1935 Radio antenna

R

Ron35

Member
I have a '35 Ford and am familiar with the stock antenna that came with the open cars and was routed to the spare tire. However I want to try a bayonet-style antenna mounted on the rear bumper for hopefully better reception. I've heard that a 6 volt antenna is required. But if so, they are not that common and a Google search has so far turned up nothing. I realize I could add an inverter or even convert the car to 12 volts which I'd prefer not to do. So, is a 6 volt antenna required, and if so, who sells them?
 
It seems like there was also an under the running board antenna. Folks used to buy the aftermarket "side of the cowl" antennas for their radio upgrades in the 40s & 50s but even those are kind of rare now days. Antennas are all about capturing radio wave wattage output from a local transmitter so just about any piece of insulated metal can be made into an antenna as long as it can pick the radio waves up. Ford used the chicken wire tacked in the top to hold the padding on the closed cars for an antenna. The wire was tacked to wood so it was insulated from the body and they worked relatively well. Obviously, that won't work for your open car.

You could mount a mast type antenna under the floor board as long as it is insulated from the body. You may also have a receiver set problem. Has your radio been upgraded with modern capacitors?
 
rotorwrench said:
It seems like there was also an under the running board antenna. Folks used to buy the aftermarket "side of the cowl" antennas for their radio upgrades in the 40s & 50s but even those are kind of rare now days. Antennas are all about capturing radio wave wattage output from a local transmitter so just about any piece of insulated metal can be made into an antenna as long as it can pick the radio waves up. Ford used the chicken wire tacked in the top to hold the padding on the closed cars for an antenna. The wire was tacked to wood so it was insulated from the body and they worked relatively well. Obviously, that won't work for your open car.

You could mount a mast type antenna under the floor board as long as it is insulated from the body. You may also have a receiver set problem. Has your radio been upgraded with modern capacitors?
Click to expand...

A good explanation for the original poster and those of us who are also interested in leaning.
 
These are examples of side cowl mount antennas used back in the day, but maybe not by Ford. These were installed on two of my cars by previous owners and will probably be coming off if/when I start working on these.
 

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Thanks Don. Yes, but can't tell how easily the Ebay antenna mounts to the bumper. An alternative approach is an antenna in the trunk area--less obtrusive if it works. Ron
 
For the basic car antenna there is no such thing as different voltage (6 or 12V) The antenna is a receiver picking up broadcasted radio signals and sending them to the car radio. Merely a metal rod isolated from ground with an insulated and shielded wire attached.
 
Ford's "chicken wire roof antenna" can easily be checked with a ohm meter. If it does not show a circuit between the lead in and ground then is probably usable.
 
Generally speaking a good antenna is mounted close to the center of the vehicle, this is because the vehicle tends to be the a good portion of the antenna field. The running board antenna's of the '30's worked well in the city, however, on the open road/country they did not.. Been there done that.
My '36 is a Deluxe so it was wired for three antenna options from the factory, cowl, running board and roof chicken wire. The original wire is a shielded, braided wire with push, lugged connectors.
My radio has always been hooked to the antenna in the top, it has always worked great especially in urban, open road situations. During the mid 50's I added an antenna to the right side of the trunk area, quite close to the juncture of the car top and trunk area. This antenna is the concealed type that is only three inches above the body when it is down. Interestingly, the antenna makes no difference to the reception of the radio signal when the antenna is extended.
My '39 convertible has an antenna that is nothing more than a wire that leads up to one of the top bows... Works good.
 
Thanks to all who jumped in on this.

I'm now down to searching for a replacement extension cable; the one that runs from the radio to the rear of the car. (where I plan to attach a simple bumper antenna). I'm finding by searching the usual after market sites (5 so far) that there are cables for '37 and thereafter, but I can't find any vendor selling the '35 cable. Anyone know of someone? I plan to call each vendor today to see if either they have the cable but not listed in their catalogue , or if a later cable would work. (like a '37). Any leads much appreciated. Ron
 
20 years ago I mounted a modern, rubber-covered short mast antenna under the running board of my '38. To be honest, I'd totally forgotten about it till seeing this post -- because it's always worked great. It's got 50,000 miles on it. It's under the pass side running board so it's a fairly short cable run up to the radio.
 
Don: The antenna you noted is cowl mounted, which I prefer to avoid. I'm looking for a simple antenna to mount on the rear bumper Still searching for static resistant spark plug wires. My radio tests fine out of the car or in the car provided the engine is not engaged. Then the static takes over. Yes, I have purchased but not yet installed the suppressors. Ron
 
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