[Elecraft] OT: The Colpitts mystery

[Jim Campbell]

While in college, I co-oped with the FCC in Atlanta, GA. I had to take 
and pass my Radiotelephone First and General class licenses before I was 
allowed to administer those exams. If you did not pass a test you had to 
wait 30 days before you could take it again. Some applicants tried to 
game the system by memorizing as many questions as they could when they 
first took the test so it would give them a leg up the next time. On the 
second attempt there were usually howls of anguish when they realized 
they were facing a different version of the test with different questions.

73,

Jim - W4BQP

On 4/28/2020 10:17 AM, Bob McGraw K4TAX wrote:
> As a 17 year old, I rode the train {pulled by a coal fired locomotive} 
> from Fulton, KY to Memphis, TN.  I had to walk about 8 blocks to the 
> Post Office building where the FCC administered the tests.  I took the 
> 4 elements and passed all 4 of them earning me a First Class Radio 
> Telephone license on the first try.  I recall many much older folks 
> seemingly to be struggling to take the tests. Some commented "what's 
> this kid doing in here?"  Seems some had taken it several times 
> without success.     I spent the night with an old maid school teacher 
> and relative in Memphis.  I took my General class license test the 
> next morning in the same place. The CW receiving portion, in the 
> concrete basement with metal desks and metal chairs, sounded like 
> marbles being dropped into a galvanized wash tub.   So was that a T 
> followed by an E or was that and H?  Passed that one too.  Then I rode 
> the bus from Memphis back to my home in Martin TN.  Yes there were 
> several circuits to identify, and some to draw, as I recall.   That 
> was 60 years ago.  Glad I had the experiences.
>
> 73
>
> Bob, K4TAX
>