1954 Radio Antenna

SuperDave
SuperDave Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I have noticed two different radio antenna locations for factory installations. It makes me wonder when the change from the traditional roof location took place. Of interest to purist only, but interesting non the less. Last year I worked on a Oct 54 production Hornet. The factory antenna was on the drivers side front fender. I'm sure it was factory because the fender would have had to be off the car to route the cable as it was installed. No doubt this was a big cost savings for the factory. The cable assembly and routing had to be different than the earlier step down due to the new one piece windshield.

So for anyones interest.. Car number 318901 (early Oct 54) had a driver side fender antenna.

Anyone have any insight on this?

Dave w.:)

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Dave



    Notice the antenna location on the 54 Hornet picture I posted as a part of my question... WHERE IS THIS HORNET, on the roof. That was a factory installation. I have seen both on these cars and other than the idea the fender types were installed as accessories have not idea. Obviously the fender installations were done at the factory too. My guess is it was less expensive, cheaper to install and the company was scratching to find anything that would shave pennies off the cost of building the cars... Hudsons books were bleeding RED.
  • harry54
    harry54 Senior Contributor
    Is it possible that the first half of the year was Rood antenna's and the second half on the Fender ? I have 2 sedans on the Roof and a Hollywood on the fender..... Or was if Model specific ?
  • nick s
    nick s Senior Contributor
    harry, good thoughts but i have a factory photo of a 54 hollywood with roof, my 54 hollywood (oct 54) was fender a 54 hollywood (oct 53) parts car was fender. I just haven't seen any good pattern over the years so there may be no actual rhyme or reason. i've seen sedans both ways though i think more often roof. do your sedans have the mounting tab inside the fender? or was that only added to the fender mounbt cars? if it was a huge cost savings, would they use the roof mount for the hash years. i always thought the move to the fender was because the center post was gone and was not there to store the antenna but have been curious about why so many had the roof mount. the fender mount was pretty elaborate betow the fender, nothing like anything else you can buy, i would venture to guess it was actually more expensive. roof was probably an easier dealer add as well. so i guess hollywoods and convertibles being higher dollar cars may be more likely recipients of a more expensive piece? also more likely to have a factory radio?
  • harry54
    harry54 Senior Contributor
    My sedans are both roof. As far as I know there is nothing on the fender. However, My Hollywood has a factory cut out for the fender antenna. It's looks to nice to be dealer installed.

    You bring up an excellent point about the Hash years. It thought that they ran out of roof antenna's and didn't reorder.; that's why they switched to fender. I thought that the hash years were to use up all the parts left... ie the roof antenna.

    As for the center post being gone on the 54's , It didn't stop them from mounting them on sedans and club coupes. I think you are right, that the fender was higher price install.... I also have a 53club coupe that is on the fender but I'm guessing that it was a radio delete that got installed later . When I got the car it had a 54 radio and that's why I was suspect.....
  • hudsontech
    hudsontech Senior Contributor
    I just knew I had something about fender mounted radio antennas in my files (and just why WOULDN'T I, heehehee).

    Hudson Service Merchandiser, Vol. 7, No. 6 - July 1954 has a 3/4 page description on how to mount said antenna with an illustration how to do it.

    For a copy of that page drop me an email (see below) and I'll send it to you.

    Or I can sell you the complete set of Merchadisers from 1949 to 1954, on CD, for $15.



    Hudsonly,

    Alex Burr

    HEThudsontech09@yahoo.com (Drop the HET)
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