Sinclair excalibur antenna

[dapaq2]

Group,

The photos below are of the older style Sinclair Excalibur Transit (Skate Blade) Antenna which was most commonly used on railroad locomotives, cabooses and other railroad equipment. I believe they stopped making this style antenna some time around the 1960's, but don't hold me to that. I had this antenna in my personal collection since 1987, but just sold it. I thought I would share these photos with you before deleting them from my computer and archives. No reply or response necessary to my post, I just felt like sharing the photos before deleting them...

Doug

 

[dapaq2]

Some additional photos...

 

[radioman2001]

Still in production, last ordered 25 of them in 2012. Just not painted black and highlighted and mine are a little thicker The antennas are bulletproof, unless they get caught in the catenary wires. They run about $240.00, but there a a lot better ones on the market that are actually in the right polarity verticle not horizontal.

 

[dapaq2]

The 25 antenna's you bought new in 2012 are the newer design Excalibur series which have a 4" height and are of a thicker casting, as you have mentioned. The Excalibur antenna in my original posted photos are of the older design Excalibur series which have a height of 6", and have been out of production since about the 1960's.

Doug

 

[kevin2525]

Now that's Cool!

 

[KC9LQV]

I recall seeing that listed on ebay, (along with the firecracker) and I debated long and hard about putting in a bid or two.

Thanks for sharing the pictures here.

 

[cmdrwill]

"Excalibur Transit (Skate Blade) Antenna which was most commonly used on railroad locomotives,"

These are actually Vertically polarized antennas, and require a grounplane such as the metal cab roof.

You see them on buses, dump trucks, and other applications.

And thanks for the photos.

 

[dapaq2]

Well aware of the specs on these antennas CMDRWILL. I did not say only used, I said most commonly used. Your welcome on the photos.

 

[jason453]

This is a funky cool antenna. Do you know if it picks up well?

 

[N4GIX]

I've installed one - and only one - Sinclair VHF antenna in my career. It was installed on a private rail car owned by Martin Clement, scion of the King family who own the famous King Ranch in Kingsville, Texas. He wanted an AMPS mobile phone installed before he and a bunch of cronies headed up to New Orleans for the Superbowl.

 

[PJH]

Sti-Co is making a bunch of these as well. Work as its intended for (rugged/railroad proof) but still compromises in performance than most standard two-way antenna's.

 

[kc0kp]

Excalibur

I installed one of the old style years ago on a city road grader. It was used for leveling alleys during the summer. 1/4 wave verticals lasted about a month before tree branches destroyed them. My plan was to pull the radio out but I was overruled because they also used the grader for snow removal. The Excalibur went to auction on the grader ten years later. The alleys were all paved at that time so problem totally solved.
BTW, these antennas are modified slot antennas. Slot antennas are polarized 90 degrees opposite the direction of the slot hence they are indeed vertically polarized if mounted horizontally.Slots are more heavily used in the microwave bands.

 

[W5KVV]

She's a beauty.

I have one, was given to me by a locomotive mech years ago after we upgraded radios. Came off a 1951 model Altoona built GP-9M (Still in service as USAX 4627). It's the newer version, says "LOW PORFILE 150" on it. Unfortunately it has a dozen coats of Awl-Grip and Valspar on it. Stripper won't touch it. I need to have it blasted.

 

[Kitn1mcc]

i have installed a few. not that hard to do

 

[cbehr91]

Is there any difference in performance between these and the "firecracker" antenna that used to be so prevalent?

 

[Kitn1mcc]

the fire crackers was too tall. also they would fall apart