[CW] Don de Neuf - WA1STO (SK) and Passenger Ship Relays from Sea

[David Ring]

Donald K. de Neuf (WA1STO) had a very distinguished career in
telecommunications since taking his first assignment on the Matson Liner, SS
LURLINE/WML back in 1925. Following a career at sea on some of our larger
ships, he held many important assignments shoreside, becoming President of
PRESS WIRELESS , Inc. He has been decorated by foreign governments for his
humanitarian efforts. He has also received many awards and citations for his
outstanding ability and knowledge of the communications field and ability to
'get things done'.

He was one of the early holders of the coveted “Pink” Ticket (Number Four)
and one of the few (if any) Americans who were ever issued an operators
license by the Cuban Government.

 Don was on duty on the SS MATSONIA/WMP in 1925 on the fun from S.F. To
Honolulu: “Traffic was always heavy on WMP and WMR (SS MAUI – Sister Ship).
We served as primary relay stations – collecting traffic for RCA (KPH and
KSE in those days when competition was very keen.”

 I wonder if anyone can make any comments on the “Pink License” - was that
the “Amateur Extra First Grade” which later became the Class A amateur
license. I remember there also was a rare license that you had to be tested
on both American Morse and International Morse codes.

 Anyone have any recollections on such subjects such as “Passenger Ship”
relay of messages during the “old days”?

There is an article that he wrote in this file from SOWP.

http://radio-officers.googlegroups.com/web/Morse_Codes_of_the_World.pdf

Nice article - has Greek, Arabic, Turkish, Japanese, Russian, Bacon's code,
Ree's code, Swaim's code, Schilling's code, Gauss & Webber's code,
Steinhill's code, Morse's 1838 code, Morse's 1844 code, Bain Code,
Austrian-Germanic code of 1854, Merkrum/Barklay code, Western Union
Multiplex code, etc.

73

DR