[Milsurplus] Re: [The WS No19] Dating the term "Walkie Talkie"

[Hue Miller]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Hollander" <n7rk@cox.net>

> I worked for Motorola for 25 years and I always thought that Motorola
> had invented the Walkie Talkie until I met Al Gross, W8PAL who lived in
> the Phoenix area until becoming a silent key 3 years ago. Gross spoke at
> many ham club meetings in this area and claimed that he invented and
> patented the walkie talkie although I don't know if he trademarked the
> name "Walkie Talkie"

Everybody wants to be the first.
If the US Army already had as standard equipment in 1938,
a man-carried mobile radio set, how could Mr. Gross or
Mr. Hings "invent" it? Furthermore, if truly portable man-
carried radios were demonstrated, and portrayed in radio
magazines, in the mid-1930s, how could these gentlemen 
"invent" such?  Reminds me of the continuing claims about
who invented radio first, who did the first broadcast, etc.
Al Gross didn't invent the handie-talkie either: Motorola
did that, and invented it first. 
I guess you have to specify that now: "Invented it first!"
These claims illustrate the need to be careful when writing
history based on anecdote and personal accounts.
Hue Miller