Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[trtags]

I apoligize in advance if I have posted this in the wrong section of the forum.

I'm looking for advice regarding an under-wing aerial. I have found a diagram (see below) of an old Smiths loop aerial that was fitted to cars c. 1950's. I under stand the concept of the loop aerial, but it seems that the clips used to mount the loop are actually shorting it. Am I missing something here or shouldn't the clips be insulated from the metal loop?

[Phil - Nottingham]

Its not shorted as the dipole "U" is insulated from the the bodywork by the rubber bobbins as is its pickup.

It cannot be very good though surrouinded by steel wings and damp/salted mud will short it out
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

[peter scott]

Hi trtags,

You are right that the rear clamp does form a loop but I don't think this aerial is in any way tuned to a wavelength, it's just a piece of metal.

I constructed one some years ago using copper plumbing and a couple of little rubber exhaust hangers.

Like Phil I was somewhat sceptical but was very surprised at how well it performed. Even sitting in an enclosed brick garage it gave good performance with very little ignition interference, which is surprising given the very unscreened nature of my car's engine compartment.

I used it with an HMV/Radiomobile 100. I posted the fitting instructions here:

http://www.jag-lovers.org/snaps/snap_view.php3?id=1117063708

I subsequently removed my radio because I keep skinning my knuckles on it when changing gear but the aerial is still under my wing.

Peter



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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Phil - Nottingham]

This under running board type was also fitted to prewar P2 Rovers so it must have worked
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

[roverdriver]

I believe that the Victorian Police Force (Aus) was one of the first in the world to use base to car wireless communication. They used an under the running board loop aerial like that on (I think) Chev 4's in about 1924.

As an aside to that, although it has gone out of use in recent times, if one wished to contact the Police radio section, you contacted 'D24', and that term was generally used for contact to police of any status . Even after the Russell Street police headquarters was built, the term D24 was in use, and only died out about 20 years ago. Few Melbourne people know that the name 'D24' came about because the first wireless transmitter was set up in the old Melbourne jail in cell 23 row D. The wireless operator was housed in the adjoining cell.

There's something for trivia enthusiasts!
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Dane- roverdriver but not a Viking.

[P3steve]

I just love this to bits and want to build one just for the fun of it.