Radio Antenna for 1962 FC

[smcpheters]

Hi All,

On my 62 I have what appears to be a CB antenna base on the front curbside corner. Were CB radios included with Airstreams?

Steve and Barb

[TomW]

Originally Posted by smcpheters

... Were CB radios included with Airstreams?

My Overlander's previous owner, who was big into CB radio at the time, had the dealership install an antenna. He provided the radio

You can read about the antenna here.

Tom

[smcpheters]

Thanks, that was interesting. My battery tester is in the same spot on the Flying Cloud, but I don't have the antenna connections there. Looks like a coax connector is on the back side of the antenna mount.

[Lumatic]

CBs were and still are used on WBCCI caravans and rallies.

[ArtStream]

Might be an Ariel?

Hey Lum, CONGRATS on 1000

Michael

[slowmover]

Streamline and others offered the extra long whips for AM radio in the 1960's; an AM radio sorta can't have an antenna that's too long (unlike the 31" FM antenna). They were often mounted with the big potbelly spring, and, aft, a clip to hold the tip down. Remember that those were the days of clear channel night-time AM broadcasting where one could pick up a station from several hundred miles away (under good conditions).

[smcpheters]

Rednax, that is what I thought it might be. I invision a whip bent over to the back and suggested restoring it to my wife. She gave me the usual skeptic look so I don't think it will be happening.

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by smcpheters

Rednax, that is what I thought it might be. I invision a whip bent over to the back and suggested restoring it to my wife. She gave me the usual skeptic look so I don't think it will be happening.

Airstream called these whip antennas "police antennas" and installed them at the factory when they were specially ordered accessories on Standard and Land Yacht trim trailers. In many years during the ~1960s they were included as part of the International trim package. I think they look way cool and suggest high adventure in far off places. With the right radio, they also give you the possibility of communicating with Dan Matthews. 10-4.

[VooDooLounge]

Originally Posted by 47WeeWind

Airstream called these whip antennas "police antennas" and installed them at the factory when they were specially ordered accessories on Standard and Land Yacht trim trailers. In many years during the ~1960s they were included as part of the International trim package. I think they look way cool and suggest high adventure in far off places. With the right radio, they also give you the possibility of communicating with Dan Matthews. 10-4.

This is a subject that I would like to learn more about. Who, what, where and how will I find the parts and knowledge to add this package back to it's original location? By the look of the holes, it was once here. Can you help?

[47WeeWind]

VooDooLounge:

The police whip antenna is about 5 ft. 4 in. tall and has a spring loaded mast base that mounts through a surface with a plate on the inside using 3 screws 120 degrees apart in a circular pattern, as shown in these photos:



The taped-over hole on your '62 FC is next to four rivets (screws?) in a rectangular pattern that, to me, suggests an old bracket was once mounted there that held the extendable post for a folding TV antenna. The rivets are not 120 degrees apart in a circular pattern as used on the base of a police whip antenna, so if your '62 FC ever had a police whip antenna, it was not mounted near that covered hole.

Of course, you could now mount a vintage police whip antenna centered on that taped-over hole and run the antenna lead in wire through that hole. The old whip antennas were used for 2 way police radios (as seen in 1950s episodes of Highway Patrol perhaps viewable on youtube.com) and for large multi-channel AM/FM/SW transceiver radios favored by Wally Byam.

If you look around resourcefully, you might be able to find a complete whip antenna for your '62 FC. Good luck with that project!