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On sets from the 30s & up I have seen little difference & have even noticed on some sets that it will work WORSE with ground connected. Recently I've had fun experimenting with a homebrew 3 tube set from the mid-20s that works quite well (given it's limitations). It will work without the ground but not nearly as well. The better the ground, the better it worked. I had it set up outside & at first connected it to the clothesline pole, where it worked very well. Connected to just a pipe I drove in the ground a couple feet, it worked but not quite as well.
I think it was my grandfather who told me how when reception was bad (I think he was talking about TV) they would go out a pour a bucket of water at the base of the pipe holding the antenna & it would come in clear. Water certainly helps. As a kid we used to fish a lot in the river & I loved carrying my old radio out there & listening to the am station just downriver. Their transmitter was (is) right on the banks & they come BOOMING in when you are out there!
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Bryan
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