[CW] Early Radio Operator Licensing

[Bill Cromwell]

Hi,

I have just been a passenger on the list until now. A friend of mine and 
an "Elmer" was a Radio Officer/Purser on one of those ships during that 
time period. He was also a charter member of ARRL. He gave me a boost 
when I went up for Amateur Extra Class and then the General 
Radiotelephone ticket (after the commercial licenses were all rolled up 
into one). Stan Reed was W8CC when I knew him and had spent his entire 
career in radio, first on those "banana boats" and later with military 
and telephone company development. Stan has been a silent for quite a 
while now.

I never was a shipboard radio op but did use the ticket for some of the 
Great Lakes fishing VHF radios as well as public service land mobile. 
When I went up for that ticket I came to a crossroad and decided not to 
go back to sea. I was in the engineering gang in the Navy once upon a 
time. I suppose (some of) those jobs don't even require a license any more.

73,

Bill  KU8H

bark less - wag more

On 8/24/20 11:55 PM, D.J.J. Ring, Jr. wrote:
> I remember Slidell Radio advertising for operators, they always had
> the highest standards, I also remember seeing advertisements for "The
> Great White Fleet" in "QST" when I was young.  These high standards
> didn't start late in the century, far from it, this is from Department
> of Commerce Radio Service Bulletin May 1916.
> 
> COMMERCIAL EXTRA FIRST-GRADE LICENSES FOR OPERATORS ON UNITED FRUIT CO. SHIPS.
> 
> Under date of January 26, 1916, the Tropical Radio Telegraph Co.
> issued the following circular pointing out to operators on United
> Fruit Co. ships the desirability of securing commercial extra first
> grade licenses:
> 
> TO ALL OPERATORS:
> 
> Ship operators are again reminded that it is highly desirable to hold
> the extra first-grade commercial operators' licenses issued by the
> Department of Commerce.
> 
> The possession of such a license is a distinct mark of ability, and in
> considering men for promotion to positions as chief operators on board
> ship, as well as trick operators at shore stations, those holding an
> extra grade license will be given preference regardless of their
> length of service.
> 
> In general, it should be the aim of every radio operator on board a
> United Fruit Co.
> ship to hold an extra grade license.
> 
> Operators who obtain an extra grade license should notify the general
> office promptly, giving the license number and date issued.
> 
> Yours very truly,
> 
> GEO. S. Davis,
> General Superintendent.
> 
> The commercial extra first-grade license is the highest class of
> license, and is issued by the Department of Commerce to radio
> operators who pass a special examination demonstrating unusual
> experience and skill. These licenses are given consideration by the
> Civil Service Commission in examinations for positions requiring
> knowledge of radiotelegraphy when experience is rated as a part of
> such examinations. To be eligible for the examination for the
> commercial extra first-grade license applicants must hold commercial
> first-grade licenses, and their certificates of skill in radio
> communication, issued under the act of June 24, 1910, or licenses
> under the act of August 13, 1912, must record 18 months' satisfactory
> commercial service at sea or at land stations, either or both, during
> the two years previous to the filing of the application for
> examination, as shown by endorsement on the license service records,
> or other satisfactory evidence, and provided that the applicants have
> not been penalized for a violation of the radio laws and regulations.
> 
> A speed of at least 30 words per minute, Continental Morse, and 25
> words per minute, American Morse (five letters to the word), must be
> attained. The technical questions and the questions of the radio laws
> and regulations will be considerably wider in scope than those for
> commercial first grade, and a higher percentage will be required.
> 
> All examination papers, including the code test sheets, are marked and
> forwarded to the Commissioner of Navigation with a recommendation by
> the radio inspector or examining officer. Examination papers are
> marked upon the basis of 100, and licenses are recommended only if 80
> or better is attained.
> 
> 30 WPM Continental Morse, and 25 WPM American Morse!
> 
> 73
> DR
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> =30=
> .
>