SOVIET BLOC PRODUCTION OF CIVILIAN RADIO AND TELEVISION RECEIVERS (CIA RR 11)

Created: 9/26/1952

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ECONOMIC IhireLUiSEtlCE REPORT

SOVIET BLOG PEDDUCmON OF CTvTLTAH EADlO

mm msimm mmmw

SBZ CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND REPORTS

ELEASE AS SANITIZED

SECWOTf-rNPORHWION EC01KKTC DnEIJJGEHCE report

SOVIET BLOC PRODUCTION OP CIVILIAN RADIO AMD TELEVISION RECEIVERS

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Office of Research and Reports

Suooiary

I. Introduction

of the Problem

of Product Category

Description of the Soviet Bloc Electronics

Industry

Da Production of Civilian Radio Receivers

"H. Production of Civilian Television Receivers

II. Summary1 Production of Civilian Radio

and Television Receivers

Receivers

III. Trends, Indications, and Conclusions

in Production levels

of Industry Effort Devoted to tbe Production

of Receivers

Number of Sets in Use

Conclusions

Appendixes

Appendix A. Tabulation of Types of Soviet Bloc Radio

(uid Television Receivers

Appendix B. Detailed List of Radio and Television Receiver Manufacturing Plants in the Soviet Bloc .

Appendix C. Gaps In Intelligence

Appendix D. Methodology

E.

and Evaluation of Sources

CIA/RR-11

(ORR)

l'-GECURTTY INFORMATION

SOVIET DIXC PRODUCTIONIVIIJAN RADIO AND TELEVISION RECEIVERS"

Soviet Bloc production of civilian radio and television receiversheavily since the end of World War II, being estimated atinndillion There is strong evidencethat the Soviet Bloc governments vloh to exploit massto their fullest extent. Military commitments, however,production of civilian radio equipment

1 it Is estimatedivilian radio receivers were manufactured In the Soviet Bloc, includingcrystal receiversmall receivers without short-wave bands. In the USSRivilian receivers were produced, Includingrystal sets and alsosmall receivers without short-wave bonds. Most of these radios were produced atssembly plonto, of whichre in then Eastnnn Bulgaria,n Rumania.

DuringIs estimated0 television receivers were

manufacturedSoviet Blocin East Germany and tbe USSRall

for sale In These television receivers vere produced in one

East GermanSoviet factories.

Asillion civilian radio receivers capable of receiving short-wave broadcasts were in use in the Soviet Bloc, plusillion radios without short-wave bands, including crystal nets. Ofillion short-wave setsillion receiversshort-wave bauds. Including crystal sets, were in use in the USSR. In addition, approximatelytelevision receivers were in use in the USSR.

onsiderable expansion of the Soviet Bloc electronicsespeciallyhe percentage of industry effort devoted to the manufacture of civilian radio and television receivers remained low, being estimated1 to beercent for the Soviet Blocholeercent for the Soviet Industry alone.

Tills report contains Information available to CIA as

It iu concluded that the Soviet electronics industry continues to be engaged predominately in military vork, ot the expense of civilian prod ucts; that there is no indicationhanging trend in this situation -end that tbe number of radio sets capable of receiving foreignbroadcasts Is extremely limited, especially within the USSR.

I. Introduction.

of the Problem.

Various estimates of Soviet Bloc production of civilian radio receivers have been prepared In the past, largely based upon plan! figures and published statistics. This report reviews those estimates, correlates the reported substantive data with spot reports on the operations offacilities, and attempts to expand the data by providing anof production broken down by type and clans of receiver.

It Is intended that this report serve three purposes: onsolidated reference for intelligence consumers of available data on Soviet Bloc radio and television receivers, including quantitiesdescriptions of seta, and information on the principal manufacturing plants; (b) extend the scope of required Information in support of policies and procedures related to international broadcasting; and (c) provide an indication of the relative amount of effort devoted by tho Soviet Bloc electronics industry to civilian products.

of Product Category.

1. The products covered In this report are civilian radio receivers intended for tbe reception of radio broadcasts and civilian television receivers intended for tbe reception of television broadcasts. This report docs not consider Industrial ccentunications receivers, military radios, or

related apparatus.

2. Most of the receivers discussed are distributed to individual civilian purchasers, to institutions, to public placec, and to wired-radio receiving points.

