National Union Radio and Electronic Tubes
October 1944 Radio News

October 1944 Radio News

[Table of Contents] Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Radio & Television News, published 1919-1959. All copyrights hereby acknowledged. Special Insert: Radio-Electronic Engineering Department

Being the old guy I am, seeing the tag line "No Sweater Girls, Please" in this 1944 National Union Radio and Tubes company advertisement in Radio News magazine reminded me of a comedian's bit about Sweater Girls. The reference could be interpreted as a slight to women of certain physical attributes, but in this case it was a play on a popular theme in Hollywood. The actual message pertained to how contaminant-free National Union kept its vacuum tube assembly areas. Radio News, being by default a men's magazine since in the day most electronics professional and hobbyists were male, and seeing what would today be considered sexist or misogynistic was not uncommon. Take a look at some of the comics that appeared to see what I mean. Most of the jokes were on men though; that kind of humor was also OK back then. Now jokes about men (dare I also specify White men?) are the only socially acceptable form of humor. Since I might already be in deep doodoo, I'll go ahead and repeat that aforementioned comedian's about a gallivanting guy he knows: "That guy no sooner has an innocent sweater girl alone than he's trying to pull the wool over her eyes."

Here is the September 1944 National Union Radio Company ad and also a news item in the November 1944 issue of Radio-Craft magazine..

National Union Radio and Electronic Tubes Ad

No Sweater Girls, Please

Electronic tubes are as sensitive to lint, dust and minute particles of foreign matter, as a hay fever sufferer is to pollen. Unless the most stringent precautions are taken to keep tube parts free from impurities, trouble is sure to follow. Trouble - such as noisy receivers ... discoloration or spots on the screen in cathode-ray tubes ... power failure in transmitting tubes.

That is why National Union engineers go the limit to assure absolute cleanliness all along the production line. As an example, the model N. U. cathode spray room, pictured above, is not only clean - it's hospital clean, No fuzzy sweaters or lint-shedding dresses are worn here; There is no dust, no dirt, because it's air-conditioned. Humidity and temperature are precisely controlled. The whole room is washed from ceiling to floor once a week. Then, to make sure, the individual parts are sterilized - some in boiling water - others in special solvents - still others by hydrogen firing.

Even should other factors be equal, the cleaner tube is the better tube. Remember this - and count on National Union.

National Union Radio Corporation, Newark, N.J.

Factories: Newark and Maplewood, N. J.; Lansdale and Robesonia, Pa. 

National Union Radio and Electronic Tubes

Transmitting, Cathode Ray, Receiving, Special Purpose Tubes • Condensers •Volume Controls • Photo Electric Cells • Panel Lamps • Flashlight Bulbs

Posted April 7, 2021