441 lines at 51fps (interlaced at 4:1), halving signal width and eliminating need for synchronizing signals.
-01 May: FCC Examiner Hyde finds lab Engineering staff adequate to operate Upper Montclair station.
-02 June: Davega City Radio Store at 51st and 8th Avenue in NYC demonstrates Lab’s evening broadcasts.
-June: first set manufacture begins. Du Mont and television Corporation of America market sets.
-30 June: $140,584 in assets, $1,428.16 cash on hand and $7,122.76 loss for the year
-26 June: contract Labs rescheduled into a and B shares, with any action requiring consent of both type’s holders. Class A elcted President, VP and 3 Directors, class B elected Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary and 3 Directors. Board majority required for any action.
-26 July: Paramount Pictures buys into Du Mont labs.
-08 August: Paramount Pictures had bee seeking a growth company involved in Tv. It bought 14,000 class B shares at $1 each, and loaned the Labs $36,000. utilizing an option plan, Paramount later increased its share to $56,000 and loans to $73,423.50 (29% of Labs, to “direct experimentation and research of theater television”.
-30 October: FCC okays Upper Montclair station from midnight to 9 am. Application listed 16 improvement goals.
-09 November: Labs announces that W2XVT nearly complete as a CP. To broadcast 46- 56 MC from 2 Main Avenue. Said simplified, small, $150- 200 receiver to be out in a few months and regular TV schedule to come out in the spring.
-11 November: patent applied for a self contained transceiver, Sending and receiving, one beam swept a photo-sensitive plate and then a screen. Via electronic switching, went from one phase to another.
-December: 14” screen set costs $395- 445.
-10” x 8” screen set costs $650, 8 1/4 x 6 1/4 set goes for $395.
-plant moved to 2 Main
-$275,468 in research costs sine 1931
-first all-electronic sets sold.
1939
-08 January: Passaic station announced to go on air in 2 -3 weeks, sharing time with NBC on a transmitter in the Empire State Building. Video on 46.5 Megacycles and audio at 49.75 megacycles.
-31 March: Labs file with SEC to cover $750,000 of 10 year notes, 5% notes warrants covering 9,375 class A shares and 39.375 class B. Of proceeds, $592,350 to increase production, $270,000 of that for working capital. Principal underwriters;Lehman Brothers and Hemphill, Noyes & Company. Also included: right to buy entire amount of notes issued to class A and B holders. Notes convertible to class A at $25 per share (30,000 set aside for that purpose).
-16 April: labs apply to FCC for 1000 watt station atop National Press Building in DC, and a mobile unit (with relay) for the Capital.
-22 April: Paramount holds 56,000 shares of class B stock, with $180,000 loaned. 300,000 class A shares owned âbeneficially, but not on record. $500,000 in 10 year, 5% note underwritten by Lehman Brothers (80% at $400,000) and hemphill, Hoyes & Co (20% at $100,000).
-27 April: Lennen & Mitchell, Inc signed as Labs ad agency in TV sales
-April: Labs approach Paramount for a loan, but is instead refered to an investment broker, who underwrote a 10 year, $720,000 note, of which Paramount subscribed $108,000. Lans used money to repay original loan. Paramount invested no more money, only holding an ownership position. Paramount controlled the class B stock ,thereby electing the Secretary and Treasurer (ABD held most of the class A stock.
-07 May: VP Loewi reveals application filed with FCC for station to relocate to 515 Madison Avenue NY to serve metropolitan area. Production and transmitter to be built there, with a film room and glass-ceilinged outdoor studio.
-July: 2, 14” models cost $190 and $600. A 20” console costs $2400), all were multi-system.
-17 December: labs give demonstration to FCC Engineering staff and radio technicians of RMA’s recommended 441 line, 60 interlaced pattern (30 fps) and then Du Mont’s 625 line, 15 interlaced system, achieved via fluorescent screen. 20” screen. ABD was pressing for larger bandwidth, nit more channels.
-soundless, 14” sets cost $295, while radio- equipped set (14” screen) cost $575
-Du Mont, GE and Andrea follow RCA lead and drop set prices.
-display in World Of Tomorrow at NY world’s fair
-color experiments shelved due to poor results
-Davego Stores carried RCA and Du Mont sets at downtown (63 Cortland St), Madison Square Garden (825 8th Avenue), Ties Square (152 West 42nd), Empire State Building (18 West 34th) and Newa∏rk (60 park Place) stores.
-net losses of $95,105
-table model, with 14” screen, cost $325.
1940
-01 January: Philco suggests 24 fps/ 625 lines, while Du Mont preferred 15/ 625
-15 January: Phillip E. Siff elected as ABD Labs director
-23 January: at FCC hearings, Dr. Du Mont desired adoption of 625/ 15 and “Trip Type” (self adjusting synchronization) receiver, opposing RMA’s 447/ 30 standards. Also wanted 325/15 in rural areas (higher standards for urban areas)) and put minimum screen size at 8” x 10”. Also desired flexible standards (15- 30 fps and up to 800 lines).
-08 April: Dr Du Mont appears before FCC claiming flexibility is key to television’s future. Du Mont sets change from 441 to 605 lines via a switch (designed to operate automatically with any synchronized pulse in use). Du Mont guaranteed to keep present set up to date until 1942 to avoid obsolescence; guesses 600- 800 Du Mont sets in NY area; NY transmitter range 7- 10 miles.
-15 April: 500- 600 sets sold since June 1938.
-30 April: FCC authorizes commercial television, to begin 01JL.
-08 May: RCA complains to FCC that Du Mont trying to establish low standards to help Paramount.
-21 May: Dr. Du Mont sees problem with new channel 1 (60- 66 megacycles)- not all sets receive it.
-June: 14” and 20” screen set production ceased, emphasis going to smaller (5” and 19”) screens.
-28 June: Majestic Radio & Television offers Labs 100,000 shares for $1 each (offer good for 4 years) to get Labs to invest during their reorganization.
