Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

I had the radio in my ‘41 110 rebuilt and it works and sounds fantastic. I hated the sight of the antenna so had it removed and the hole filled in when the body was restored/repainted. I’ve experimented with running a long wire under the running board as an antenna but with no success. As it is now, the radio has no antenna at all plugged in and only picks up stations with the engine off (with engine running, it is basically an audio-tachometer!).

Does anyone have a recommendation for a hidden antenna that actually works? I know Packard had an option for an elaborate under the running board antenna, but I think those are super expensive (if you can even find one) and my understanding is that AM antennas need to be vertically oriented due to the nature of the wave propagation. I have seen small amplified antennas that you can hide under the dash but none that work with 6V positive ground and I wonder if it would work through the middle of the dash anyway?

I believe the running board antennas are being reproduced but you are correct in that they are expensive. As far as needing to be vertical, am not sure how critical that is. Aside from the horizontal running board antenna, earlier 30s cars with the wooden body structure and fabric like section as the center part pf the roof used the horizontal chicken wire that was nailed to the wood and stretched under the fabric to provide support for the fabric as the antenna. The headlining provided the bottom cover to hide the chicken wire.

Some of the hidden antennas do fairly well and several get some decent reviews. Here is a review article you might look thru and see if any ideas come to mind. As far as needing 12v, if you find one that is promising that needs power an inexpensive 6 to 12 volt converter also hidden under the dash or near the antenna location should be able to run it.

Or just buy a collapsible antenna off Amazon, extend it, and clip it using insulated/rubberized clips to the underside of the running board.

AM antennas are sort of directional but it probably won't be too big of a deal.

Radios already include an RF amp tube so I'm not sure how much an extra amp would help.

Related:packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=205185

Are you aware of the change to make if using an undercarriage antenna? Looks like it has to do with the resonant frequency of the antenna circuit, so if using a normal antenna just under the car, perhaps no change is required.

retroradioshop.com/pages/copy-of-identif ... car-radios-by-image-packard-clipper

radiomuseum.org/r/philco_p_1835p183.html

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Pgh Ultra brings up a good point but if you have the one piece 41 style radio with the entire unit in the center of the dash and the buttons and dial at the top, I am not sure that antenna selection and adjustment is the same. I believe the 41 radios were all single case style but don't have much info or a schematic of the 41 radio to confirm. If it is single case I believe it is essentially the same as the 42-47 Clipper radio which looks to be the same style except the buttons and dial were reversed and went to the bottom of the case instead of the top.

For that later radio I do have a schematic and unlike the 40 radio with a definite dual input tapped antenna transformer, the later radio only shows a single input on the antenna transformer. Antenna adjustment for the later single case unit is only done via capacitor. For the 40 radio the tap adjustment was done via a switch hidden under a removable button cover on the side of the case. The switch setting was identified by a white or red dot. You might verify there is no such covered switch on your radio as the wrong setting can make a big difference in sensitivity. I am actually surprised your radio works at all without an antenna because most bring in nothing but static or silence without one..

No experience with these

classiccarreproductions.com/product/under-running-board-antenna/

Did research on theses, then decided not to install the radio, the original type radio takes up to much room in the car
Just me with long legs

Bluetooth speaker and cell phone. Lots of leg room, infinite content.

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As Kev suggested, Bluetooth speakers are definitely the less expensive and easiest option. If you have a cell phone plan with unlimited data and a good connection probably all many would need -- except for actual broadcast radio stations if one of those is a favorite and does not offer a streaming service.. I think I read somewhere that some Android phones do enable broadcast radio stations on their phones but doubt if Apple ever will.

For anyone who does want broadcast and all the bluetooth, usb, mp3 etc etc features, a product called Secret Audio radios fit the bill and is sold by many of the old car radio places. No, I have no affiliation with anyone selling them. Just thought it was a neat idea with all the same options for maybe less money than many have paid to modify and add modules to their original radios. Only comes in 12v neg ground though so most Packards would need a 6 to 12v converter along with the radio.

There is a similar hidden unit called Out of Sight Audio made by another company but its operation looks to be different as it doesn't have a control head and seems to require a smartphone. RediRad was another item that could be installed to allow the stock radio to do bluetooth, etc. but I notice their website is not functioning properly today and a lot of distributors are out of stock so no idea if it is still a viable option.

The Secret Audio works are in a separate fairly small box that can fit under a seat or in the trunk while the control is a small roughly 5" x 2" x 3/4" box connected by a 10 fit cable that can be hidden in the glovebox or hinged to go under the dash and then swing down for use and up out of the way and out of sight for car shows. There is also a remote control fob too.

In addition to the listed locations, you could probably figure a way on postwar cars with wide radio openings to have it on some kind of slide or swing mount behind a delete plate and just pull that plate out or flip it down if you wanted a radio. Doing that on a prewar car with small defined dash control head openings would mean cutting the dash so not really an option on those cars. Under the dash or in the glovebox is best there. I believe with the long cable, some have even opted to keep it unmounted and just lay the control on the seat.