Diagnosis needed

[DH Comet]

Hi all,
I went out to enjoy the beautiful day in my '53 Manhattan and it won't start.  I turn the key and the ammeter needle disappears instantly to the left side of the gauge and the interior lights dim, but no starter at all.  A short?  The battery is good, and the car started fine last week.  Coincidentally this morning I removed the old radio antenna and hooked up a new one, but I can't imagine that causing the starting issue: it's way over on the right side and as far as I can see should have nothing to do with the ignition system.  Any ideas?
Thanks!

[Thomasso]

Shorted starter.

[Tevel Jean-Jacques]

Starter switch relay might be tired. Try to shunt it with a screw driver and see if the starter is running....

[kaiserkid]

Do the old fashioned trick, tap on the starter with a small hammer. You may have a dead spot on the armature. Tapping on the starter usually moves the armature just enough to be able to start the car. If that is the case, a rebuild is the next step to the starter.

[DH Comet]

Last month I installed a new coil, worked great.  This morning after exhausting all other possibilities I thought, "Hmm, I wonder..." and reinstalled the old coil and voila! no short!  Back to NAPA I go!  Thanks for your replies.  The wiring under the dash is really tidy now, too!