C> GeocrQl Poacrlption of the Soviet Bloc Electronics Induetry.

ractical purposes, the Soviet Bloc electronicsis concentrated In the DSSR, East Germany, Hungary, and Czecho-

vide variety of electronic apparatus for military, industry, and civilian tw ^ Ulpa!Qtilitary and

electrtolc ccen^nente and tubes. To aJSPlScPeDdeDtorts from theated production materials and test equip-

B1oc electronics industry is ecmmarable in size to that of all Western Europe, excluding the UK.

R'ny- Hungary, and Crechoslovakia the industry effort devoted to the manufacture of civilian radio and tcie-,vision receiverselatively small portion of the total electronics industrial program.

xich smaller quantity of simple electronlc apparatus, in-

cluding civilian and military radios, is assembled in other Soviet Bloc eountr.es. In general, these ope rations are limited by the lack of technological capacities and by the need for importing nearly all tubes and component parts.

D. Production of Civilian Radio Receivers.

In general, tho production of civilian radio receivers for consumer useelatively simple undertaking. Given tbe supply of tubes and ccsaponents, it is possible to produce large numbers of these sets of varying degrees of complexity and quality vith little or noequipmentinimum of skilled labor. In the1 Soviet Bloc there is ample capacity and skill for tbe production of these sets on almost any scale desired. However, the limited supply of tubes and components engendered by tbe emphasis on military electronics production has made larGC-scale production of radios for civilians, as it is known ic the US, impossible for tbe

Communist policymakers, nevertheless, realizing the value to ine regime of tbe effective mass communication medium of radio, have concentrated available resources on tbe production in larger quantities or smaller, less complex sets. Thus the production of sets with four or fewer tubes has become very common in the Soviet Bloc, and even simple crystal sets are being produced in large numbers in the USSR.

3- The extreme of toll trend la found in the vired-radiovhlch cccpriee many loudspeakers connectedentral radio receiver and able toarge number of households. In this vay it la possible for tho Soviet Bloc to increase Its domestic liatenlnfi audience and at the same time to avoid excessive deranda on Ita tube and component supplying induatrloa.

1*. The Soviet Bloc- produoaa radiosarge number of sixes. There aro aboutlants in the Blochole vhlch have quantity output of radios, and there are many more vhich producemall numberideline. abulation of types of Soviet Bloo radio rooeivora isn Table k,

In tha Soviet Bloo, East OarEeny and Hungary are perhaps tha countries with tha most experience in thia production, since they vera lore0 prove- producers and oxportora of radios. The USSR bad begun ita radio production vol! before World War II, but it vas never on exporter, and tho number of lets prcducod vas very low. Since tha war the afforta of tha Soviets to boost production have bean relatively luooeiaful,

Before the war, there wore in Czechoslovakia German-lants which produced radios aooording to the flaWasa and Dutoh designs. Those plants were lnooxporotod into tho Ttala oombine after the Ccssjnleta gained pover in CMOhoslovakla, and althoughof radios is stillairly large scale, there are indications that production of radios, fluctuates widely as cilltary needs vary.

8. Production of Civilian Television Receivere.

1. At tha present tlmo, tolovision oanufaoturlng la carried on In tho USSR and In lost Oornany, Hungary bos the technical oopability for ouch production, but do television roeeivers are actually node there. Tha sota produood in East Germany ore all sent to the USSR, and that country is tho only one In the Bloc enjoying the use of television, abulation of types of Boviot Bloc television rooeivers Is given in Table

8. The production of television receivers in tha USSR and la East Germany islsitod basis. The prinoipai reasons for any produo-tlcn at aU aro the propaganda value of bolng able to point toreat Soviet achievement and the experience and training vhlch sueh produstion provides for onglnoore, teahnicione, end. repair men. Because of tha similarity of taohnlQuea employed, this training IsIn the oetabliabaflotorps of personnel able to design, build,

and maintain military eiectroolc equipment.

3> There is little chance that the production of television sets for civilian use will be vastly increased, because of the very large drains such production would make on tbe tube and component facilities of the Soviet Bloc, which are, as has been pointed out, already overloaded.

