[Elecraft] New Mystery: Copying groups vs plain language text (Rather OT)

[Phil Kane]

On 4/30/2020 5:50 PM, Mike Morrow wrote:

> The First Class license had the same written elements (1, 2, 5, 6) as
> the Second Class license but the Morse test was 25 wpm Plain Language
> and 20 wpm Code Groups, plus a six-month service requirement at
> stations open to public correspondence.

The experience requirement for the First Telegraph was a year at a
station open to
public correspondence (see below).  The Six Months Endorsement required
six moths or more actual experience on an ocean-going passenger or
cargo vessel and was required to be the sole operator on an ocean-going
cargo vessel.
Without that, the operator could only be an operator at a coast station
 or a second operator on a passenger or cargo vessel.

The FCC no longer issues or tests for First Telegraph licenses, and
existing licenses were renewed as lifetime licenses as were Second
Telegraph licenses, now renamed as plain Radiotelegraph Operator License.

> (That "public correspondence" service requirement kept many operators
> with decades of commercial Morse service from ever getting a First Class
> license.  However, every maritime Morse station was defined as open to
> public correspondence even if it was on a freighter and never had any
> such traffic.)

An exception was made for several Naval Communication Stations that
handled traffic from civilian vessels - the most prominent one was
Balboa in the Canal Zone.  "Public correspondence" was not limited to
someone walking in to send a telegram.  All messages from vessels
handled through Public Coast stations (RCA, Mackay Radio, etc) were
considered "public correspondence".

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
Elecraft K2/100   s/n 5402

>From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon