No Reception on Working Tube Radio (& Xistor too)

The same problem is faced these days with radio setting clocks and watches.  None of them in my house will set unless they face or about face west. Fortunately my home faces east.  My radio aerial is on the west side of the house.

So I had a service call on a tube type radio many years back.

Problem: No reception on the AM band, but sometimes some after dark, but no Seattle stations anytime.

 After a couple of quick checks I turned the radio 90 degrees. Reception achieved.

  They did not take into account the radio had a very directional loop antenna on the back.
 It was perpendicular to Seattle and therefore received minimal to no signal. The exact same thing can happen with transistor radios.

I explained how the radio needed to have the back "facing" the direction of the stations they wanted to listen to. They were happy they could listen to the Seattle ball games now.\

I got paid, plus a HUGE plate of home made chocolate chip cookies. Win - Win.