[Boatanchors] [novicerigroundup] Re: [Glowbugs] Re: NOVICE RIG ROUNDUP

[manualman at juno.com]

When we were down at Radio Row, as a present to myself for passing the
General, I bought myself a Vibroplex bug. Prior to that, I used a
straight key, and since I was left-handed, all my sending was done with
my left hand. When I went to buy the bug, a left-handed Vibroplex was $10
or $15 more in price. Being a teenager with limited funds in the big
city, I opted to buy the "regular" right-handed bug and taught myself how
to send code with my right hand. It was like starting over again to learn
to send code but in time I mastered it. Years later I bought an Vibroplex
Iambic keyer and also use that with my right hand. But, when I use a
straight key, I still send code with my left hand. I tried using my right
hand on the straight key but could not get the rhythm down correctly. At
times it sounded like I had reverted back to my pre-Novice days.

Pete, wa2cwa

On Thu, 9 Feb 2017 05:20:12 -0600 Rob Atkinson <ranchorobbo at gmail.com>
writes:
> You got the cigar and furniture down -- good memory!
> 
> How do I know this, a ham from Chicago who never set foot in NYC?
> 
> 1955 ed. of So You Want To Be A Ham by Hertzberg (I think).  Whole
> chapter devoted to how to get a ticket,  the whole exam process 
> with
> several photos of Mr. Finkleman (That's Mister Finkleman in 1955)
> a.k.a. W2UHS IIRC, in double breasted suit  and cigars.
> 
> I would have liked everything about Radio Row except hauling the 
> loot
> home on the subway and train.
> 
> Rob
> K5UJ
> 
> On 2/8/17, manualman at juno.com <manualman at juno.com> wrote:
> > Back then, the FCC testing office was at the Federal Building, 
> 641
> > Washington St, NYC. I forget what floor but the building had a 
> creaky
> > elevator run by a creepy old man.
> > And Charlie Finkleman was the gruff, cigar smoking examiner. The
> > furniture was old school-type desks that had seen much better 
> days. You
> > could easily punch a hole in the writing paper with the paper 
> laying on
> > the desk. After you passed the written exam, he came to each 
> person
> > remaining, handed them a paper, and said send. I think I sent 
> maybe 8 to
> > 15 characters (wasn't much) and he said "stop", you passed. Then, 
> he
> > handed out the written exam, sat in the front, and continually 
> puffed on
> > his cigar.
> >
> > Then me and three other friends (we all passed the General) walked 
> down
> > to Radio Row to celebrate and buy stuff. Then we had to drag it 
> all on
> > the subway and back to Penn Station, to take the train back to 
> Jersey.
> >
> > Pete, wa2cwa
> >
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