Radio antenna location help needed

[custom_lettering]

Hey Everyone,
I'm looking for the radio antenna location on a 39 mercury. I'd imagine it's the same radio used in a Ford. Would it be on the tube box on the firewall or the radio on the dash? And about where does it come out? The wire from the antenna was cut when I got the car. Thanks for the help.

 

[Kurt in NJ]

It would be on the firewall box, it might look different, on my 36 it looks like a small 2 pin bulb socket--push in and turn type,on a pigtail, and it will be near the antenna trimmer adjustment--(adjust for best reception, and it is the difference between getting almost nothing and wow)

 

[custom_lettering]

Thank you very much. I’ll get under there in the morning.

 

[rockfla]

IF you need I can get under the dash of my 39 Merc and snap any pictures you may need!!!

 

[custom_lettering]

That would be great! Really need to know where these dang wires are going. I just found one that’s not connected by the back of the radio part in the dash. Any pictures you can get would be appreciated of the firewall unit and the back of the dash unit. Thanks again.

 

[rockfla]

That would be great! Really need to know where these dang wires are going. I just found one that’s not connected by the back of the radio part in the dash. Any pictures you can get would be appreciated of the firewall unit and the back of the dash unit. Thanks again.

I'll do my best for you tonight when I get home from work!!!

 

[rotorwrench]

The Ford 91A and Mercury 99A used the same basic radio antenna. They were mounted on the roof area just behind the windshield on center line of the car. They were like a whip and could be rotated down for clearance if necessary. The 1940 had rod that was on the center line of the windshield that connected the radio set to the antenna. I'm not sure on the 1939 due to the opening windshield.


https://www.dennis-carpenter.com/cars/exterior/antenna-amp-radio/99a-18813-antenna

From Flea-Pay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1939-FORD-...855620&hash=item343559db02:g:KlwAAOSw0jJfpV7x

It looks like it has a coax cable. I'd have to ask Kube about the run of the cable.

 

[rockfla]

For what it’s worth and contrary to Rotorwrenches post my early production Mercury is not the way he described and it “could be” after market BUT couldn’t be either. My car is an Oct 1938 produced car SO changes could have come after???


Sorry don’t know why two are straight and the rest sideways????

 

[custom_lettering]

Thank you rockfal for taking the time to get those shots. I’d say you have an early radio setup being produced in 1938. Mines different and I have the antenna on the roof in the center right above the windshield. Again thank you for taking the time to help. Much appreciated.

 

[custom_lettering]

Rotorwrench. Thanks for posting those links. The pictures on the eBay site cleared up the wire situation. There’s a 5” thin wire on the antenna but a fat wire coming out of the radio. Looks like I need to splice those together and see if I get a signal. I’d like to find those 2 wires but it looks like they only come in the kit. Thanks again.

 

[JSeery]

Fairly sure that is an aftermarket antenna.

 

[rockfla]

Thank you rockfal for taking the time to get those shots. I’d say you have an early radio setup being produced in 1938. Mines different and I have the antenna on the roof in the center right above the windshield. Again thank you for taking the time to help. Much appreciated.

As we have found since acquiring the car, there are "many" differences in our car to later production Mercury's of 1939. As I said, ours is a first three weeks production car SO.......To Jseery's point...."Maybe"......Maybe not......with as many changes from our car onward who can say.......IF it is an aftermarket set up it's 1939 aftermarket (or as close to build date as possible) because everything attached to it "LOOKS" factory/as installed in 1939.

 

[rotorwrench]

There were several Philco radio sets that were commonly used in 1939. One was the Philco F-1640 and the other was the 6M390. They can be seen here:
https://sites.google.com/site/identifyingcarradios/home/radios-1/ford-1

Ford couldn't meet production unless they had other manufacturers so it's not uncommon to see Motorola or Zenith radios in the older Ford cars as well. Assembly plants used what was provided for them and there can always be differences. There were also dealer installed set ups.

The antenna is questionable in the one post. I've not seen a mast type as original in that era.

 

[JSeery]

The antenna shown looks very similar to the one my dad had on his 35 coupe and it was aftermarket.