II. Summarye>-gl Production of Civilian Radio and Television Receivers.

A. Radio Receivers.

ndhow the production of civilian radio receivers in various combinations of country, year, class, and type according to available data. The class designations in these tables are, in thef Soviet radios, official Soviet designations indicating the quality and complexity of the particular radios. First-class receivers areof good quality having completendcoverage and usually having six or more tubes. Second-class receivers arer seven-tube superheterodynes with four, orbands and either one or no short-wave bands. Fourth-class receivers are TRP (tuned radio frequency) _setstwo- and three-tubeone-tube sets, and crystal setsand usually have only broadcast band coverage. These designations have been applied to the receivers of other countries by this report in order to facilitate comparison of these sets and Soviet sets. It should be recognized that the designations as applied to Satellite sets are approximations and arc not necessarily used by the countries in question.

ives an approximation of the production of various Individual radio receivers In the USSR for the. From this tabic it is possible to get an idea of thc breakdown of short-wave andsets In the

ives data on tbe production of civilian radioby year and country and by short-wave receiving capability.

h. 1 production of civilian radio receivers for the Soviet Blochole was,0 of which hadbandsf which had no short-wave bonds. Totalfor the1 wasets, ofad short-wave bundsf which had no short-wave bands-

* ollows on p.able's, on p. ?.

Table 1

Estimated Annual Production in the USSR of Major Radio Receivers by Type

Class

?/

tuhee b/

M c/

W

W

W

SW b/

W

ubes.

manufacturers

SW, battery

SW b/

W

W

W

SW b/

ondsW)

Ret

ubes h/

SW b/

tubes, no SW

of Lenin

tubes, no SW

full factory names, see Appendix B.

other Information SW Indicates short-wave bands.

Tbe estimates of Soviet production Inere obtainedfrom the Soviet press. An estimate of Soviet production9 obtained by adding together Individual plant totals Is in very closewith the total9 In Table 2.

Crystal set produetion, which began in large quantity8o estimatedets8 andets for

These estimates were obtained by eccparlng total set production estimated

table 2

estimated production of civilian radio receivers in the soviet bloc(continued)

sw indicates receivers" with one or =ora short-waveonce the capability of receiving the voice ofa).

lndieaten that tha sets have no short-wave bands. usually these seta have one or morebut no capability of receiving foreign brosdossts including the toa.

estimates1 are highly speculative. in particular, there is actual information onlyqenemy and bulgaria, and the information on bulgaria is dependent on the reliability of themovement of czechoslovakia production faollltiea to bulgaria

crystal setsignificant part of soviet total production in reoent years, they arethis table. these sets have no short-wave capabilities. as ftr as is known, there is no crystalln any of the other soviet bloo countries.

n this tableegligible quantity.

total number of civilian receivers produced ln bast qermany1 isbreakdown botween receivers having short-wave and those not having short-wave for east oemany

frco prone releasee and factory totals (vhlch Include all types of vith production of tube sets estimated by examining output data onacta.

7. 0 Plan called for the productionets. Then lo evidence that this total was not achieved. This report estimates the number of tube sets0ets. If production came near the Plan goalhen the discrepancy can be explained only by the production ofrystal sets. There Is evidence consistent vith this estimate.

0. TJiub production of tube oets is substantially loweruperficial reading of the Plan would indicate, and produetion ofnets Is lower still.

9- Production of tube sets for the Blochole is estimated1ets. The breakdown of Soviet Bloc production with respect to short-wave receiving capabilities is believed to0 short-wave setsets with no short-wave capabilities,eryfltal sets.

B. Television Receivers.

Production of civilian television receivers ln the Soviet Blocs given in

II. Trends, Indications, and Conclusions.

A. Trends in Production Levels.

1. Radio Receivers.

the Soviet Bloc trend in radio receiver

production isthe Satellites and the USSR are increasing

their radio outputan is compatible with growing military

However, the number of radio oetu is not the only relevant variable indicative of Soviet Bloc eapacltleo and production effort. In vttltloo to tbe number of seta, tbe size and complexity of sets must be taken into consideration in evaluating the extent of tbe production errort, ind the proportion of sets with short-wave bands is of obviouo signlf Icencv In thc entimatlon of the capacity of Ucitem broadcasts to reach the Bloc.

ollows

1

fa-

I'-

J-

|.

i!

It lo fairly clear that the number of tubes and circuits in sets Is declining. An index of this tendency is the large snd growing production of crystal sets, vhlch, of course, have no tubes end have only one very simple stage employing the fewest possible number of components.

