Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. When I picked my 1947 Chrysler up from the body shop, I noticed that it discharged, according to the ammeter, when I stepped on the gas, and charged when I left off. The radio worked fabulously. Back in those days, 6 volt cars were positive ground, and both battery cables were black. The body man, who was old enough to know better, followed the one cable to ground, put it on the negative post of the battery, hooked the other one to positive, and sent it out the door. In those days, not a lot of car parts took offense at being hooked up backwards. When I found the mistake at the battery, everything worked normally.
An internet friend of mine used to own a 55 New Yorker, she was on a mini vacation with some friends and spotted the car on a used car lot. They had a heck of a hard time getting it started, they found a replacement 6 volt battery, dropped it on the car and sent her on a test drive. She bought the car, and a few days later had trouble starting the car. Several batteries later, and lots of frustration, she sold the car. The guy who bought it, looked at the car, and said, the battery is in backwards, reversed the terminals, jump started it, and has had no problems since. At least you discovered your mistake before you "off-ed" the car.
