Grabbed this today at a flea market for $2. I'm going to use it as an FM antenna, but I thought that you TV guys would appreciate it. It's hard to tell from the pic, but the spheres on the antenna tips are the same marbled red/brown Bakelite as the base. I need to clean and polish the arms, they're a bit dirty and rusty.

Really funny how these things work. We went through an antique mall today and there was a set of rabbit ears still in the box, $5. They look identical to these! I bought 'em 'cause, heck, they are neat looking. Although the box calls them a "colortenna" or some such, they look straight outta the Ralph Kramden era.

I'm not into old TV in any way, however, I can't pass on a neat set of antenni. I have a set somewhere with Saturn and it's rings on the tips.

Those old "rabbit-ear" antennas work very nicely with FM tuners!!!

Regards, Ron

Grabbed this today at a flea market for $2. I'm going to use it as an FM antenna, but I thought that you TV guys would appreciate it. It's hard to tell from the pic, but the spheres on the antenna tips are the same marbled red/brown Bakelite as the base. I need to clean and polish the arms, they're a bit dirty and rusty.

yep, very badass rabbit ears..having been born in 1953, and, hence, seen many pairs of them, those are definitely sweet. I was recently given a Luxman R1050 receiver, and was wondering what to do about antennae. Now I know!! Thanks!!

Yeah, I remember those. That brown marbelized plastic was pretty common once upon a time. I had a pair like that, only with brushed brass antennas and as previously noted, they're perfect for FM.

Dang, those things are cool! I'd buy those in a minute, if they showed up around here for a remotely reasonable price. I'm not sure if they were ever sold in these parts, though; I see other old rabbit ears sometimes, but nothing that neat-looking! Congratulations! :thmbsp:

I got a set exactly like those. I have them on my digital converter, work great.

Oh no, if the Audio people find out about Rabbit Ears the price will go through the roof! :D

very cool! I use rabbit ears on one of my tuners, but it's hiding behind my record shelves because it doesn't look as cool as that one.

very cool! I use rabbit ears on one of my tuners, but it's hiding behind my record shelves because it doesn't look as cool as that one.

I thought you might dig them. :thmbsp: Once I get things running again, these might end up doing antenna duty on one of my tube receivers.

The classic ball style are nice, but don't limit yourself!

A whole collection of Bunny-ears are out there, including some unbelievable varieties, that worked as well (as poorly?), but will really stand out in a crowd.

I've attached a picture of 3 flocked(!) antennas, I bought a year or two ago..and they just make you want to say, 'What the Hey?? I've got to get me one of them there!'

These have twin-lead running out of their ... well you get the idea.

Awesome! I was wondering if anyone else had these guys. I have the Springer Spaniel with box showing the other models.

Awesome! I was wondering if anyone else had these GUYS. I have the Springer Spaniel with box showing the other models.

It looks as if your box came with a Siamese Cat originally.

Those animal antennas are odd. When were they made?

It looks as if your box came with a Siamese Cat originally.

Those animal antennas are odd. When were they made?

Funny, I never noticed that. I can't find a date anywhere, but they do mention B&W and color sets so mid 50s at least.

They were made by Astro Antenna, Inc. Designed by Royalty Designs Inc.

a couple of eyes and a few whiskers and those rabbit ears would really look like a rabbit!

My dad bought one in '62, the Siamese cat. I had hours of fun bobbing the head. It was a tan plastic molding with fuzzy stuff glued on the outside. I suspect they used a static charge to get the stuff to stick straight out. Inside was a red-painted 1-inch diameter dowel about 5" long. The whole antenna was just two 1x4 aluminum strips stapled to the dowel about two inches apart, with a 1/2-watt resistor and the twinlead riveted to both plates. Dad was disappointed with its performance.

My dad bought one in '62, the Siamese cat. I had hours of fun bobbing the head. It was a tan plastic molding with fuzzy stuff glued on the outside. I suspect they used a static charge to get the stuff to stick straight out. Inside was a red-painted 1-inch diameter dowel about 5" long. The whole antenna was just two 1x4 aluminum strips stapled to the dowel about two inches apart, with a 1/2-watt resistor and the twinlead riveted to both plates. Dad was disappointed with its performance.

Yeah, my 'dog' stinks as an antenna. Proper rabbit ears like the topic of this thread work much better.

I always wanted the "Magic Carpet" antenna by Jerrold. The TV repair shop by my grade school had the banner up.

Here's one to really freak you TV guys out (no, I didn't buy it at that price):

There are several of these on ePay at any given time. Could be backlit using LED's that would be close to the bluish screen these things have. Maybe gut some yard-lights, put the LED and circuitry behind the screen, then put the solar cell on top of the cabinet and scatter them about the yard. Bound to disturb the conceptually constrained!

I've actually seen some "party lights" with vintage TV-shaped covers for the bulbs.

Here's one to really freak you TV guys out (no, I didn't buy it at that price):

That's a salt & pepper shaker :) I see them on eBay all the time too.

That's a salt & pepper shaker

:yes:

There are several of these on ePay at any given time. Could be backlit using LED's that would be close to the bluish screen these things have.

Use an old camcorder B&W sub 1 inch CRT screen, and make a miniature TV cabinet that looks like those pre-war TV sets, the ones with the mirror lid and the CRT face pointing up. Feed it a video signal from a converter box and it will look like a real TV in your wife's or daughter's doll house.

