Kosage Chavis Posted March 2, 2018 Share Posted March 2, 2018 (edited) I am looking to purchase a factory power antenna for a 1955 Buick. The antenna does not have to be in working order, but at least has all of the pieces that make up the assembly. (I do not need the associated switch). Thank you. Edited July 12, 2018 by Kosage Chavis (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auburncoupe Posted March 3, 2018 Share Posted March 3, 2018 No luck on your speaker pointer. I will keep my eyes out. RE: Antennae. I have a power antennae from a 1955 Cadillac if they are the same. I have no interchange for this. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted March 3, 2018 Share Posted March 3, 2018 9 hours ago, Kosage Chavis said: Anyone out there know if a power antenna are the same between 55 Buicks and Cadillac? Thank you. If electric it might be the same...some Cadillac units were vacuum. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancemb Posted March 7, 2018 Share Posted March 7, 2018 I have a few that are getting repaired and I will have an extra. If you don't find one by then I'll offer you one. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I have worked on some early GM power antenna and if you need parts they are very hard to find, the base design on electric 53 and before were 6V and when they went 12v in 54 the design stayed the same but the motor/gears became about 25% larger, so no interchange between 6 and 12 volt motors and gear. If you want a good working power antenna.....convert a 1982 and later Delco design to fit in your fender and use the original 55 chrome fender mount. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 On 3/12/2018 at 8:58 PM, Barney Eaton said: I have worked on some early GM power antenna and if you need parts they are very hard to find, the base design on electric 53 and before were 6V and when they went 12v in 54 the design stayed the same but the motor/gears became about 25% larger, so no interchange between 6 and 12 volt motors and gear. If you want a good working power antenna.....convert a 1982 and later Delco design to fit in your fender and use the original 55 chrome fender mount. it was 1953 when cadillac, buick, and oldsmobiles went to 12 volts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 21 hours ago, pontiac1953 said: it was 1953 when cadillac, buick, and oldsmobiles went to 12 volts. Yes, ... BUT... with the exception of the 1953 Buick Special (40 Series) which retained both the 6-Volt system and the Straight Eight cylinder engine through the 1953 model year before going to 12-Volt and V-Eight for the 1954 models. The Chevrolet and Pontiac lines didn't go to 12-Volt and V-Eight until 1955. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 (edited) 4 hours ago, Marty Roth said: Yes, ... BUT... with the exception of the 1953 Buick Special (40 Series) which retained both the 6-Volt system and the Straight Eight cylinder engine through the 1953 model year before going to 12-Volt and V-Eight for the 1954 models. The Chevrolet and Pontiac lines didn't go to 12-Volt and V-Eight until 1955. you are correct, and so was my point.you would so much more likely to come across a 12 volt power antenna in a 1953 super, roadmaster, or skylark, than you are the 1953 six volt buick special. Edited April 3, 2018 by pontiac1953 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1953mack Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 6 hours ago, pontiac1953 said: . . . . . you would so much more likely to come across a 12 volt power antenna in a 1953 super, roadmaster, or skylark, than you are the 1953 six volt buick special . . . . . Where are you getting your information from? The 1953 Buick Skylark was the only 1953 Buick Model that had an OE, 12-volt, LF fender-mounted antenna. All the other twelve SPECIAL, SUPER, and ROADMASTER Models had a roof-mounted manual antenna, centered above the windshield if they bought the optional radio. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted April 3, 2018 Share Posted April 3, 2018 13 hours ago, pontiac1953 said: you are correct, and so was my point.you would so much more likely to come across a 12 volt power antenna in a 1953 super, roadmaster, or skylark, than you are the 1953 six volt buick special. OK, no disrespect intended, My response was to clarify your prior post in that SOME, BUT NOT ALL 1953 Buicks were 12-Volt, specifically the Special Series which was still 6-Volt, and of course there were far more Specials produced than any other single 1953 Buick model: Total 1953 Buick production: Special 217,624 Super 191,894 Roadmaster 79,237 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 16 hours ago, 1953mack said: Where are you getting your information from? The 1953 Buick Skylark was the only 1953 Buick Model that had an OE, 12-volt, LF fender-mounted antenna. All the other twelve SPECIAL, SUPER, and ROADMASTER Models had a roof-mounted manual antenna, centered above the windshield if they bought the optional radio. Al Malachowski BCA #8965 "500 Miles West of Flint" i stand corrected on the 53 buick antenna, i didn't realizes that buick kept the roof mounted antenna past 1952, thank you 1953mack. i used a 1957 12 volt casco power antenna motor to change my 53-54 pontiac 6 volt power antenna to 12 volts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 9 hours ago, Marty Roth said: OK, no disrespect intended, My response was to clarify your prior post in that SOME, BUT NOT ALL 1953 Buicks were 12-Volt, specifically the Special Series which was still 6-Volt, and of course there were far more Specials produced than any other single 1953 Buick model: Total 1953 Buick production: Special 217,624 Super 191,894 Roadmaster 79,237 thank you marty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 On 3/3/2018 at 9:50 AM, old-tank said: If electric it might be the same...some Cadillac units were vacuum. were cadillac power antennas vacuum operated past 1952 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 16 minutes ago, pontiac1953 said: were cadillac power antennas vacuum operated past 1952 ? The Wonderbar radio in my 1954 Cadillac has a vacuum Operated Antenna 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 On 3/12/2018 at 8:58 PM, Barney Eaton said: I have worked on some early GM power antenna and if you need parts they are very hard to find, the base design on electric 53 and before were 6V and when they went 12v in 54 the design stayed the same but the motor/gears became about 25% larger, so no interchange between 6 and 12 volt motors and gear. If you want a good working power antenna.....convert a 1982 and later Delco design to fit in your fender and use the original 55 chrome fender mount. barney is right, my picture isn't the greatest, but laying closest to the camera is the casco 6 volt power antenna motor, behind it attach to my nos 53-54 pontiac power antenna assembly is the casco 12 volt power antenna motor. you can see the difference in size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PONTIAC1953 Posted April 4, 2018 Share Posted April 4, 2018 13 minutes ago, Marty Roth said: The Wonderbar radio in my 1954 Cadillac has a vacuum Operated Antenna boy, the five different GM divisions sure did their own thing for the most part back then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosage Chavis Posted May 29, 2018 Author Share Posted May 29, 2018 Bump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