-On Army maneuvers in Plattsburgh NY, camouflagued cameras relayed images from observation posts to command center via mobile transmitters
-Sets being assembled and marketed
-$175,000 gross; 116 employees
1941
-23 June: electronic Viewfinder unveiled, allowed operator to see image. 14 lbs., 7 tubes, brightness/focus/contrast knobs. 5”, left side screen. Used an 1850 Iconoscope, lens provisions: 6.5” at f/2.5 to 16” at f/3.5, other el’ements arranged to allow quick set up and operation.
-In exchange for patent use, RCA gives license to use RCA apparatus and $100,000.
-2 plants each in Clifton and Passaic NJ develop and manufacture receivers and transmitters
-232 employees and $648,000 gross. Dr Du Mont gets $10,000 annual pay.
-net loss of $17,599.
-25 employees working on tv, before it was curtailed due to the war.
-Paramount’s LA staton W6XYZ organized by Klaus Landsberg of Du Mont
1942
-Labs convert entirely to war production
-1st quarter shipments: approximately $260,000
1943
-27 April: postwar electronic device applications touted in 2 Sunday newspaper magazine sections, 2 national monthlies and 1 financial magazine. Ad agency: Buchanan & Co.
-01 March: NYC stations (DTN, NBC, CBS) off air for channel re-assignment
-20 May: Net profits of $130,164 (after $60,000 federal provision for income and excess profit taxes) on net sales of $2,172,824 (by 02JA). 1st quarter shipments exceed $1M. Ass´ets: $979,381, liabilities: $657,358
1944
-30 April: several sets ready for postwar production. $400, 18”x 24” projection, $200, 8”x10” fm floor model, $100 5”x7” personal set.
-15 September: Labs make arrangements with Van Alstyne, Noel & Co and Kobbe, Gearhart & Co, Inc to sell 225,000 class A common stock shares, using proceeds and other funds for transmitter and set production. Funded debt and capitalization of company upon completion of this financing to consist of $25,225 of mortgage payable, 1,046,000 class A common stock and 560,000 class B common stock.
-10 October: stock of 15SP offered at $7.375 per share
-27 October: Dr.s Du Mont and Goldsmith (Research Director) and Leonard F. Cramer (Executive VP) give testimony -with exhibits- to FCC, supporting commercial TV.
-gross profits: $10M
1945
-03 March: At FCC conference, on behalf of Du Mont Labs, Dr Goldsmith urges FCC to clarify that the 12 VHF channels be used for at least 10 years.
-17 October: Dr. Du Mont says 13 channels below 300 megacycles not enough for “a truly nationwide and competitive program” and spaces 480- 92 megacycles (experimental to area) “where more space exists and where color pictures and superior monochrome pictures” -although only 22 channels ‘wide’- viable via wider channels.Also said that WABD to carry pictures from DC after 05 January and that DC to carry NYC and DC pictures after 01 April.
-02 December: $2,815,647 stock and surplus, $3,455,265 assets. $1,160,303 in liabilities
-13 December: ex RCA Victor district manager Samuel B. Levaur appointed TV Recıeiver sales manager
-From other sources, a new station’s equipment costs $272,5000. Du Mont’s “Acorn” package included cameras, video switchers, monitors, control console, transmitter and antenna. 150 stations used the Acorn package to go on the air. This was the catalyst for a proposed merger of Du Mont, CBS, Paramount and Zenith to challenge RCA.
-TV/AM/FM/Phonograph set (18” x 13 1/2” screen, album storage space of 60”x48’x24”) costs $1500.
1946
-22 Jauary: KTLA bows
-30 March: 650,000 shares of 10 cent par value class A common stock with Van Alstyne, Noel & Co and Kobbe, Gearhart & Co Inc as principal underwriters. Public offering to be filed by amendment.
-06 April: 1945 income: net $46,281 (3 cents each combined A and B shares) against $246,500 in 1944.
-15 April: Labs buy Doherty Silk Mills property at 1000 Main Avenue, Clifton NJ. Before the war a silk mill, taken over by Western Electric and Bell Labs to manufacture crystals. Bounded by main, West, 5th, Getty and Columbia Streets. Bought through broÏker Joseph J. Garibaldi organization. Site near 7 acres, holding a large 4 story building, a 2 story building and several smaller other units. Site leased for 5 years by Western Electric from broker. Labs to take over SP46.
-01 May: Du Mont releases 1st post-war sets
-11 May: 7 new sets ready, $200- 2400. Most expensive a Westminster console, with a 20” screen.
-23 May: 425,000 class A shares 10 cents par value at $11 a share from Van Alstyne, Noel & Co and Kobbe, Gearhart & Co Inc. With this financing, capitalization to include $13,448 in mortgages, 560,000 class B shares and 1,471,040 class A. Participants: Robert C. Jones & Co, Cohu & Torrey, W.H. Bell & Co, Butcher & Sherrerd, Newburger & Hano, E.W. Cluca & Co Inc, Bear Stearns & Co, Boett Cher & Co, R.H. Johnston & Co, Johnson Lane Space & Co Inc, A Kidder & Co, Coburn & Middlebrook, Taussig Day & Co.
-02 September: WBKB chicago debuts, to 400 sets.
-27 November: Dr Goldsmith demonstrates Labs’ system of broadcast via light beams, in an auditorium.
-16 December: At Clifton lab, FCC and newspapermen witness piecemeal color system, intense- view TV (discernible with bank of flood lights on it), table top TV with typewriter paper- size screen and electronically rotating, crystal- based color system.
-Sales of $2.3M ($2,287,167)
-Top 2 floors of 4 story Clifton plant (1500 Main). occupied by Cathode ray Instrumentation
-$1.5M loss, due to conversion from war production.
-Transmitter for channels 1- 6 cost $59,400 (5kw visual, 2.5kw audio output); 7- 13 cost $64,350 (3.5kw a&v). Both included frequency dissector, control console and modulation monitor.
1947
-Company divided into 5 divisions: CRTs, CR Oscillographs, receivers, Transmitters and DTN
-incomplete set with 20” screen cost $500.
-Set production couldn’t keep up with demand
-sales: $10,5000,000
-$11M gross with $60,000 net plus $90,000 loss on broadcast operations.
