One thing I love about the internet is how you can find all this old advertising. I used to love visiting the KVHF Blog, run by broadcaster Gary Arnold. At some point it faded away, but of course the internet still has a full archive of it. One of the images you’ll find posted is this one:
At one point Solid Signal was a Channel Master dealer. That’s why I was drawn to this ad from long ago but it’s only one of the many ads you’ll find there. I’d say they were mostly from the 1950s and 1960s, when TV antennas were flying off the shelves of local retailers. You’ll find plenty of other Channel Master ads and flyers as well as Winegard ones and ones for other brands, some of which are still around!
A lot of those old antennas look very dated, but others look fairly current. Check out this one:
Realistically, this antenna really doesn’t look too different from our Hana Parabolic antenna. The biggest difference is in the fine print. It looks like the antenna was a massive 7 feet wide. While not as big as today’s HD8200XL, you have to admit that it’s one big antenna. It goes to show that the laws of physics haven’t changed in 75 years (of course.) It just seems like some designs are just timeless.
Of course back in those days we didn’t have modern amplifiers or high-quality electronics. These were essentially hunks of metal that caught the signal and that’s that. They had nothing but pure size going for them most of the time. And, of course back in those days, there was a lot of broadcasting on the “VHF-Low” frequencies of channels 2-6. Those frequencies need a much bigger antenna to be effectively received.
In fact, looking at a lot of these antennas you see that they are either VHF-only or spend a lot more of their real estate on VHF than UHF. That’s natural because VHF needs more real estate. It’s also because UHF back in those days was viewed as less important. In most markets, your network channels were on VHF, on frequencies as low as possible, while UHF channels were where you went for kids programming, reruns, and the occasional infomercial or latenight horrorfest.
It’s tempting to say that old antennas are just better built than newer ones. There’s some truth to that as many of the old antenna makers have stopped manufacturing. Others have made their products lighter so that they ship more cheaply. But, if you’re looking for an excellent antenna that’s as well built as one of the older models but just as modern, check out Televes. They’re a company with a long history of providing high-quality antennas. Their products aren’t cheap, but they could just be the last antenna you’ll ever buy.
If you’re ready to get free TV for the rest of your life, buy a TV antenna! You’ll find the best selection and the best support when you shop at Solid Signal. Want to know more? Call the experts at 888-233-7563 or fill out the form below.
The post THROWBACK THURSDAY: Old Antenna Flyers appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
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At one point Solid Signal was a Channel Master dealer. That’s why I was drawn to this ad from long ago but it’s only one of the many ads you’ll find there. I’d say they were mostly from the 1950s and 1960s, when TV antennas were flying off the shelves of local retailers. You’ll find plenty of other Channel Master ads and flyers as well as Winegard ones and ones for other brands, some of which are still around!
Still looks great today
A lot of those old antennas look very dated, but others look fairly current. Check out this one:
Realistically, this antenna really doesn’t look too different from our Hana Parabolic antenna. The biggest difference is in the fine print. It looks like the antenna was a massive 7 feet wide. While not as big as today’s HD8200XL, you have to admit that it’s one big antenna. It goes to show that the laws of physics haven’t changed in 75 years (of course.) It just seems like some designs are just timeless.
Today’s tech beats those old antennas
Of course back in those days we didn’t have modern amplifiers or high-quality electronics. These were essentially hunks of metal that caught the signal and that’s that. They had nothing but pure size going for them most of the time. And, of course back in those days, there was a lot of broadcasting on the “VHF-Low” frequencies of channels 2-6. Those frequencies need a much bigger antenna to be effectively received.
In fact, looking at a lot of these antennas you see that they are either VHF-only or spend a lot more of their real estate on VHF than UHF. That’s natural because VHF needs more real estate. It’s also because UHF back in those days was viewed as less important. In most markets, your network channels were on VHF, on frequencies as low as possible, while UHF channels were where you went for kids programming, reruns, and the occasional infomercial or latenight horrorfest.
It’s tempting to say that old antennas are just better built than newer ones. There’s some truth to that as many of the old antenna makers have stopped manufacturing. Others have made their products lighter so that they ship more cheaply. But, if you’re looking for an excellent antenna that’s as well built as one of the older models but just as modern, check out Televes. They’re a company with a long history of providing high-quality antennas. Their products aren’t cheap, but they could just be the last antenna you’ll ever buy.
Over-the-air antennas don’t just belong to the past
If you’re ready to get free TV for the rest of your life, buy a TV antenna! You’ll find the best selection and the best support when you shop at Solid Signal. Want to know more? Call the experts at 888-233-7563 or fill out the form below.
The post THROWBACK THURSDAY: Old Antenna Flyers appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