I have one of those salt/pepper sets. Mine is missing the screen (actually, I'm glad this was posted because I was never sure if something belonged there or not.) Someday I'll see about fashioning a replacement with a cutout bw photo. I doubt I payed over $5 for mine.

Nuts all the pictures are gone from this thread. That's no fun :no:

Anyway, I found the Astro Siamese Cat you know where. It just arrived in the mail today.

Kinda creepy lookin' - especially with the bad eye. Maybe it has a 'cat'aract :rolleyes:

Just six more to go :D

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2643/4148710672_93a602b93c.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2589/4147950227_8798ea8936.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2583/4147950645_549dd4a7e9_b.jpg

That is a bit creepy! Does the cat's head bob? The image on the box makes it look like it might.

A bit off topic, but it reminds me of a creepy incident I had in the Air Force. I was alone in my room in the barracks when I heard this loud bang. I turned around to see this little wood icon, that belonged to my roommate, flying at me perfectly upright with it's little green glass jewel eyes flashing.

It hit me square in the chest and as I felt my heart pounding from fright I realized what had happened. It was sitting on a desk below a shelf where I had a transistor radio sitting upright. The leather case on the radio had a somewhat rounded bottom which gradually let the radio tip over and fall on to the icon. The amazing thing was that it flew across the room perfectly upright without spinning. The light reflecting from its glass eyes didn't help nor did the fact that the icon was of some sort of demon.

To this day I still feel uncomfortable around models of critters with green glass eyes.

John

Thanks for that wild story :)

That is a bit creepy! Does the cat's head bob? The image on the box makes it look like it might....

John

Yep, it sure does. I've had that box for a while, but never noticed the 'bouncy' lines around the cat's head.

Einar72 described it perfectly - terrible performance and all :D

My dad bought one in '62, the Siamese cat. I had hours of fun bobbing the head. It was a tan plastic molding with fuzzy stuff glued on the outside. I suspect they used a static charge to get the stuff to stick straight out. Inside was a red-painted 1-inch diameter dowel about 5" long. The whole antenna was just two 1x4 aluminum strips stapled to the dowel about two inches apart, with a 1/2-watt resistor and the twinlead riveted to both plates. Dad was disappointed with its performance.

It sure is funny to see gimmicks of yesteryear. LOL. :)

My dad bought one in '62, the Siamese cat. I had hours of fun bobbing the head. It was a tan plastic molding with fuzzy stuff glued on the outside. I suspect they used a static charge to get the stuff to stick straight out. Inside was a red-painted 1-inch diameter dowel about 5" long. The whole antenna was just two 1x4 aluminum strips stapled to the dowel about two inches apart, with a 1/2-watt resistor and the twinlead riveted to both plates. Dad was disappointed with its performance.

They probably did use a charge. We used something like that in High School Shop class. I think it was called swaytek. Or maybe suede-tech. I doubt the same brand exists anymore. Thanks to google, I just found out I'm wrong. It does exist and it's called Suede-Tex flocking...

John

I like how the box claims it "unbreakable" and "washable". Their quite fragile and there's no way that flocking would survive water.

Maybe they mean washing with dry cleaning fluid :)

A fellow collector recently sent me the "Basset Hound" antenna :D
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4127/5019150933_e92f9d1187_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/5019151083_c8a811a466_z.jpg

Three down, five to go.

They probably did use a charge. We used something like that in High School Shop class. I think it was called swaytek. Or maybe suede-tech. ... It does exist and it's called Suede-Tex flocking...

John

I had a dog shaped piggy bank that was a tan colored plastic with fuzz all over it, like that. I wanted a dog, and that's what I got... We had a cat at the time. I peeled some of the fuzz off for some reason.

hposter auctioned off his three flocked antennas. I scored one of the beavers :banana:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1375/5170696006_791f42994d_b.jpg

Four down, four to go...

I'd love to have this pair, but that BIN is a bit high for me: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200552101887

http://www.bobandersen.com/images/antenna/429871117_o.jpg http://www.bobandersen.com/images/antenna/429871131_o.jpg

That thing is just wild.

On the subject of "novelty" antennas,what is the most futuristic antenna you've seen from the 50's or early 60's?

Here's a Popular Science (http://books.google.com/books?id=2SUDAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA216&ots=b3kKbgvrec&dq=Spiral%20HI%20LO%20tv%20antenna&pg=PA217#v=onepage&q&f=false) article from 1959 that reviews antennas and has some neat pictures.

I really like that one in the inset picture with pushbuttons.

Looks like he's holding one of these Snyder antennas
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5004/5249230803_8060f7b13e_z.jpg

This is the ugliest anntena I have. Who would have bought this thing to sit on top of their TV?

You're right!
That one looks like a Hickory Farms salami!

I finally found the cool antenna with pushbuttons I mentioned a few posts up :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3590/5847501288_d20d897c1e_z.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3463/5847501036_0aa336c5a1_z.jpg

This is the ugliest anntena I have. Who would have bought this thing to sit on top of their TV?
I have one of these "Video-Antenna"s too. Apparently they exist with and without UHF channel numbers on the tuning dial markings.

Here is one of the most unusual antennae I've ever seen.
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i469/ElectronicMemory/DSCN0830.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i469/ElectronicMemory/DSCN0831.jpg
http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i469/ElectronicMemory/DSCN0832.jpg

Unfortunatly mice got at it before I could!

I think I have an electronics magizene that decribes this one.
I've got other vintage antennas, but I find this to be the coolest.

Tom C.