The trend in the number of short-vave bondslso fairly clear, especially in the USSR: ar larger percentage of radio sets without any short-vnve bands lo being put out than ever before. The trend Is much clearer In the USSR than in tho Satellites, especially East Germany, vbere the types of sets produced are not so discernible.

Thus, although tbe number of radio sets produced continues to rise, the proportion of resources devoted to civilian radio production does not rise correspondingly.

2. Television Receivers.

Although theO Five Year Plan scheduled theof civilian television receivers to reach en annual rate0 setond much publicity has been devoted to the extension ofin tbe USSR, actual performance fell far short of this goal. Furthermore, there are strong indications that recent domestic production has not been expanded over0 level but rather may have been curtailed in favor of imports from East Germany. It is believed that this situation vill continue, that the primary source for Soviet television receivers vill be the East German industry, and that the Soviet facilities vill be too heavily engaged in military work to permit uny extensive output of civilian television sets. In addition to the stations presently operating at Moscow and Leningrad, the Kiev television station vas scheduled to operate full time in May or Theremall transmitter in operation at Khar'kov, and transmitting equipment is under construction for Sverdlovsk and, possibly, for Odessa. It appears most probable that the demand for television rcceivero vill continue to outstrip the supply for several years.

In Bast Germany the production of television receivers can be expected to be high for the next few years. It is probable that0 receivers2 can be realized'and that seme increase over this figure can be obtained, especially If reported plans forthe East German tube industry are implemented. In any case, theof East Germany to supply television sets in quantity will be limited primarily by tube availability, and ths effect upon other East Germanprograms may become serious. Although come work has been done on television broadcasting and an East German experimental televisionvas completed latet is probable that the priority assigned

to Soviet demands will Halt television In East Germanyery lowoperation, primarily foriOV ievel

Tolevielon progress in the Satellite oountrleo has beena amall amount of experimental effort; occasional closed-circuitin Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Hungary; and plans4 fto evidence exists of2 program for the production ofi" Possible that television broedcaating and public

distribution of receiversimited basis may bo establiahed In some of these areasb. The capacity to accomplishrogram certainly exists, especially at the united Incandescent Lamp Company (UTLCOn Hungary and at Tesla in Czechoslovakia. Actual initiation of production willatter of Soviet Bloc policy.

B- Proportion of Industry Effort Devoted to theRe eel

1- Proportion of Tube Productlcc Effort.

' 0 tube production1 la valuedillion. The average number of tubes per radio ln1 Bloc production is six fornd threealf for Classotal naMbcr tubes used1 radio,,

tube use1 is estimated as foUows: sets withubes per set's withubesubes. There are0 picture tubes.

combined number of radio and television receivingcounting picture tubes)eceiving tubes. At an * tube> this represents an aggregate value of value of the picture tubes brings the total

it is assumed thatercent of the total tubeof the Soviet Bloc is used for replacementotalvalueillion may be conpared with the value of tubesreceivers.

result is that7 percent of theproduction for new sets is represented by television and radio

Proportion of Total glectrotilcs Production Effort.

value of Soviet Bloc electronice output la iaPO

The total value of radio set output, at ani sets er net for, or

b. lie total value of television set production, aeeuain*price0 per eet,n

, roduction may total as muchets

Ater sot this is an8 million.

tan1 *aiue rf pcccIvcr production Is,his representsercent of the total value of electronics production In the Soviet Bloc.

e* ercentage of total electronics effort InBJ-oc accounted for by civilian radio and television receiverIs probably Bomevherendercent.

J%ffthe share of the Soviet electronics Industry devoted to civilian radio and television production isercent,ubstantially lever percentage than that of the Soviet Blochole or of the Satellite*roup.

0- Estimated BUmbcr of Sets in Ose.

1. Radio Receivers.

?triUBa "uiion the Soviet Bloc Is

estimated on the basis of the estimated number of seta on hand as6 and the yearly production figures appearing inbove. ate of retirement ofercent is assumed.

The number of sets in the Soviet Bloc-capable, of receiving short-wave broadcasts Is estimated aso have beenillion sets, while the number of sets cot capable of receiving short-wave broadcasts as of tbe same date is very roughly estimated tcT haveets.

Thus the number of seta in use In the Soviet Bloc as2 is estimated to have beenillion sets with one jr more short-wave bands andillion sets vithout short-wave

bands. Including crystal sets.

The grand total, of sets In use, then, isillion sets, including both tube and crystal types.

