Early External Radio Antennas

     In the 1920's, you either used an inside loop antenna or you used an outside antenna.  We have an example of both, although the outside antenna kit was made by Philco in 1940.  However, antenna kits were prevalent and were sold by dealers who were in the radio business.  External antennas were used on all radios in the 1920's and into the later 1930's.  By the time the 1940's arrived a transition was being made to the design of radios where an internal loop antenna was built onto the back of the chassis of the set or it was attached to the inside of the back cover of the set.  For the most part, before these built-in antennas appeared, most (but not all) radios had no back to the cabinet, which was good, because they needed to let the heat escape and this was a good way to exhaust the heat produced by the tubes and components.  So all antennas that were used in the history of radio are either external inside or outside ones are internal built-in antennas.  All of the radios still made today have internal antennas.

This is an example of what appears to be a commercially b

This Philco outside antenna was commercially produced and has all of the elements that you would use today if you were to install an outside radio antenna.  The length of the stranded wire was right for broadcast and short-wave signals, you can see the insulators, and this kit even has a lightning suppressor and comes complete in a box with instructions for mounting.

06/17/00