[Hammarlund] Oscar Hammarlund's clocks

Tue, 16 Dec 2003 17:03:18 -0500

Duane -

Can you give us a pointer as to what it might be under or how to find 
it? I'm interested to see this story and the facts that back it up. I've 
read quite a number of old articles and documentation which point back 
to the term 'ham' first being used to describe telegraph operators with 
marginal sending as being a 'ham'/'ham fisted'. The Harvard information 
only came to me in the last 3-4 years and I don't recall the details to 
back it up, late 1910s/early 1920s timeframe. So I'd very much like to 
see this account and the documentation supporting it. Perhaps you could 
re-post it here for all to enjoy? We're never too old to learn something 
new, after all.....

Many thanks -

~ Boomer

Duane Fischer, W8DBF wrote:

>The actual story of how the term "Ham" came to be is in the Boat Anchors
>archives, and I have a copy on file here too. None of the above is correct. The
>three people involved had the initials of "HAM", so pursue this in the archives
>for the true account guys.  	
>	
>The real story is quite interesting, check it out.	
>
>
>----------
>From: Todd Bigelow - PS <[email protected]>
>To: [email protected]
>Cc: [email protected]
>Subject: Re: [Hammarlund] Oscar Hammarlund's clocks
>Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 3:01 PM
>
>[email protected] wrote:
><snip>
>
>  
>
>>Amateur radio operators may have gotten the 
>>name "Hams" from the very first amateur radio 
>>equipment made by The Hammarlund Manufacturing Co.
>>
>>    
>>
>I don't think this is accurate, though. I've read accounts of the term 
>'ham' being used as early as the 1910s with early wireless experimenters 
>using sloppy CW and being referred to as 'ham-fisted' or 'hams' 
>(apparently a holdover from the LL code days) as a result. There is also 
>some documentation to support an early wireless club at Harvard whose 
>ops were known as H.A.M.s. Just can't recall the rest of the club name 
>right now. (o: Whatever the case, the term seems to have been in use 
>well before the days of an established Hammarlund or Hammarlund-Roberts 
>company.
>
>  
>
>>In the early seventies, Hammarlund became The 
>>Electronic Assistance Company. They manufactured R-390 
>>radios for the US Government under Collins patents.
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>I seem to recall this being in the mid/late 60s, maybe around 68 or so? 
>Can't remember how it unfolded, but I think EAC bought Hammarlund or 
>something along those lines? Certainly some interesting ads in the old 
>QSTs of that time. Must've been something when such high-end, 
>formerly-reserved-for-goverment gear became available to the average guy 
>on the street. Somewhere around $2K, weren't they? Wonder what that 
>translates to in today's money?
>
>  
>
>>Oscar Hammarlund also invented the mechanical pencil.
>>
>>    
>>
>
>Much simpler and more practical design than Edison's earlier electric 
>version. The mechanical pencil is a clever little gadget, but I still 
>like the radios that bear his name a lot more.
>
>de Todd/'Boomer'  KA1KAQ
>
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>  
>