Comparable estimates for the USSR arc, as of thehort-wavc bands,ets

with no short-wave bands, including crystal, sets.

It Is of Interest that the production of sets vithbonds In the USSR is less than sufficient to make up for the number ex sets of this type retired every year, so that the total number of these sets is declining absolutely in the USSR year by year.

2- Television Receivers.

As

estimated that television sets In use in the USSR00 In Leningrad,n Kiev. In view of thedelivery of sets from East Germany and the time intervalinstallation, this estimate agrees closely vith theestimate0 receivers which was obtained from is believed to be en accurate estimate of

sets in use ot the beginning It is likely that an0 sets can be installed in the USSR- primarily In the above areas, and possibly Including cone In Khar'kov and Sverdlovsk. No television receivers are in use in East Geraany or the Satellite countries nor are any significant Installations anticipated

D. Indications.

The trends suggest very strongly that the authorities in the Soviet Bloc countries feel the value to the regime of maintaining aamount of contact vith their people by means of radio and at the same timeinimum drain on their already taxed electronics industry The devices employed to provide this economical broadcasting coverage include production of sets vith few tubes, production of sets with few or no short-wave bands, production of crystal sets, and wired radio.

Another indication which is fairly clear from the abovehat the Soviet Bloc, in achieving economical, broadcasting, is, in the process cutting down the number of people who can be reached by Western propaganda broadcast.,. This is principally because of the increasing number of setsno short-wave bonds and sets which cannot be tuned at the option of

- Ik

tbe listener, even on the broadcast band.

mmcj*!avy Pub;ic^ accorded the progress or television inJfindicate that the Soviet civil Ian sic

estrictedodest scale and thata ctu

effort of the Soviet Bloc electronics industry l6 devoted

iLS^SSS^itl ^tary electronics products. Despitelanned Increase of coMidernble magnitude in industry output, there is no

E. Conclusions.

of the Soviet Bloc are serious in their desire

to ccmrainicate with their people and are trying to achieve the nexinur. amount of such communication by radio.

productlQC of civilian radios lo growing and^ iblc eivUian needs of the soviet Bloc

t0 DUb8tltuto tbe *

hinder tbe production of setscalc

ccoparable vith the OS. Aside from tbe resources denied civilian radio

Bloc's political

interest to produce the simplest sorts ofsince these are almost Icpossible to reach by Western broadcasts. Unless the tension between East and West is relieved, it is unlikely that production of civiSnTradlos

eaCh

ltecoas Progressively harder to reach the Soviet Bloc

by the Voice of America and other Western broadcasts as the existingave seto wear out and are replaced by non-short-wave sets.

BLANK PAGE

APFEEQOIX A

TABULATION OF TYPES OF SOVIET BLOC RADIO AND TELEVISION RECEIVERS

Tableadio Receivers

Country

Where Known (Rubles) !

700

Footnotes forollow on

Table k

Radio Rocelvcro (Continued)

'

USSR

Characteristic* 2 W

y-an'-iTficturer

Boir-i

Where Known (Rubier.)

Poland

Rodlna

Boltlka

Ural

Minsk

Partlzan

EFIR

Rekord

Salyut Lcnln-

gradetu Iskra Kuzbas ARZ Mosk-

ula

Plonler

tubesubes,W

Unknown

W

e/ Unknown

6W

5W

k tubes c/ Portable c/

5W

k tubes, battery Unknown Ro SW c/

ubes c/

no SWubes, no SW

2 tubes, no SW Bo SWubes, no SW

kunds

Lenin, ARZ, and others VEF VEP

Ordzbonlkidze Molotov Punane Ret Punane Ret Radlote khnlka

MolOtOT ARZ

ARZ ond others Punane Ret

ARZ

Kazltakiy

ARZ

Beloye

ARZ

Order of Lenin

Rsdiotekhnlka

Holotov

Tula

Dzerzonlow

700

too

220

750

-

Tuble 'i

Radio Receivers (Continued)

BLANK PAGE

APPENUDC B

DETAILED LIST OF RADIO AND TELEVISION RECKIVEH HAtlUB'ACTURITfG PLANTS

Hi THE SOVTST

A. Radio Manufacturlnx Plants. 1. USSR.

Baku Radio Plant, Baku, Azerbaydxhan SSR.

