The funny thing about all of this was Sputnik and the space race and the Geophysical year 1957 - 1958 when our government decided to get amateur radio involved.

There were no cell phones, there were no microwave ovens, there were no cordless telephones, there were no internet or personal computers.

Heck - Amateur Radio was about as high tech as you could get!

They got a lot of kids involved - remember old Gramp's Primos - W2OY and how he would tear on the new hams.
NO LIDS, NO KIDS, NO SPACE CADETS, NO BICYCLE RIDERS, NOO WET BOTTOMS - (WB IN YOUR CALL SIGN), because to him that ment you were a johnny come lately ( new ham) and not a real ham! And he didn't want you stinking up his airwaves! Especially where he operated!

AM was king and if you didn't have a big station or could work CW, you couldn't run with the big dogs and had to sit on the porch and listen.

People had to BUILD their own equipment back then, because either you didn't have enough money to buy what you wanted or you didn't have the room to put up what you needed and made due with what you had.

Any person that moves into a place that does not allow antenna's, is not a HAM! That is as moronic as anything that I have ever heard!

Don't come on here and tell me how you have been a ham for 50 years and that makes you something.
Tell me about how many emergencies you helped with?
The flood of 76', the tornado of 85' the big snow of '78....

Where were you when I was here on the air, doing my part, you were probably at work and or maybe rag chewing at night on 160 meters with your buddies. Were you a real ham? or just a ham in license only!

I have seen them come and I have seen them go....