[CW] Origin of the term "LID" as applied to an incompetent operator.

[David J. Ring, Jr.]

 From PA3CLQ's Leuke Linken Nr. 378
https://www.cqcw.ru/pa3clq/linken378.html

One explanation about a relay office Telegrapher”

The writer worked a “Relay Office” as a RAILROAD TELEGRAPHER Having 
worked with a lot of “OLDE HEADS” with early 1900 to 1920 seniority ::: 
Both Commercial and (OCS) Railway - “LID” is an inherited title from the 
land-line (wired) Morse Telegraph days – The majority of “OPEN” Canadian 
Railway Stations were TELEGRAPH OFFICES and handled both Commercial and 
Railway traffic!

Very early in the Telegraph era, North American Telegraphers began to 
refer to novice and inept operators as “LIDS” 1912 Antedating:-
THE RAILROAD TELEGRAPHER IN 1912 PRINTED A HUMOROUS POEM/PRAYER :::
And if some “HAM” who sounds insane, should move me to say things 
profane O stay my hand upon the key And may I not get “H” for “P” May I 
refrain to open my door, And kick through it,some tedious bore Who 
brings to me his half-wit kid, To be transformed into a “LID”.

Most early wireless Operators came from the wire telegraph ranks so when 
pioneer amateur radio operators began to interfere with commercial 
traffic,they immediately condemned the interlopers as “HAMS” and the 
epithet came to include all amateurs.

Willard McPhedrain- CNR Agent/Telegrapher is Lavina (McPhedrain) Shaw’s 
father.

Willard was a CNR Agent in Sifton,Manitoba.

The writer, similar to Willard – copied handled both Commercial and 
(OCS) Railway (WIRED) Telegraph.

Canadian Railways had “thousands” of Branch Line Stations handling 
Commercial (including cables – press) & OCS Railway Telegraph.

73

DR
N1EA