This plant was constructed67 and beftan production7 with the Rekord and tbe Baku receivers. It la administered by tho Ministry of Local Industry. The best estimate of tho approximate scale on vhlch this plant produces is obtainedeport ofthat the planned productionas at the rateeceivers. It Is not known tf this goal was met.

h. Ordzhonikldze Radio Plant, Sarapul', Udmurt ASSR.

This plant makes military and civilian radio equipaent. Among its civilian products are the Ural and theeceivers.

c. Radlotekhnlka, Riga, Latvian SSR.

Scheduled0 to produceeceivers as well asand telegraph apparatus, this plant Is among the larger of the Soviet Bloc radio producers. Made here ore, among others,,adlotekhnlka,eceivers, the latter for wired reception. There lo also evidence of extensive manufacture of crystal sets at this plant.

d- Valets EXektrotekhniflka FsbrlkldxemesLatvian

r 1

Thiseally large plant making machine tools, army signal equipment, general electrical appliances, telephone and telegraph apparatus, an well as civilian radio receivers. 6 output of radioseceivers, and0 output Is believed to have been liO.OOO sets. Among the Gets produced here arc the Latvia and.

Punaoen, Estonian SSR.

Formerly the Rodlo-Pioner plant, this plant assembles radios from components that It makes Itself. 1 output of radloa was probably0 receivers, and In addition there vas quantityof loudspeakers. The labor force is estimated to have been 8OOIn three shifts. The sets produced here include thend the.

f Badlozavod Imcnl Holotov,, Minsk, Belorusslan SSR.

Construction of this plant began6 and vas completed puriug the construction there vas some output of radios. Untilhe principal radio output consisted of Partisan and Ploner sets', but subsequent to that time thearger set than the Parti tan, vn2 substituted for the Partlxaa. 0 tbeheaper version of the Minsk, vas put into production. Also produced here are the Rodlna and tbe Beloruas. 9 It is estimated that as many0 receivers of all types vere produced hero.

'8- Radlosavod,ilnyus, Lithuanian SSR.

Radios vere the principal product of this plant untilino of test equipment vas added. The radios made hero Include tbe Pioner and the Marshall sets. The Jfarshall set vas made from Germanand there are Indications that at the time these components were exhausted the plant shifted to the manufacture of military aircraft The labor force as of7 is estimated to have.

h. Elcktroslgnal Radio, Factory, Voronezh CTJlast, RSFSR.

,abor force of, this plant vas making radios, wire, motors, and railway electrical equipment. At this time it is estimatedorkers were, engaged in radio production. The plant began to manufacture tho Rodlna set after the siege of Voronezh was lifted. achinery from tbe Telefunken plant in Erfurt was imported. Many reports indicate that the radios produced hero resemble the Tele-funken radios. Radios produced by this plant include thehe Rodlna, Radio Gianni (possiblynd.hereeportizable number of crystal sets were being produced.

Alekaandrorckly Radlozavod, Factoryblast.

This very Important plant, often abbreviated ARZ, haa made, at

SVD-"'ARZ, and RekorTsctn!

Rodlan, Iekra, and Rekord ceta

make^tbla plant one of the large quantity producers of the Soviet radio

Lenin Radio and Telephone Factory. Factory Ho.Novosibirsk Cblaat, RTj^i.

plant vas constructed1 from equipment evacuated

from Voronezh. Op to0 sets were produced, mostly ther Vostok. At that tune, preparations were underway to manufacture on improved Vostok, and9 theppearcd.Later sets werf slbirsk and the ZOL. Output probably0t which time the labor force.

2. Hungary.

n- Orion Radio Factory.Jpest.

*rioa tirmJP*"* concerned with the manu-

-acture of the Orion line of commercial radios which this firm has been producing since before World War II. There are many models,arfle percentage were exported before the war. Since tbe war, output has varied with the supply of parts. Inroduction capacityets of all. types, but output was only aboutercent of this number; 0 sets went to the USSR for retirement wan reported to be high eport1 indicates tho possibility that civilian production has decreased, possibly to ao lowets per year, which could conceivably be iJ-to Increased military requirements.

3- Bulgaria.

a. Radio Pactory, Sofia.

This is the former Philips plant In Sofia. Ast Is reported to be making ccexoerclal receivers from components Imported fron switzerland and the Netherlands. There are indications, unconfirmed, that the civilian radio manufacturing facilities of the Tesls combine inhas ceased operations in this field and that the equipment for

making radios has been sent to Bulgaria, presumably to thle plant.

