Running board radio antenna 1936 Phaeton

[Jacques1960]

Finally getting around to sorting antenna and would appreciate information on correct routing and method of attachment.

Thank you.

[DavidG]

Once again I demonstrated human frailty.

[Don Rogers]

Here is a copy of an original installation sheet plus a closeup of the undercarriage showing the antennas installed. If you look carefully, you can just see the passenger side antenna.

[Jacques1960]

Terrific, thank you !

[mercman from oz]

Original Installation Sheet showing the Antennas installed - supplied by Don Rogers

[Jacques1960]

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Back to this now; it’s clear that I have only the remnants of the shielded wire which would have connected the radio itself to the antennae under the running board. Ecklers, and perhaps others, offer the shielded cable; any thoughts as to where / how I might obtain the actual antennae assemblies ??

[Kurt in NJ]

some photos of original, the reproduction ones made years ago sort of look like it
my friend has a 36 Packard, it used the same antenna, both versions in ford literature and Packard literature have some of the same pictures

[Jacques1960]

Terrific, thank you !

[DavidG]

Don,


In Trevor's enlargement of your photo there's a light -colored wire that seems to run from the back end of the antenna draped over the torque tube running to the other running board on the right side of the of the chassis and attached to what appears to be a second antenna. Two of those ugly antennas per car?

[Jacques1960]

I’ve read that there are indeed two, one under each running board (four “tubes” total). The Packard and Ford antennae are apparently the same - but, as Packard parts, not cheap, maybe $1,000 for the complete set. For a less than concourse quality restoration, this is a big number. This said, the radio, in otherwise working condition, won’t function without it.

[Gary Tosel]

I realize that because the Phaeton is an open car, the normal closed car roof antenna would not work. Have you looked at the use of the spare tire rack antenna as an option to the expensive running board antennas? Not sure that your radio would work with this design, but it maybe should be considered.

[DavidG]

delete

[Graham Freeman]

Have you thought of soft multi strand copper cable on the top of your wooden top bows?

[Jacques1960]

For the 36 Phaeton, the spare tire option might very well be viable, but, within reason, I still want to do my best to replicate originality.

Have a call with “Lavine Restoration”, manufacturer of the Packard antenna, later today.

Will update following.

[Jacques1960]

Ok, took the plunge and ordered two sets from Lavine. 6-10 week lead time, invoiced upon delivery. Very nice folks.

[blucar]

Being almost as old as the hills and older than the cars we generally work on I can clearly remember running board mounted antenna's on cars.
The running board antenna's work pretty well in the city, however, once you left the city and headed into urban/rural areas a cowl mounted whip antenna was the thing to have.
The original AM Ford/ Philco radios were very good, on the open road, especially at night you could pickup radio stations that were in the Mid West, 'Tulsa OK' 'was a good 50,000 watt station, station in Texas, XELO with their transmitter in Mexico was also 50,000 watts. We tipically listened to KFI in Los Angeles when I lived in Idaho.
I know, drifted a little off topic, just had to ad some fun memories.

[Jacques1960]

Great memories, thank you for sharing !

[Kurt in NJ]

I bought the antenna lead in wire for the spare tire antenna, it’s too long, the part you cut off could be long enough for the crossover wire

[Jacques1960]

Thank you - how is the shielded wire spliced ??