1948
-Divisions changed to: Research, Receiver Manufacturing, Transmitter Manufacturing, Tube Manufacturing and Broadcasting
-January: Kodak, NBC and Labs announce Eastman Television Recorder, a 1200 magazine, capable of recording 1/2 straight through.
-29 February: Dr Du Mont speaks at luncheon meeting of American Television Society and says TV to be fastest growing industry of the year and among the top 10 in 5 years, Said TN had a $1M net loss in 1946 ($7,000 made by June, $50,000 by DC) and Labs made $1,650,000.
-20 March: TV Division, receiver sales manager Victor E. Olson says franchised dealers -who either cut prices to consumers or transshipped to unfranchised dealers, or both- to be cut. Set costs: $495- $2495.
-24 March: Goldsmith says that after a 6 month stud of video waves conducted in NYC, it was found that signals traveled like a water spout and weren’t line of sight.
-21 April: addressing 3rd annual TV Instrument & Industry Trade Show (sponsored by Televiser magazine) at Hotel New Yorker, Labs’ Morton Scheraga suggests master antennae for apartment buildings.
-13 May: Labs buy Wright AeronauticalQ Corporation plant (used to manufacture aircraft engines) in East Passaic (by Route 46 and the Passaic River) for $1,700,000 from War Assets Administration
-13 May: At Hotel Park Lane, Labs demonstrate kinescopes (made off of an especially bright screen) which will be rented -but not owned- to small stations for $1200/ hour and less.
-18 December: Labs take title of Wright plant.
-Du Mont had facilities for relaying TV between NYC and New Haven CT.
-gross income: $26,934,000, with $4.5M in assets
1949
-March: closed circuit systems marketed for medical, industrial and merchant uses
-01 March: V. E. Olsen says set costs to be cut $20- 150.
-09 March: at Institute of Radio Engineers convention at Commodore Hotel, Goldsmith said TV could go to new frequencies in weeks and new sets could appear in 6 months and old sets perfectly adaptable. Said Labs’ W10XKT (NYC) high band transmitter could go as high as 50kw in a few weeks and reach all of NYC.
-15 March: At NY Art Directors Club luncheon at Waldorf- Astoria, Dr Du Mont said TV frequencies wouldn’t ‘move up’ and that current sets would be good for another 10- 20 years.
-21 March: 20” screen (213 square inch) console with am, fm, automatic record changer and dual speaker hi fi, Chinese Chippendale design on a swivel base cost $1995.
-30 March: Dr Du Mont tells NY chapter of American Marketing Association that color is 10- 20 years away and if introduced, it would multiply set costs 2- 3 times
-07 April: Labs cut consumer costs on tubes: 12”- $62.50 to 54.75, 12.5” from $64.25 to 57.50
-22 April: In a letter to company distributors and dealers that cost cutters and transshippers to be cut and that a shopping service to be added.
-27 June: Macy’s cut as a dealer.
-18 July: Labs announce the Bradford, with a 45 record player, fm and a 203 square inch screen. 19” metal CRT had better clarity. 16 lbs versus the 40 lbs of that for a 20’ screen. Set was 2” shorter than a 15” screen set.
-11 September: labs open ex- Wright plant. Cost: $1,350,000, and $750,000 renovation
-16 September: Macy’s reinstated as a dealer.
-26 September: Wright plant opens. 500 employees, turning out 10,000 sets per week. Approximately 500,000 square feet.
-26 September: Governor Alfred E. Driscoll speaks at opening of East Paterson plant. 3500 employees. Bought 13DC. 480,000 square feet. 3 miles of conveyor systems. 1 receiver every 22 seconds.
-06 October: Dr Du Mont witnesses CBS color demonstration in DC
-17 November: Marx announces $379.50 Canterbury set. 12.5” screen, fm and a phono jack.
-13 December: Dr Du Mont tells investment subcommittee of Joint Committee on the Economic Report that the Labs expected $70M in 1949 and $80M in 1950, with over $22M in assets. Also said that color was too poor in quality to see.
-2.6% of market, with 810,000 units (RCA had 5.2%, with 2,948,000)
-large screens marketed
-freeze on allocations cut set production by 1/3.
-distribution expands beyond few exclusive dealers when “World’s Largest Television Plant” opens in east Passaic and set production relocates there. Yellow brick building.
-Allwood CRT plant added.
-“Hurricane III” bought from Wheeler Yacht Co Inc (which Dr Du Mont bought into) for $8179.9 and a Savoy set used to collect data on co- channel and adjacent-channel interference.
1950
-06 March: at annual convention of Institute of Radio Engineers, DR Du Mont unveils 18 megacycle wide(3 times as large as cable) industrial, 525 line, scanned, color cctv. One camera and monitor system: $19,985.
-16 March: transmitter division Manager James Thorpe announces single camera color chain for industrial TV for $20,000.
-22 March: Dr Du Mont hosts Upper Montclair Country Club luncheon to mark opening of Allwood plant, 30” screen (600 Square inches) for educational, club, hospital, hotel and restaurant use. Also said color due in probably 9 years, 4’x5’ sets soon, rectangular tube to soon replace round one. New plant on site of old Air Cruiser plant; $2,500,000 to build factory, which was anticipated of making a million tubes annually. In 3 shifts, 550 employees to build 12, 12.5, 15, 16, 19, 20 and 30 inch CRTs.
-05 April: Annual SEC report says labs net in 1949 was $3,269,880 (from 1948’s $2,701,767). $1.49 for 1,542,597 class A shares ($1.29 for 1,483,652). Net sales $42,406,21 ($25,658,461), Broadcast income $2,435,966 ($1,011,336). Broadcast operations cost $5,000,457 ($2,435,424). Selling expenses $3,297,472 ($1,726,6000). Federal income tax $2,250,000 ($1,200,000). Administrative and corporate taxes $1,549,026 ($1,063,325). As of 01JA50, current assets of $15,438,458 ($12,087,826), cash on hand $7,203,750 ($4,810,001). Inventories $5,478,374 ($5,397,074), liabilities $6,859,443 ($4,565,097).
-12 April: Barney Balaban and Edwin L. Weisl elected Directors.
