Word: cobalt
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Goods: The use of copper and brass in making 300 civilian products was sharply restricted. After March 1, copper may not be used to make, among other things, pots & pans, jewelry, automobile trimmings, furniture, and household electrical equipment. Civilian use of cobalt-valuable as a steel alloy for cutting tools-was cut by two-thirds. Beginning Feb. 1, every purchase of more than 25 lbs. will need Government approval. The cobalt pinch will be felt in radios, television sets, refrigerators and all enamelware household appliances; it is likely to knock out color TV for the duration...
Nevertheless, until output was stepped up, the U.S. faced grave shortages in such metals as aluminum, copper, nickel, cobalt, etc., whose production was not yet up to World War II's level...
More material shortages for civilian users-and probably more layoffs-were in the cards. Last week the National Production Authority ordered a 20% cutback in the civilian use of tin for February, said it would again cut the supply of vital cobalt for the radio and television industry. From General Electric Co.'s new President Ralph J. Cordiner came a hint of how much war production would be stepped up in the future. Said he: G.E., whose production is already 22% in war goods, would boost the proportion to one-third or more...
...Warned that it would soon be forced to order a cut in the nonmilitary use of tin by "something less than 30%" and that it might ban copper and cobalt for nonessential products where other metals can be substituted...
Even without the cobalt cut, TV men were having their troubles. Because of shortages of copper wire, condensers and other parts, many of them sliced production last week anywhere from 10% to 40%, and expected output to fall 50% by next spring. With costs rising, TV sets were expected to cost from 10% to 25% more by then...