[Elecraft] "Elmer" background info

[N2EY at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/28/07 11:27:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
rondec at easystreet.com writes:


> It's a very recent term as Ham-speak goes, originating in QST in 1971
> according to this source: 
> 
> http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/mentor/
> 

I remember when that article came out.....I wasn't a new ham then...

I don't know if it was the first use of "Elmer" meaning "amateur radio 
mentor" in print. But it's the first one I know of. And I know that it became much 
more common to see in print after that.

What I think is most significant is that almost every ham knew the concept 
already - some more-experienced amateur who made a point of helping and 
encouraging others. 

I still miss W9BRD's column. It was one of the best examples of stealth 
journalism I ever read. While it was allegedly a DX column, and had lots of DX 
info, his commentary wandered into many other areas. The Jeeves cartoons, 
Grommethead Schultz, the DXHPDS limericks and their unusual character names ("Noah Q. 
Essels" "Harry Uppensign" "Lotta Chassis") were just the obvious things. His 
writings went off on interesting tangents, such as the trend towards miniature 
rigs, (Madame Mu, the shack Siamese, did not approve), antenna restrictions, 
pop culture references and much more.  

One didn't have to be a DXer to read and enjoy "How's DX" in those days. 
Which introduced many a non-DXer ham, such as myself, to DXing, and built a 
community of sorts.

Kinda like many OT postings today....

73 de Jim "shall we order an anchovy pizza for dinner tonight, Jeeves?" N2EY



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