-25 April: Marx announces issue of 5 interim sets, to maintain volume in slow summer period. $269.50 tabletop Putnam has 12.5” screen,fm and a phono jack; the $329.50 console Guilford, up $50, has a phono jack,fm and 12.5” screen; $495 Winslow was UHF convertible, had fm, a phono jack and an unchanged price; $695 console Sherbrooke had am,fm and a three speed phonograph, and a 19” screen; the $565 Hanover, up $20, had a 19” screen, am,fm and a doored console.
-16 May: on behalf of Henry Kasperowicz, trichromoscope (3 color, direÅct view picture tube) patent granted (#2,508,267). Received mechanical and electronic color signals. Applied for 26 October 1945, demonstrated to FCC 16 December 1946, revealed 22 May 1950.
-06 June: NBC calls off 1948 dispute with Labs over radio receivers, electron tubes and radio transmitter patent infringements. Okay for reciprocal licensing on radio receiving and transmitting tubes, TV receivers and transmitters.
-07 June: At National Distributors Meeting at Pierre Hotel, new line revealed, dealer shipments to begin in SP. Unpriced 30” screen (536 square inch) ‘club’ set. Smallest screen in line cost $249.50 (17” tabletop). $299.75 (17” console with phono jack). $1500 unit had 19” screen, am, fm, all speed phonograph and automatic tape recorder). $75- 80M expected. Advertising General Manager Henry Geylin told 61 dealers of the $4M ad drive, through the ad agency Campbell- Edward Co Inc.
-10 June: Stickel sa¬ys $51,700,000 placed in orders by distributors. Distributors in all primary and secondary markets. tertiary markets serviced from factory.
-27 June: Stickel announces that prices on all sets to go up 10% on 01 September.
-28 June: at annual shareholders meeting, Dr Du Mont says $45M made in 1949.
-July: 2600 dealers, 36 distributors
-24 September: Labs to begin use of IBM Statistical Analyzer (previously used by the US Census) to select most likely candidate employees for promotion (450 minute, 1-2-3 noted) in 95% of job categories (not executives or special scientists). 10 times faster, said Personnel Director Harry Housten.
-29 September: Labs, RCA and others reject FCC’s proposed switch to CBS color in 3 days.
-11 November: Labs controller: B. L. Graham
-11 November: Dr Du Mont Chairman of Conference on Growth Companies, which was headquartered in Clifton.
-21 November: Dr Du Mont opposed tax hike to House Ways and Means Committee on behalf of of Conference on Growth Companies.
-29 November: Labs and Montclair State Teachers College begin test of educational programming to high school students.
-08 December: because several non- Du Mont distributors went bankrupt, Marx stated at at Park Sheraton meeting that distributors without insurance would be dropped. Also stated that a 30” (326 square inch) screen sets due after 01 January, and that Labs going to Europe for materials; and a 10% cut back on production. 8 new models less expensive because FM not included.
-$3m profit after $50M in sales
-between 1947 and 1950, pretax profits averaged 14.6%.
-$76M in sales, $6.9M profit.
-3D experiments done with Atomic Energy Commission.
-$6.9M earned
-large screen sets marketed
1951
-10 May: GM of Sales Division told dealers that prices would remain in effect through 10 September
-15 May: Labs announce auto-focus tube.
-23 June: Dr Du Mont lauds RCA trichromal tube and wires FCC to adopt same.
-30 June: at annual shareholders meeting, Dr Du Mont says RCA colorcasting to begin JA and that the Labs we‚re going to experiment on a cheaper RCA color tube. Also stated that defense Orders were for $30M in several divisions and that receiver output would be 40% of 1950s.
-25 July: CRT Division sales manager Bill C. Scales announces CRTs guaranteed 6 months from installation, no longer 6 months from shipment.
-09 August: Labs end 33% discount to dealers on sets listing $535, $625 and $675. Cut lasted 10 days, designed to reduce factory inventories.
-15 September: GM of receiver Sales Ernest A. Marx announces 10- 15% cut to dealers on entire line.
-01 October: 2 of 4 conveyor production lines used for government contracts.
-14 November: Receiver Sales Division announces it will establish distributorships for sets, effect manufacturing licensing agreements and explore questions of transmission and reception in South American countries.
-23 November: Percy M. Stewart elected to Labs Board
-31 November: CRT GM Irving G. Rosenbloom says tubes sold to set manufacturers guaranteed 6 months after installation.
-12 December: Dr Du Mo0nt says 60% of Labs business is government electronics. $60M backlog predicted. 1951 volume $50M and company volume $100- 125
-$50.6M in sales, a $584,000 loss. Loss would've been $4.5M if DTN weren’t profitable.
-$75M gross income
-$2.5M red ink on $50.6M gross
-East Paterson plant goes to 4 day week, because of Korean War spurred steel shortage. Other 3 plants retain 5 day week, handling government contracts.
-National Sales Manager Walter L. Stickler said 1st ever trade ins (with 8 in home demonstration) to be tied into 20th anniversary.
1952
-07 January: Labs to introduce a new line of sets, 10- 15% below comparable models. Six 21” consoles, five 17” receivers. National Sales Manager, receiver Sales Division Stickel said 21” sets $70- 100 under 1951’a 19” models. This low end line increased market share 2.5- 3%.
-07 March: Labs’ Assistant Engineering Manager K A Hoagland tells press conference of new autofocus CRT.
-19 May: transmitter division manager Herbert E. Taylor says shipments up 300% over 1951.
-20 June: Dr Du Mont predicts 18,000,000 sets will be sold in next 4 years
-21 July: Du Mont Television and Electronics Ltd formed to effect licensing agreements with Canadian manufacturing organizations for the production of Du Mont equipment. President: TT Goldsmith, VP EA Marx, Secretary/ treasurer Bert L Graham.
-25 July: 15 receiver line revealed at Waldorf Astoria for national distributors convention. $199.95- 549.95, including federal excise tax. Two 17”, 13 21” (1 21” a tabletop). Company never charged for a warranty on receivers.
-29 December: Dr Du Mont says tv will allow more people to see Eisenhower’s Inauguration than were alive in 1900.
-$76.4M in sales
-gross income $1,145,000.
-Royal Sovereign set (RA 119) had 30” screen, largest ever. Monochrome.
