"mary" wrote in message
...
This is not a short-wave question, but I thought people here would know
the
answer. When I was a kid in the fifties, it seemed as if people who had
radios in their cars had this rubber thing hanging from the bottom of the
car. When I asked my parents what it was for they said it helped provide
better radio reception. Somehow I remember every car having one, but then
maybe not. Anyone remember what it was all about. Our car did not have one
because my father would never get a car with a radio.

Thanks

Tom



Did the rubber thing extend from the car's chassis to the street? If so, it
may have been some sort of anti-static strap. The Radio Amateur's Handbooks
of that era would mention that the tires could devlop a static charge which
would interfere with radio reception, but recommended an anti-static powder
to be put in the tires.

Frank Dresser

"Frank Dresser" ) writes:
"mary" wrote in message
...
This is not a short-wave question, but I thought people here would know
the
answer. When I was a kid in the fifties, it seemed as if people who had
radios in their cars had this rubber thing hanging from the bottom of the
car. When I asked my parents what it was for they said it helped provide
better radio reception. Somehow I remember every car having one, but then
maybe not. Anyone remember what it was all about. Our car did not have one
because my father would never get a car with a radio.

Thanks

Tom



Did the rubber thing extend from the car's chassis to the street? If so, it
may have been some sort of anti-static strap. The Radio Amateur's Handbooks
of that era would mention that the tires could devlop a static charge which
would interfere with radio reception, but recommended an anti-static powder
to be put in the tires.

Frank Dresser


I saw something like that just the other day. I didn't notice any
particularly big antenna on the car (ie not likely they were using
AM shortwave). I knew about the scheme, it never occurred to me that
it was in the past tense.

Mine you, maybe it was simply the car falling apart.

Michael

-=jd=- wrote:

On 13 Aug 2003, "mary" wrote in
:

This is not a short-wave question, but I thought people
here would know the answer. When I was a kid in the
fifties, it seemed as if people who had radios in their
cars had this rubber thing hanging from the bottom of the
car. When I asked my parents what it was for they said it
helped provide better radio reception. Somehow I remember
every car having one, but then maybe not. Anyone remember
what it was all about. Our car did not have one because my
father would never get a car with a radio.

Thanks

Tom

I'm thinking it was more than just rubber (if inspected
closer) and was used as a ground strap? or a pre-cursor to
"curb-Feelers"?

I believe those rubber straps were impregnated with a conductive
material. They were mainly intended to discharge static electricity
caused by a passenger getting in or out of the car and rubbing their
bottom across the seat cover material.


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Something to do with the grounding I suppose... Cannot tell
if it worked or not. One can still see them in cars from Russia.

Matti Ponkamo, Naantali, Finland

"mary" kirjoitti
...
This is not a short-wave question, but I thought people here would know
the
answer. When I was a kid in the fifties, it seemed as if people who had
radios in their cars had this rubber thing hanging from the bottom of the
car. When I asked my parents what it was for they said it helped provide
better radio reception. Somehow I remember every car having one, but then
maybe not. Anyone remember what it was all about. Our car did not have one
because my father would never get a car with a radio.

Thanks
Tom

The straps to discharge static were very popular in the UK a decade ago when
people wore polyester suits and Hushpuppies. Hardly ever see these straps
now.
It might also be that the composition of the tyres has changed making them
un-necessary.

It is definitely to do with cars because I've never seen one being used with
a Walkman.

Lionel Carter


"Matti Ponkamo" wrote in message
...
Something to do with the grounding I suppose... Cannot tell
if it worked or not. One can still see them in cars from Russia.

Matti Ponkamo, Naantali, Finland

"mary" kirjoitti
...
This is not a short-wave question, but I thought people here would know
the
answer. When I was a kid in the fifties, it seemed as if people who had
radios in their cars had this rubber thing hanging from the bottom of
the
car. When I asked my parents what it was for they said it helped provide
better radio reception. Somehow I remember every car having one, but
then
maybe not. Anyone remember what it was all about. Our car did not have
one
because my father would never get a car with a radio.

Thanks
Tom

Yes, I used that antistatic strap on my car named:
"YUGO AMERICA"

mary wrote:

This is not a short-wave question, but I thought people here would know the
answer. When I was a kid in the fifties, it seemed as if people who had
radios in their cars had this rubber thing hanging from the bottom of the
car. When I asked my parents what it was for they said it helped provide
better radio reception. Somehow I remember every car having one, but then
maybe not. Anyone remember what it was all about. Our car did not have one
because my father would never get a car with a radio.

Thanks

Tom