What was the first antenna ball

And the antenna ball, or antenna topper, was born. Almost immediately, people found these balls quite appealing. They were easy to install, too. Soon after, these simple novelty items became a hot fad that lasted from the late s up to the early s.

If you lived during this era, you probably decked your cars with those antenna balls. The popularity of the orange Union 76 antenna balls actually started the antenna toppers craze. Although declining in popularity for some years, antenna balls returned to public light in the s when fast food chain Jack in the Box sold their clown-faced logo on antenna toppers.

While very few antenna toppers are seen on cars outside of classic car cruises , they still remain an important item in the history of automobile fads. Car Care Tips: Do you know what to do with your old car tires? Aaron is unashamed to be a native Clevelander and the proud driver of a Hyundai Veloster Turbo which recently replaced his Saturn SC The durability of the average antenna ball will vary depending on the type of material.

Generally, rubber and plastic are among the strongest. There are also many brands and decoration types you can add to your antenna. For example, many car antenna toppers use Disney characters, such as Mickey Mouse and Minnie. Other car antenna decorations include promotional products for different companies. For example, some Marines choose to show off their heritage with one of these items. Others may hang a yellow ribbon off of the car antenna to show their devotion to the country. Some people may also enjoy eyeball shapes or other items like it to create a more horrific look.

Collectors of antenna toppers have a few different ways they can display their items. Their latest appearance was in where an antenna ball got offended when Jack called them "silly giveaways". Jack in the Box Wiki Explore. Jack Box Cricket Jack, Jr. Recent blog posts Forum. Explore Wikis Community Central. Register Don't have an account?