-high end sales accounted for 30-40% of saQles
-FCC Examiner Leo resnick finds that paramount does Not control Du Mont Labs.
1953
-10 February: FCC votes 4-3 (and against FCC Hearing Officer) that paramount controls Du Mont Labs
-13 February: CRT Division Manager F P Price says a record set in production that January, up 231% over the previous January.
-08 March: VP Stanley F Patten says new plant - next to Clifton HQ- to open for manufacture of Cathode ray instruments for industrial and defense uses.
-29 March: E. Marx, returning from a tour of Du Mont Labs- served Latin American countries, tells of Cuban government crack down on set smuggling
-30 March: Labs clear $1,424,03 (equal to 55 cents per share) in 1952. Contrasts to net losses of $583,000 in 1951. Gross operating revenues of $76,366,782 compare to 1952’s $50,741,596. TV Transmitter output doubled, and demand for CRTs unmet, although CRT Çproduction went to 3 shifts, 6 days per week.
-04 May: Dr Du Mont tells stockholders at annual meeting that a compatible (color, B&W,3d color, 3D b&W) 3D set being developed, a 17” screen set to retail at $600- 700.
-12 May: Dr Du Mont and Instrument Division Manager Rudolf Felt open Clifton CRT plant.
-18 May: FCC refuses to rehear Paramount- Du Mont ownership case.
-08 August: ex technical advertising manager Jacob H. Ruiter Jr named Manager, Public Relations Department, reporting to general assistant to the President, co-ordination technical advertising of divisions and public relations and institutional advertising. Advertising Division eliminated, product advertising responsibility of individual advertising managers of respective divisions.
-10 August: Dr Du Mont dedicates Florida factory distribution branch headquarters at 7000 Northeast 4th Court, Miami.
-16 August: Industrial Relations DirectÇor Sol Cave and Harry Housten of International Union of Electrical Workers Local 420 announce 10 cent per hour wage increase (from $1.53) , 8 paid holidays, $500 increase on life insurance and 3 days family- death leave for 3000 employees at 5 plants.
-31 August: TT Goldsmith announces over weekend that Labs working on UHF transmitter to hit 1M volts ERP
-high end sets account for 5- 10% of sales
-12 October: Labs UHF equipment used to put WNOK Columbia SC and WGLV Easton PA on the air.
-$3.8M loss
-3,000 employees
-Tube, transmitter and instrument divisions have 15% profit margins
-Of over 200 stations, 36 use Du Mont equipment
-Instrument division moved to 760 Bloomfield (118,000 square feet), adjoining CRT manufacturing plant. Facility construction began August 1952, move completed MR53 (previously, Instrument Division shared 1500 Main, with the Transmitter Division) and production began April 1953. Plant 525’ long and 228’ wide, with 1 story with 18 ‘ ceilings. 77,000 of the 118,000 square feet used for production and office space and the remaining 41,000 square feet used for storage and reserved for future use. 400 employees. 6 truck doors with ramps at either end and 9 railroad doors along 1 side.
1954
-07 January: “Duoscopic” receiver demonstrated in Chicago. Allowed 2 viewers to see two different programs. To be released to consumers in a few weeks at $2000 per set. Had CRTs at right angles, separate controls, polarized spectacles and earphones.
-13 January: Dr Du Mont announces formation of a new division to develop, manufacture and market transmitters and receivers. To absorb existing transmitter division.
-24 January: Labs license A. G. Healing Ltd of Melbourne Australia to manufacture and sell receivers under the Du Mont name, anticipating tv there. AG Healing an extensive auto parts and major appliance business since 1897.
-03 April: Labs establish 3 owned distributorships: Du Mont New York Inc (President Phillip P. Geth) to cover all of NYC except Richmond borough plus Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties; Du Mont New jersey Inc (President Irving Sarling) from NY line to Mercer and Ocean counties; and Du Mont Florida Inc (President DR Du Mont) for all of Florida.
-05 April: 1953 gross income a record at $91,828,982 (net$1,544,362). After $1,549,000 in taxes, net equal to 60 cents a share. 52: 55 cents per share or $1,4424,603 on $76,366,782.
-08 April: via Garibaldi organization, Labs lease 80,000 square foot facility at 275 North St in Tetersboro NJ from Tetersboro Services Company. Space for warehouse and distribution of electronics equipment.É Erie rail spur to be put in on one side.
-15 June: New line show at Statler Hotel/ 12 new sets. Labs’ lowest prices ever. Cheapest: a 17” screen tabletop set for $179.95. 21” screen receiver: $199.95. All the sets had hard wood cabinets
-30 July: Bearm & Blank Inc sues Du Mont, Magnavox, Crossley and Frigidaire for favoring chain stores.
-05 October: “Wide Horizon” line bucks the trend of cheaper sets. $300 Winsted compared to a similar old line model at $289.95. The $210 Bradley compared to $199.95. The Wide Horizon line had a 267 square inch screen, versus the old line’s 250.
-05 August: Bankvision unveiled. Customer showed bankbook to camera and image was relayed to a file room clerk, who showed the customer’s file to a camera, which was relayed to a teller.
-14 September: 1st color tube
-15 October: Phonovision unveiled. Viewer called a central location with a key number and an operator would submit ratingƒs and billing data, and release ‘combination’. Or a mailed (or vending machine issued) card was used.
-22 December: Lbs unveil a cctv no larger than a cigar box that could send live and film images over a cable without any intermediary units. For industrial use, $975.
-Low end line 430 above competition.
-set production increased, in expectation of a post- war boom.
1955
-04 January: FCC okays transfer of WDTV
-05 January: Electronicam announced. developed 1954, demonstrated 08 January. Designed with an eye towards syndication, the “bifocal camera” first used a 35mm Mitchell and later a 16mm Arriflex movie camera mounted beside a regular tv camera. A prism split the image from a common lens in two.
-17 January: Braniff International Airways installs Du Mont radar unit (Type APS 42B), developed and designed to warn pilots of dangerous terrain and hazardous weather.
