Alleged old aerial

[Electronpusher0]

"fix to wall or chimney as high as possible"
Sounds like a great lightning conductor - straight into the radio.

Peter

[HamishBoxer]

I have a NOS one in the garage , in original box. No intention of putting it up though.

[Hartley118]

The Aerialite package contained a length of downlead wire and a convenient bracket to space it away from the wall - probably functioning as a decent aerial for the radios of its day. No direct claims are made for the reception benefits of the decorative copper finial itself, but it looks a lot more convincing than just leaving the naked bracket sticking out of the wall.

I guess that it’s an example of ‘Form follows Function’.

Martin

[Hartley118]

Originally Posted by Electronpusher0

"fix to wall or chimney as high as possible"
Sounds like a great lightning conductor - straight into the radio.

Peter

I recall a small 2-way knife switch on a Bakelite base mounted on the skirting board. That transferred the aerial connection from the radio to earth and was intended to be operated if there was a nearby thunderstorm. There was also a spark gap on the switch base intended to act as a discharge route in the event that the listener neglected to operate the switch in time.

Experience suggests that it would have been useless against an actual nearby strike, which would have melted the downlead (and the rest!), but may have offered some protection against minor discharges.

Martin

[Andrew2]

Slightly OT. My mum was taken in by something similar in the 60's. She came home proudly showing off this 'magic aerial' that some charlatan had been selling on the market. She thought it would be something I'd be interested in what with my all-consuming radio hobby.
It consisted of a large-ish axial electrolytic capacitor (bereft of its plastic sleeve) with a 1 foot length of stiff, springy wire soldered across its ends and extending out from one end. A couple of feet of insulated wire was attached to the other end.
Apparently the market-place demo was impressive. The salesman had a radio which was barely picking up a station, but when the magic device was plugged in the reception improved beyond belief and Jimmy Young blared out as if he was there in person. What more proof does a layman need? Five bob changed hands and home it came.
I've always felt guilty about the hard time I gave my mum for being so gullible and if there is one thing I'd like to go back and correct, this would be it.

[HamishBoxer]

Do not forget the claims made either for TV indoor aerials, some even had a pre amp.Of course very rarely useful.

[newlite4]

Here is one I snapped on the chimney of the "bath house" in the grounds of a local mansion while out on one of my walks, looks a bit distressed to say the least.
Neil

[Tractorfan]

Hi,
This is a similar 'aerial' that I've had for years. I displayed it with my vintage radio display, and was a popular 'climbing frame' with all the tiny spiders that used to appear in the show ground marquee.
Cheers, Pete

[Heatercathodeshort]

I pulled this one of the tip years ago. It is pride of place on the roof of my 'workshop'. It is also of AERIALITE make and came with the downlead that was weather proofed with a sort of brown grease. there was also a version that looked like a hedgehog!

It definitely gives a better tone than the usual 50ft of wire....J.

[Heatercathodeshort]

Originally Posted by Hartley118

I recall a small 2-way knife switch on a Bakelite base mounted on the skirting board. That transferred the aerial connection from the radio to earth and was intended to be operated if there was a nearby thunderstorm. There was also a spark gap on the switch base intended to act as a discharge route in the event that the listener neglected to operate the switch in time.Martin

This example was dark brown with Nicotine when I found it on the tip. I had to boil it in washing powder to get it clean! The spark gap you mention can be seen under the 'knife'. The gap has serrated edges. John.

[Hartley118]

Nice example.
Obviously the posh version, being in white rather than the standard brown Bakelite.

Martin

[Radioski]

Throw the switch Igor!

[Heatercathodeshort]

This must be the extra posh one, it's ceramic. Oddly enough it picks up FM quite well. It even gives results on a KB minuet FM only receiver! Must have magical powers.
[DAB reception here is Zero even with an outdoor aerial.]

A few years ago there was one of the spikey ones mounted on the gutter board of a large house at Bramley just outside Guildford. I expect it's still there. J.

[Jon_G4MDC]

Pat Hawker had a joke that you should fit the copper float ball from a toilet cistern.
It'll help flush out the rare ones...

Best thing they could do is stop a bit of corona discharge from the top of the wire when electrostatically things are a bit lively.

[gm0ekm cecil]

This photo of my Aerialite product which was in my museum collection.
Back in the day, the stipulated maximum end fed aerial length was 100feet.