[SOC] [OT] Well Almost But Actually it is about Telegraphy

[Ian C. Purdie]

Watching Cable TV here - satellite in my case - there was an instance a very
short awhile ago of a fellow using glass negatives [olden days photographic stuff].

It reminded me of my formative years back in 1958 at Sydney University when such
technology still existed among the 100+ year old buildings and its fittings [I
kid you not]. Yep, in the Department of Chemistry and Physics you could still
use this primitive technology.

There was back then and, probably still is, an actual Post Office on campus.
Unbelievable in today's climate - hey this is almost 50 years ago [God I feel
old]. Anyhoo, in a "framed" situation the Post Office had this beautiful cartoon
by one of our [back then] famed cartoonists on the wall.

It featured a white man coiled entirely by a huge, huge snake and about to die.
Adjacent was an aboriginal type fellow [they never did this here] with his
tom-tom beating out:

"Is Boa-Consrictor one word or two words".

Boa was preceded by the CW as if the operator was interrupted. [Logical] BTW
Telegrams were paid for by the word at that time. Sheez I feel old.

Anyhoo my OM [VK2ARP - SK] was not only a Postmaster with his own Post Office at
that time in 1958 but an old 60 wpm professional telegraphist firstly from the
WW1 Navy [at 16], then the Post Office [Western Union] and later the infant
Royal Australian Air Force in 1930 just after its inception then back again as a
Post Master in his offishul "retirement". Got "shafted" in 1974 when they found
out he was actually 74 and past the obligatory 65 years retirement age.

I thought this cartoon was a hoot so I secretly borrowed it [remember I'm not
much more then than a kid]. I then secretly made a glass negative followed by a
blow up in the Department of Chemistry and Physics Lab.

Ah the olden days! Dad thought the cartoon was all right, didn't crack him up
though and it only featured in *HIS* Post office because my mum took into
account all my efforts etc. [Mum's do that jazz].

Oh well!


72/73's

Ian C. Purdie
Budgewoi N.S.W. Australia - Co-ords S33°14', E151°34'
VK2TIP "I'll give ya the TIP mate" QRP-L #1978. SOC #171 FP#91
http://www.electronics-tutorials.com/