[QCWA] Fastest CW Opr Ever???

[Norm Gertz]

There were many operators at WAR during WWII that could copy over 60 
wpm....you had to copy 60 to be moved up to "Principal Communications 
Specialist" which was the highest grade civil service for a radio operator.
Operators had a choice of which bug they preferred when coming on 
watch....there was a big table at the rear of the station with every 
conceivable make and model.  I remember that the Mac Key was not very 
popular.....most opted for the Vibroplex and there were others that swore by 
the SpeedX.....you makes your choice......some of the best operators did not 
even use a bug.
During rap sessions regarding copying speed it was commonly assumed that you 
had to be at least partially under the influence of alcohol to be able to 
copy at those superspeeds.

73   Norm   K1AA


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joseph Fenn" <jfenn at lava.net>
To: "Discussion of QCWA" <qcwa at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2007 10:20 PM
Subject: Re: [QCWA] Fastest CW Opr Ever???


> Yeah thats the one.... I should have known as I had one of his
> bugs long time back before went to the blue racer.  As I recall
> the Mac bug looked like an old fashioned hot iron like grandma
> use to iron clothes with.  It was all chromed etc.
> Wow 72 wpm is worth a million or 2 I guess.   Tnx for info
> guys.  I'll be 86 next month so I am lucky if I can find my
> way home after a shopping trip.   Driving no problem however as
> always stay off the freeways and travel the same streets all
> the time.  My copilot keeps me aware if I start to turn on the
> wrong street, or am going over the speed limit.   She also
> flags down cars when I am trying to back up my Maxima and cant
> really see whats coming down the road.
>                      Joe/KH6JF
> P.S. I used the homebrew sideswiper just as often as the bugs.
>      A WW1 Navy vet made it for me when was a sophomore in hi-school.
> He used an old transformer shell for the base and put about a
> 6" piece of a hacksaw blade mounted at its end and could swing
> pretty fast back and forth.  He also made the contacts out of brass
> for best contacts.  Naturally it sounded like a lake erie fist
> as the length of dots verses dashes was not measureable!!
> Bakelite paddles were on the other end of the blade.  Good fun!!!
>
>
>
> **************************************************************************
> * Ham since 1937 HiSchool Sophomore ex W9ZUU, KP4EX, W4FAG, KH6ARG KH6JF *
> * WW2 Vet since Sep 1940 to just After VJ day. US Signal Corps AACS      *
> **************************************************************************
>
>
>
>
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