-04 March: 1954 net income of $7,597,000 (equal to $3.17 common share), gross income $92,843,000, including $6,727,Ì000 profit after net gains tax. 1954 earnings from operations: $870,000 (32 cents per share) versus 1953’s $1,544,362 (or 60 cents per share) on gross income of $91,450,727.
-06 March: IUEW local 420 calls for a strike at Labs’ East Paterson, two Allwood, Tetersboro, Clifton, Passaic and Paterson factories
-07 March: IUEW strike ends, with 5 cent across the board wage increase and fringe benefits.
-15 March: McCadden Productions demonstrates a dual camera (film /tv)
-20 March: 2 lens, dual camera CameraVision (5 years under development) demonstrated at Republic Studios.
-25 March: On last day of annual conference of Institute of Radio Engineers,, Labs’ Dr Carl Berkley and H. P. Mansberg announce the “Iconumerator”, a device capable of counting up to a million particles per second.
-09MY: Electronicam contract with Screen Actors Guild (Actors, singers and announcers) struck.
-10 May: A. G. Erpf (general Partner, Carl M. Loeb, Rhoads & Co) elected Director to replace resigning Bruce Du Mont.
-22 May: Vitascan demonstrated in DC. Worked best outdoors or indoors with little movement.
-15 June: at regional Distributors meeting in the Statler Hotel, Labs unveil latest line up of receivers. Ranging from $169.95 to $500, included six 21’ screen tabletops, five 21” open face consoles, one 24” open face console, three 24” full door consoles and one 24” consolette. One of the 21” models was Du Mont’s first color set, a standby model until research on a 22” CRT was completed. Also, entry into the hi fi, phonograph and radio fields; hi fis $150 and $275, knowledge of radio demand desired before field entry.
-17 June: ex NY Times radio- tv staffer Thomas A. Kennedy Jr joins Lab’s PR staff.
-29 June: VP/GM Kelly announces new Technical Products Division, under Dr P. S. Christaldi, to garner individual clients for elements and systems of automation.
-11 August: Labs call for: A) DBC spin off, B) combination of A and B stock, C) increase of number of Directors from 8 to 10, D) creation of of office of Chairman and election of company officçers by Board of Directors, E) Reserve of 90,000 common shares for executive purchase and F) Dr Du Mont option to purchase 35,000 extra shares
-August: Paramoount Pictures, Loeb & Rhodes obtain a working majority of Lab stock. Dr. Du Mont becomes Chairman, Paramount’s Bernard Goodwin becomes President
-19 September: Labs set up Du Mont National Distributors, Inc to handle unserved tv and home product items. VP/GM William H. Kelly says individual representatives preferred, but if none, Labs will do the job.
-12 October: DBC declares intent to purchase broadcast facilities and elects Directors. Chairman Dr Du Mont, President Bernard L. Goodwin, VP Ted Cott, Treasurer Paul Raibourn. Other Directors: Barney Balaban, TT Goldsmith, Stanley F. Patten, Percy M. Stewart, Edwin Weisl and Armand Erpf.
-03 December: Dr Du Mont announces that separation of Labs and DBC complete.
-06 December: Chairman and retiring president of the Labs appoints D. T. Schultz (ex Senior VP/Treasurer, Raytheon Manufacturing Corp) President and Director, effective 03JA.
-14 December: Getty Clifton Corporation buys Clifton plant (7 acres, 150k sq ft, 4 story and 2 story buildings, powerplant, Erie Ry spur). Labs to occupy 50,000 square feet of manufacturing area, Getty Clifton to lease the rest.. Owned by Labs since 1946. Broker: Garibaldi, for Weisman & Freedman of Newark NJ.
-Vitascan debuted. The Du Mont color system. Essentially, camera and light locations were swapped. Operable by one person, no noticeable warm up time. Cost was about half of the competitors’ systems, which were $33,000. The 60 odd stations with the proper equipment would pay about half the already low price. A flying spot projected onto the subject area to be viewed (which had to be kept dark) and reflected light was picked up by clusters of red, green and blue photocells and the photocells output was used as a signal.Low cost and and no registration problems, but the high voltage needed for scanner tube (35- 45 kilovolts) and scanner area under 15’x10’ need for okay signal-to-noise ratio.
1956
-26 January: William H Kelly elected Director of Labs and VP/GM of consumer products (ex VP of Marketing). Arthur Israel Jr elected Secretary to replace res˘igning Bernard Goodwin. Company President David T. Schultz made the announcement.
-13 February: Kelley announces consolidation of all government manufacturing, engineering and sales into one division under Dr Goldsmith (Research Chief since 1936). Motivating factors: R&D program’s closeness to government and electrical work.
-24 February: Du Mont tv-type Engine Analyzer (to be sold nationally to service stations, dealers, fleet owners and garages) unveiled after 4 years in development. Could pinpoint combustible engine problems, as demonstrated at Majestic Buick (1731 Broadway). “promoter’ was E. Eugene Ecklund (Manager, automotive sales, Technical Products Division). Unit cost $725 and was developed with (and made under license from ) Socony Mobil Oil Company.
-Spring: sole user of Electronicam, Jackie Gleason, drops it as the Honeymooners gives way to an hour length variety show.
-12 April: Labs disclose establishment of Milan headquarters to liaison with International Division and licensees and continental distributors.
-18 April: Labs win contract violation charges brought against AFTRA via American Arbitration Association. Theodore W. Kheel (of Battle, F Fowler, Neaman, Stokes & Kheelaty) defended the Labs. AFTRA claimed that the Electronicam was used in a “live manner” and fell under AFTRA, not SAG, jurisdiction.
-02 August: Major General Raymond C. Maude (retired), ex Commander of Air Force Research Center at Hanscom Field in Bedford MA, to assist Dr Goldsmith in direction and co-ordination of supplying electronic equipment to the military.
-30 August: Electronicam demonstrated at Movietone Studios (460 West 54th). Was to be sent afterwards to Paramount Studios to make tv and movie films.
-19 September: D. T. Schultz says Labs to build one-gun color tubes for Chromatic TV Labs, Inc. Preparatory work leading too mass production of tubes and receivers to be completed in one year, with tubes for all manufacturers.
