From: "Bill Sohl" on Mon 21 Nov 2005 16:42
wrote in message
wrote:
Before Restructuring took effect in 2000, the Extra
code test rate was 20 WPM.
Unless a medical waiver was obtained, in which case the
Extra could be had for a code test of as little as 5 wpm.
The "modern" Extra class license was added in the 1951
restructuring that also added the Novice and Technician
class licenses. The code test speed
for the Extra was set at 20 wpm at that time.
That's kinda funny. The "modern" Extra is, therefore,
54 years old. How long did the pre-modern Extra
exist before 1951. Or even better, how long did
radio as a practical medium exist before 1951.
I wish these Extra Morsemen would get their stories
straight. Heil thinks the 1950s were ancient history
and won't accept it. :-)
Back then those test elements were only given by FCC examiners.
They were not legally available to folks like you (outside of FCC).
The legality of the availability of actual test info has never been
proven either way. Bash made the info available and was never
challenged. The FCC let it all go by which isn't proof absolute
that it may or may not have been legal, but the absence of action
ultimately made it legal over the long haul.
There were "Q&A" books on tests-and-answers for radio
and electricity back in the ancient history days of
the 1950s. Hardbound, not the best quality paper,
roughly the size of a Reader's Digest Condensed Book.
There was no hue and cry over those "Q&A" books then.
Gene Hubbel's "H and H Electronics" store in Rockford
Illinois had the amateur radio test editions for sale.
Both partners were pre-WW2 hams, Gene (SK) had W9ERU
then, later W7DI after moving to Arizona in retirement.
Gene was a morseman and had a couple certificates for
passing greater than 60 WPM using morse and a "mill."
Dick Bash and his schools came later. Why he got
bashed so harshly is still curious to me. It might
have been that his school/book logo had two four-
letter words in it? :-)