[Elecraft] CW tests

[k4zm]

I recall taking my Extra Class Exam in January 1967.  It consisted then of 5
minutes of 20WPM Text CW Exam and a 100 question test with 10 of them
requiring the drawing of circuits and labeling of all components.  I took my
trusty old Halicrafters HA-1  W9TO Keyer and Vibroplex keyer paddle for the
sending part of the exam and was told by the examiner that I could not use
it, I had to send it on a straight key.  Needless to say that really
frazzled me from the start, but it got worse as I continued.  He allowed me
a couple of minutes to adjust the key and practice and then told me to begin
sending a letter he had placed in front of me.  After about two minutes he
said ok enough now lets see how you do on the receiving test.

At the time I was a much younger man and could easily copy pure text at 35
WPM with a pencil.  He started the tape and I started copying and he walked
away to do something else. I copied the entire 5 minutes of text with only
one error. (I remind you again, I was much younger then...LOL) He asked me
how I did and I told him I missed one character and know what it should be,
and asked if I could correct it.  He said yes and then took the copy paper
off to his desk to grade it.  In about 10 minutes he came back and informed
me that I had cheated, I had memorized the text and that I had a perfect
copy.  He was going to fail me until I insisted that I had not cheated and
that I was willing to copy another tape.  He said he only had one Extra
Class Code exam.  I asked how about a commerical tape just to prove I was
not cheating.  He said the only thing he had was a 25 WPM FOX tape and I
said rack it up and stay right here and watch.  So he did and after about 2
minutes he stopped the tape, shook his head and admitted that he was wrong
that I had not cheated.

I then sat for the written test and I am sure that I must have missed a few
of the schematics but he was very liberal with grading of them after the CW
exam.  He said I wrote a 96 on the written.  He issued me a very nice
certificate and shook my hand and again apologized for the CW thing....

Ah  - Life was so different when you had to sit for a exam before the FCC
Field Examiner.

A note about the whole thing, is that at the time the Extra Class License
offered no more privileges than the General Class...LOL

73
Jim Younce K4ZM  (ex K4LXU)
K2  SN: 18