-02 October: 300 plus tv and movie people see first local Electronicam demonstration at Paramount Studios (former Warner Brothers Studios). Labs’ western manager Ralph B. Austrian said user could “see as much as 30% savings in below-the-line costs’
1957
-20 May: Labs announce complete line of radio, TV and industrial tubes.
-July: Loeb & Rhodes votes Paramount Pictures out of control. Paramount later sells it’s stock.
-18 November: Frank Proctor and Associates Inc acquires controlling interest of Du Mont Airplane and Maritime Instruments Inc of Clearfield PA. Thomas W. Stemmler remains Chairman.
-08 December: Engine Test Equipment Department manager E.E. Eckland reveaÅls Industrial Engine Scope, which diagnoses problems in spark- ignited equipment.
-10 December: Du Mont Airplane and Marine Instrument acquires Huntington WV’s Le John Manufacturing Co Inc. Du Mont Airplane and Maritime designed and manufactured electrical and electronic devices for the government and manufactures capacitors.
-23 December: Electrical Products Manufacturing Company Ltd gets rights to make and sell Du Mont sets, radios and hi- fis in Canada, from a 100,000 square foot facility at 5785 Pare Street in Mount Royal Quebec, in addition to its Fleetwood line. Plans called for marketing starting in FB 58. President M. F. Poll, Secretary and Treasurer S. Sokoloff.
1958
-04 January: Equipment Manufacturing Division put in to use a multiple- function automotive tester to make 30 individual wiring choices per minute. Developed to speed junction box production. Junction boxes contain connection p˛oints for inter-equipment wiring, made by Labs for military to use in navigational radar and bombing systems.
-08 January: 3 new sets and 1 new phonograph announced. 1 top- line tv, 1 low end. 1 at bottom of console line and a 17” portable to replace 57’s 14” set.
-30 January: Percy Stewart buys 900 shares, bringing his total to 1000.
-03 March: Dr Du Mont buys 1000 shares, bringing his total to 32,901.
-13 March: Glidden announces sale of Euston Lead plant (Scranton PA) to Du Mont Airplane and Maritime.
-14 March: 58 net loss of $534,616. 57 net loss after giving effect of $1,262,430 carry-back tax credit.
-17 March: 250 to be laid off, effective 21 MR. at the Clifton tube manufacturing operation.
-02 May: Duoscopic set demonstrated (2 tubes. 1 regular, 1 pointing up. 1 image wÿent through a semi-transparent screen, the 2nd was reflected from it), patent #2,832,821. First shown at a press conference 07JA54.
-02 May: 3400 Labs employees, including 300 scientists.
-06 May: President Schultz says first quarter loss of $943,000 on sales of $9,806,000 (versus $353,000 on $10,059,000 in 57).
-09 May: third Sunday shift added to TV picture Manufacturing Department. This change and additions to other shifts to increase employees by two thirds.
-02 June: Labs announce stereo phono line ($119.95- $299.95) and stereo auxiliary unit line ($75- $125).
-04 July: 1957 net loss of $534,616 contrasted to 1956’s $3,886,734 loss after $81,000 tax credit. 1957 sales: $42,691,148 versus 56’s $46,646,878. Labs lost $943,000 in ˇfirst quarter of 1958 and $353,000 in the first quarter of 57. 58 sales: $9,806,000 versus 57’s $10,059,000.
-04 July: Emerson Radio & Phonograph Corporation agrees to purchase Labs’ consumer product division (maker of Tvs, phonographs, hi- fis and stereos) for over $5M ($4,974,240.60) in cash. After the completion of 1959 lines, Emerson was to take over tools, dies, molds and other manufacturing equipment. Contract included trademark for home product use and royalty- free use of Du Mont patents for consumer products. Emerson President Benjamin Abrams says new line to be merchandised separately and many personnel to be retained under a wholly owned subsidiary, Du Mont Television & Radio Corporation. Line expected to add $25 - 30 million annually to sales and to provide a higher- priced line. Decision to buy or build new plant later. Consumer products were 30% of the Labs’ sales volume. Sale to provide cash, to concentrate resources on Scientific Instrument, two way radio, CRT Manufacturing and East Paterson’s Autotest Emquipment.
East Paterson division closed, research consolidated, equipment manufacture went to Allwood, marketing/sales/ engineering costs cut from $1,450,153 to $900,401.
-07 July: Emerson buys division, moving operations to Jersey City plant at the end of the 59 line production. Line for new division to open September 1958. Labs to continue CRT production.
-15 July: Labs and Airways Modernization Board (joint department of Commerce Nad Defense Departments project, established 1957 by Eisenhower) announce $311,000 contract to create complete electronics lab for R&D studios in airway modernization problems. Evaluation equipment to be installed in National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center in Atlantic City by 04SP58. Labs’ R&D division to handle contract.
-29 July: Director Erpf sells 7000 shares (bringing total to 1000) while VP Donovan H. Tyson sells *00, leaving 200.
-06 August: Dr Du Mont sells 4600 of his shares, leaving him with 28,301. He had a restricted stock option to buy 3500 aggregate $17 shares (at least 1000 per purchase) until Labs’ FY 64.
-09 September: Labs halt CRT production at Clifton plant and lay off 100. Possible restart in 30 days. Only 600 CRTs made daily, while 4000 possible. 25% of CRT production previously went to consumer products division.
-11 November: Labs announce receiver production to end at months end, and 300- 400 to be laid off, although 1100 to remain employed at the East Paterson plant. 2 Clifton plants to continue making special and industrial sets.
-26 December: Joseph J Garibaldi Organization brokers title transfer from Du Mont Labs to Electronics Division of Curtiss- Wright Corporation for East Paterson site, which had a 1 story building on a 66 acre site. Building designed during WW2 and built 1948, Labs bought it it from the US Government through Garibaldi.
-Labs’ west coast plant at 11800 West Olympic Blvd, LA.
-lab divisions: Television Receiver Division, R&D, Equipment Manufacturing (East Paterson), Tube Operations, Engineering, Industrial & Military Equipment, technical Products Engineering (Clifton) and International Division (NYC).
1959
-16 January: Navy gets $1.3M subcontract for production of missile testing equipment for Sparrow III. testing equipment to check missiles before firing from aircraft carriers. Prime contractor: Raytheon Manufacturing o.
