United States Television Manufacturing Corp.

United States Television Manufacturing Corporation

Company type	Public
Industry	Electronics
Founded	1945 in Manhattan, New York City, United States
Defunct	1950
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Key people	Hamilton Hoge (President), John Otis Hoge (Vice President), Ira T. Kitzmiller (Controller), A.D. Heller (Chief Engineer), Antony Wright (Chief Engineer), Irving Mageff (Project Engineer), K. Blair Benson (Senior Engineer), William H. Higgins (Sales Manager)
Products	Large-screen television sets, direct-view television sets, radio-phonographs

The United States Television Manufacturing Corporation, often referred to as U.S. Television Manufacturing or simply UST, was an electronics firm headquartered in New York City that specialized in producing large-screen television sets designed primarily for bars and other public establishments. Functioning between 1945 and 1950, the company catered to commercial clients by offering premium-priced products during the post-World War II period marked by material shortages.

History

Established in 1945 in Manhattan, the corporation went public in April 1946, issuing 99,000 shares at a price of US$3 each, with Guaranty Trust Company serving as the registrar. Under the leadership of president Hamilton Hoge and vice president John Otis Hoge, UST concentrated on commercial sectors such as taverns and clubs to maximize profit margins per unit sold.

In September 1946, the firm showcased its large-screen rear-projection television units at prominent department stores throughout Manhattan and neighboring cities, featuring live broadcasts like the Joe Louis–Tami Mauriello boxing match. By mid-1947, monthly production had reached 300 units, which were distributed across 13 states plus the District of Columbia. The product range was broadened to include a taller projection model equipped with AM-FM radio priced at $1,995, alongside two consumer-oriented models: a 10-inch direct-view CRT combined with radio and phonograph for $895, and a rear-projection television retailing at $2,275. By November 1947, the direct-view model's price had decreased to $745.

Entering early 1948, the large-screen projection television's price increased to $2,495 with plans to ship 50–75 units monthly to 15 cities. The company also introduced a theater-grade television capable of variable screen sizes up to 12 by 16 feet, priced at $3,495. Towards the end of 1948, upgraded models featuring screen sizes of 475 and 675 square inches were launched. Additionally, a tabletop model with a screen measuring nearly 9 by 7 inches was released.

The subsidiary Zetka Television Tubes, Inc., located in Clifton, New Jersey, produced 12- and 15-inch CRTs utilizing glass blanks supplied by Corning Glass Works. In December 1948, prices were lowered following an increase in CRT availability; home consoles equipped with radio and phonograph were priced at $1,095, while tabletop models ranged from $325 to $695.

Marketing initiatives included a nationwide direct-mail campaign targeting approximately 41,000 tavern proprietors beginning in August 1947 through the agency Huber-Hoge & Sons. In January 1948, this agency launched a $250,000 print advertising effort promoting tabletop sets with an emphasis on quality craftsmanship.

After reporting a loss in its earnings statement for 1950, no further financial updates were disclosed.

Products

Television models featured integrated radio and phonograph components.

Projection Television Sets

• Tavern Tele-Symphonic (models T508, T521, T525, T530), priced at US$1,995
• Tele-Symphonic model at US$2,275
• Tele-Symphonic Modern version also at US$2,275

Direct-View Television Sets

• Telesonic models (offered in modern and traditional cabinetry), retailing for US$895

Radio-Phonographs

• Dumbarton model available for US$239

Model Numbers

• T502, T507, T508, T521, T525, T530, T621, T10823

Key Personnel

• Hamilton Hoge – President
• John Otis Hoge – Vice President (deceased 1953), former executive at United Safeway Company and advertising collaborator
• Ira T. Kitzmiller – Controller; previously an RCA executive with fourteen years of experience
• A.D. Heller – Chief Engineer; succeeded by Antony Wright, former RCA TV engineering manager
• Irving Mageff – Project Engineer
• K. Blair Benson – Senior Engineer
• William H. Higgins – Sales Manager
• Philip Goldberg and Kenneth Golden – Regional Distributors for Buffalo and The Bronx respectively

Additional Distributors

• Rumsey Electric Company, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, served as a distributor.
• Domestic Heating and Equipment Corp., operating out of Cleveland, Ohio, also functioned as a distributor.

Corporate Headquarters

As of December 1945, the company's main office was situated at 106 Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, New York City. By July 1947, operations had relocated to 1 West 61st Street, although some advertisements cited 3 West 61st Street as the business address.

Financial Performance

During the first half of 1946, the company recorded a net loss amounting to US$98,000. However, the same period in 1947 saw a turnaround with a net profit after taxes of US$188,355, indicating enhanced financial health. The total net sales for the entire year of 1947 reached US$1.9 million, yet the company still reported a net loss of US$132,686 for that year. In 1948, U.S. Television Manufacturing Corp. posted a slight net gain of US$27,035 based on 341,475 common shares outstanding. Conversely, in 1949 the company experienced another downturn, with losses totaling US$195,094.

External links

• (Contains information on Hamilton Hoge’s background)