56 Buick Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 Yesterday I am sure I saw a power antenna on ebay. I believe it said it was working and suited the 54-56 models. If I recall correctly it was not cheap. Not sure if this helps you any but worth a look. Drew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancemb Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 (edited) 3 hours ago, 56 Buick said: Yesterday I am sure I saw a power antenna on ebay. I believe it said it was working and suited the 54-56 models. If I recall correctly it was not cheap. Not sure if this helps you any but worth a look. Drew Not cheap indeed. It's been fitted with a newer non-original motor. I will have a perfectly working good used one for sale soon. Not cheap either, but much cheaper than this one. This will also fit and have correct appearance on 57-58. Edited May 31, 2018 by lancemb (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 That's not a 54-56 antenna, the ground piece is wrong, as with the rest of the body (assuming my 56 antenna is the same from 54 up) . The mast looks correct, though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancemb Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 (edited) 16 minutes ago, Beemon said: That's not a 54-56 antenna, the ground piece is wrong, as with the rest of the body (assuming my 56 antenna is the same from 54 up) . The mast looks correct, though. Can you post a picture of yours? The body and mast looks just like every 54-57 antenna l have had (57 used 56 style partway into production) but the motor is not correct and the mounting bracket does not look correct (but not positive on this point). Edited June 1, 2018 by lancemb (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosage Chavis Posted June 1, 2018 Author Share Posted June 1, 2018 13 hours ago, lancemb said: Not cheap indeed. It's been fitted with a newer non-original motor. I will have a perfectly working good used one for sale soon. Not cheap either, but much cheaper than this one. This will also fit and have correct appearance on 57-58. Let me know what you might sell yours for Mr Lancemb. 16 hours ago, 56 Buick said: Yesterday I am sure I saw a power antenna on ebay. I believe it said it was working and suited the 54-56 models. If I recall correctly it was not cheap. Not sure if this helps you any but worth a look. Drew I have seen this antenna before. It has been trying to sell for the longest time. The price is obscene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancemb Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 4 minutes ago, Kosage Chavis said: Let me know what you might sell yours for Mr Lancemb. I will PM you as soon as it's available and offer you one first as I know you've been looking for awhile. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 1 hour ago, lancemb said: Can you post a picture of yours? The body and mast looks just like every 54-57 antenna l have had (57 used 56 style partway into production) but the motor is not correct and the mounting bracket does not look correct (but not positive on this point). Sure! Here you go! This eBay antenna looks like a later model antenna with a vintage mast. Definitely not an original restored antenna, and definitely not worth the asking price. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancemb Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 I see what you mean with the top part of the body. Body looks same except for that. Definitely crazy price. This motor (and likely whole assembly) looks to be a 1960's version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 (edited) I don't want to get into a debate on exactly when they were used but the antenna(s) pictured in post #15 & #24 are the first versions of electric power antenna used in GM cars. Pontiac1953 called them Casco, they are distinct in the coil of tubing at the bottom for the cord That design came in 6V & 12V * Next was a short lived model (see center antenna below) it was the first to store the plastic cord inside the base housing, my guess this was used from about 1956 to 1959 * The picture with the red background is reported to be a '57-'58 Cadillac but I have never worked on one (note it is the same as the middle antenna but with the motor rotated 90 deg) * From 1960 to 1978 GM used the Tenna brand made in Cleveland ....the antenna posted in #19 is a Tenna....it could be for a pre-1960 model car but I don't think GM used them that early. * The short stubby antenna with the grey background is a '67-66 Corvette model. * 1978-79 Delco came out with a another short lived design (see the bottom model in the picture) it's problem was the clutch used, it was not adjustable and if the drag of the mast etc was high the clutch would slip and the antenna would not move. * Late 1979 Delco released the "Slimline" with the plastic motor housing, much simpler and reliable. The first couple of years the housing was a dirty white and they played with the way the mast was attached to the motor, but by 1982 the Delco Slimline was the GM standard. The motor assembly was the same for all GM car lines, but the mounting at the fender line varied. The last picture with the dark grey background shows some of the different mounts at the top of the fender. If I owned a GM car that needed a power antenna and it was not a perfectly original, I would made a late Slimline work......easy to find and reasonably priced. They can be wired to work with a dash UP/DOWN switch Edited June 1, 2018 by Barney Eaton (see edit history) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancemb Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 The reel type antenna, similar to the one marked 1956 Cadillac, came out mid-1957 in Buicks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosage Chavis Posted July 12, 2018 Author Share Posted July 12, 2018 Finally, purchased a couple of factory power antennas and recieved today. Thank you for everyone's help. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fr. Buick Posted July 13, 2018 Share Posted July 13, 2018 It took me three units to get one working... Have fun, they are a great bench project! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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