-22 January: Labs announce Sparrow III project. To make 22 sets at Missile West plant (LA)
-13 March: Labs announce ‘continuous blip’ radio
-25 June: $87,846 on sales of $4,457,000 (1st 12 weeks of the year), versus $943,000 on sales of $9,806,000 for the same period in 1958. $6M in military backlog, sales rate of $20M. 1958: $9,503,698 deficit on sales of of $30,165ê,988. Through 24 May, outstanding debt down $3.3M. Over 1/2 of income for rest of year to be from military contracts, mostly R & D.
-03 August: 12 weeks ending 21 June: net loss of $117,672 and sales of $9,243,436.
-16 October - 05 November: Curtiss-Wright Corporation acquires East Paterson plant and moves their Carlstadt operation in. Unofficially estimated at $2.9M
-03 November: 16 weeks ending 11OC: net income of $148,426, sales of $5,482,681. 40 weeks ending 1OC: net income of $30,754 and sales of $14,726,117.
-05 November: Labs buy Avia Products Company of Los Angeles (designer and producer of rugged, compact, weather-proof transceivers (chiefly for police bikes)) and unit moves to Clifton NJ.
-12 November: Labs announce plans to open industrial and military CRT plant in Italy.
-CRT production ceases
-$16M loss
1960
-14 January: Prime Contractor Bendix Aviation Corporation gives Labs $14M subcontract to manufacture telemetry devices Zand associated test equipment for US Navy’s Talos guided missile program.
-22 January: labs and Republic Aviation Corp enter merger talks. Labs carried over $8M tax loss, Paramount Picture still held 26.6% of 2,361,091 outstanding common shares.
-02 March: Farmingdale, Long Island’s Republic Aviation abandons merger talks.
-01 April: Boards of Du Mont and Fairchild instrument and Camera okay merger negotiations. 1 Fairchild for 15 Du Mont common shares and 1 Fairchild common for 5.7 Du Mont 5% convertible preferred.
-18 April: as of year ending 03JA, gross income of $19,467,469 and net income of $1,315,904.
-25 April: Labs have 1500 employees
-17 May: Ford plant installs Du Mont Enginescope
-30 June: At separate special meetings, Du Mont and Fairchild shareholders okay merger. 178,000 of the 1,039,140 outstanding Fairchild shares to go to Du Mont shareholders. Announced by Fairchild President John Carter.
-05 July: merger with Syosset NY’s Fairchild. New divisions: Du Mont Military Electronics, Industrial Electronics, Electrical Tube.
-20 August: Dr Du Mont appointed Group Manager of ABD Labs division of Fairchild, to have overall responsibility for electronic tubes and industrial electronics divisions.
-22 August: Federal Judge in Hyde PA okays reorganization plan of George S. Irving for insolvent Du Mont Airplane and Marine Instruments, Inc and it’s Le John Manufacturing subsidiary. General creditors to get 30% of amount owed in cash or 40% in bonds, with option to buy stock at 10 cents per share.
1962
-04 November: Du Mont Labs division of Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp demonstrates CCTV camera with 1.5” diameter and weight of 1.25 lbs for teaching microsurgery at NY Polyclinic Medical School and Hospital.
1973
-Du Mont Oscilloscope Laboratories Inc of West Caldwell NJ gets $5.5B contract from US Navy.
Du Mont Labs Dissolution
In 1958, Allen Du Mont assigned his research director, Thomas Goldsmith, to find a merger partner.
30 June 1960, Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp. acquired Du Mont Laboratories. By this time, it consisted of the tube operation (which included monochrome CRTs and photo multiplier tubes) and the oscilloscope operation. Fairchild's board by no means had been unanimous in acquiring Du Mont, which was suffering huge losses. John Carter (from Montclair NJ. Former VP of Cornıing Glass Works, later President of Fairchild Camera), board chairman, swung the vote in favor of the purchase. The research and development division became the Dumont Military Electronics Department of Fairchild.
The broadcast operation had already been sold, the transmitter division curtailed and Emerson Radio Corp. had taken over the TV-receiver business.
Five years later, in 1965, Du Mont died at the age of 64.
A year later, Goldsmith left to become a professor of physics at Furman
University in Greenville, S.C., his hometown.
08 January 1968: with Carter no longer at Fairchild, the company sold the remains of Du Mont (the oscilloscope division, making $4-5M annually) to a liquidator, International Fastener Research. The liquidator found a customer for Du Mont in the same John Carter.
Fairchild would not permit use of the original name, Allen B. Du Mont Laboratories, so Carter's company came to be known as Du Mont Oscilloscopes.
In West Caldwell, N.J., the home of its predecessor, Du Mont Oscilloscopes took over the older scopes and began to design a new line. Within three years, Carter, who owned the company but did not manage it, died. His son, John Carter Jr., came in to manage the business.
He started another company, Du Mont Instrumentation, in Commack, N.Y., which became the parent of Du Mont Oscilloscopes and a California semiconductor company, both drains on the company's funds.
In 1972, Fairchild sold the tube operation (Du Mont Electronics Corporation) to Thomas- CSF (Thomson Electronics) and retained instrumentation. DEC had CRT, Direct-View Storage Tube and Multiplier Photo Tube Divisions, to which Thomson added Nucleonic Products Components and Socapex Connector divisions. The unit, called Thomson Electron Tubes and Devices Corporation, relocated to Dover NJ in 1984.
In 1984, Du Mont Instrumentation went bankrupt. The bankrupt company was bought by Ed Petrasek, who had been general manager of Du Mont Oscilloscopes, and Richard Blackwell. Today, the company, E and R (for Ed and Richard), does business as Du Mont Oscilloscopes.
In 1988, Hughes (Carlsbad CA) took it over. It became Hughes Display Products in 1991 when merged with Projectron Inc (acquired 1987) and Hughes of Carlsbad. In 1993, it was renamed Hughes Lexington, Inc. and the three units were united in Lexington KY.
In October of 1997, Rex T. Sheldon and John C. Morris bought Hughes Lexington from the Hughes Aircraft Company and begat Lexel Imaging Systems, Inc.