;t. Rumania.

a. Radio-Popular,ucharest.

This Is tha former Philips plant In Bucharest. Output consists of loudspeakers, chassis, commutators,mall number of tubes, as well as radios. his plant began the production of the Plonler set. Op to that time it had been jBasang older. Philips-type sets. The Plonler set receives only domestic stations. The Rodlna set also Is node at this plant, as wellet called tbe Radio-Popular. Both of these sets have short-wuve bands and can be tuned at tho discretion of the listener. 0ut= put is0 sets of all kinds. Components are imported, chiefly from Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and the USSR.

1

5- Poland.

a. Pans two wa Fabryka Aparatow Radlowycb, Dzorzanlow, Wroclaw.

This plant manufactures radios, microphones, components, and loudspeakers. The Polish Plonler is made here. 1 the monthly normots but was never attained. Production Is reportedly being carried on under unfavorable conditions, and the resultigh rate of

6. e

Prelouc.

This is the former Radlotechnica plant in Prelouc which vas incorporated Into the Tenia combine vhen all the eloctrotechnical plants In Czechoslovakia were incorporated into that organization. It wasa Tclcfunken subsidiary. Radios made here include tbe Klaslk, Kongrcc, Romance, and Baxmonla sets. This plant may have been moved to Bulgaria as indicated inbove.

N

El cube tin I,, Prague.

This washilips plant until taken over by Tesla. The largo, Plonler, Rytmus, Talisman, Melodnlk, Romance, and Kvlnta sets are among those which arc ond have been produced here. Output probablyets of all types per month. However, as has the Prelouc plant, this plant may have been moved recently to Bulgaria.

7- East Germany.

a. aeg (Allgcmeinc Klektricltacts Gcnellschuft) Apparatus

Factory-Treptcv,, Bcrlin-Treptov.

Tola plant, built5o at present ownedhe AO Isolator, Berlin-Weiesensee. his plant, of modern construe tion, was reported to be making two medium-sized superheterodyne receiversine of test equipment,otors, switches,and artillery sighting equipment. Monthly output of radios Affiliated with this plantaboratory working on the development of prototype models for production In Russia.

oeppelsdorf-Keuhaus.

This factory is part of the Hescho-Werk, the main offices of which are in herasdorf, Thuringia. It manufactures three- and five-tube sots. eport of6 indicates that output was0 seta per year, while another report indicatee that output may haveevel0 sets per year 9 the labor force wasorkers, but since the firm was unable to dispose of all tbe output of theut in the labor force became necessary. There has been some exporting of the output of this plant to Norway.

Fernmeldewerk (forrgrly OptaJ, Leipzig.

Not such is known concerning the output of this plant. There was production of radiosut there were layoffs at that time because of shortagoe of materials. In addition, therehortage of tubes. The only way tubes could be obtained was to export sets without tubes to Western Germany In exchange for tubeo. In8 the number of workers laid off. Radnr and navigational aide arc

also made here.

B- Television Manufacturing Plants. 1. USSR.

a. Leningrad Radio Factory lmcni Kazltskiy, Vasllevskiy Oetrov, Tasileostrovekiy Rayon, Leningrad.

This plant, in conjunction with thc Leningrad Television, has produced several successive models of television sets. The responsibility for development and design appears to have been centered In tbe laboratory facilities of, while the Kazltskiy plant

hojj been concerned vith the assembly end distribution of re eel vera. Both establishments are large and competent electronics organizations. Theyombined labor force estimated to bend they ore engaged heavily ln the production of military radios and electronic equipment. Both establishments are under the administration of the Ministry of Communicationo Equipment Industry. It has been reported that areceiver production rate ofets per year vas reached by this plant More recently, there is evidence that the program may have been curtailed in favor of military products and that tbe major Soviet requirement for television receivers may have been subcontracted througho the East German industry.

h. MOacow Order of Lenin Radio Factory, Moscow.

This plant, of which Baranov is the Director and which Is; believed to be located at Bol'shayas one ofarge equipment assembly facilities under the administration of theof Connunlcations Equipment Industry. The plant has mass-produced the three-tubend the battery-operated Rodina radio roceivere-and,as manufactured television receivers, models utput of television setsets per your. Ao lo tha Kaxitekiy factory, this Moscow plant is engagedhe manufacture of military radio equipment, which apparently has limited its capability to make Increased quantities of television sets.

2. East

a. Sachsenwcrk-Radcberft (member firm of the SAGrltt-Blber Sirasse 'fo, Radeberg, Saxony.

This plant, one of the key facilities in the Soviet-owned SAG Kabel eloctrotochnical corporation, hasmployecs and is engaged in the manufacture of electric motors, svitchgear, communications equipment, decimeter directional radio-relay equipaent, and television receivers. InO thoelevision set design,at, Leningrad, van turned over to the SAG Kabel for production at Radeberg. The USSRelevision sets for delivery during the period of the Five Year Plan, of whichere scheduled Of0 were to boodel. Actually, Sachoenwrk-Radebergets ln the first quarter1ets ln the first half1 and reached an assembly rateots per day by Deliveries to the USSR started in1 and1 sets by mid-December, when the Soviets topped deliveries because of quality troubles. Theeceiver

iiii". to beonservative deninn, showing great improvement overodel, although Itc production coat is obviously high and its screen small. The most serious trouble experienced in East Germany has been in obtaining enough tubes and capacitors of proper quality and In avoiding excessive factory cost. Theoved the SAO Kabelast Deutsche Markith an original product coot estimatedIW. Actual factory cost has been reported to beDM. It Is evident that poor technical performance hasesult and that field trouble In the USSR should be expected. An Improved set has been designed at the Werk funr ?crnmeldewesen HFerlin, Intended to replaceroduction at Radcberg. The new set, using miniature tubesnch rectangular picture tube, may go into production at an early date (if tubes arespecially in view of both German and Soviet dissatisfaction with tbe. 2 television set production plan vaseceivers for delivery to the USSR. It is probable that this figure may be curtailed

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Badlo Receiver Analysis.

a. The mothod of this report In the estimation of civilian radio receiver production in the USSR consists of confirming, as far as in possible, the results of unclassified evaluated Intelligence studies by comparison with the available intelligence materials gathered from covert sources. The principal sources utilised by the unclassified studies consisted of excerpts from the Soviet press and books printed In the USSR. After confirmation Is established, conclusions are drawn on the basis of the rather complete estimates found in the unclassified studies.

b. Production of Satellite sets has been estimated almost entirely from classified sources, as there is no unclassified research study of tbe Satellite radio production.

2- Television Receiver analysis.

a. The analysis of television receiver production and distribution in the Soviet Bloc is based upon the correlation of three independent sets of substantive data: Information reported in the Soviet Press and from official sources, especially as consolidated and submitted by the

in Moscow; manufacturing schedules of the two Soviet producers, as reported by competent observers; and complete details of contract plans, production, and deliveries of the Soviet television sets made in East Germany. By comparing the nunbers of sets in use attimes In the Soviet television renters with reported factoryeasonably accurate picture of the Bloc television program is provided.

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1. Evaluation of Sources.

a. Radio Receivers

The principal sources used lo this report have been the Soviet press in the case or the USSR and tee Intelligence reports of and the odlltaryagencies in the ease of the Soviet

In Rcneral, the clainlfied sources tended toaf Inn the reports frees the Soviet press.

ources used for thetes vere scanty, oftenIncase olnoot oriented to Ok- needs of

this report.

CO In neneritl. tiierceriouo dearth of InforantI'ron

n.

Television

1 ;or Ul" iwlions of the report which dealv.-rr oifiVr ffss urcec pertinent loelvcrr. anu tailneUp- rot lev lor:

i.;

Lotlve In nohdoeumnnta.

iftirwit^ofrisa public pmanffI iK>urcer.u'tp to um* InftiSfl,ably |iivi,-iiU'd In iv-'ni

n'porta.

dcvi.-iopa-iit.unlrorntlon ol ul Uu-Mant?:.

(dj Covert collection of Information

(e) Documentary evidence, including official reports of the German Democratic Republic, relative to production plana and actualot the Sachseuverk-Radeborg factory.

ll of these categories of sources baveufficient amount of useful Information, in their respective orees of coverage, to permit good evaluation of individual reports and to permit an acceptably reliable analysis of the industry operations.

I

2.

a. Source references for the production or radio receivers ore listed belov. Sectionsnd III of thin report arc covered by tbesc references.

Original document.

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