[Milsurplus] Re: Dead electronics and Telegraph Operators - OT

[Mike Morrow]

How about the ultimate out-of-date device...the commercial radiotelegrapher?

I got my Second Class Radiotelegraph license about 25 years ago after
leaving the Navy.  The FCC exam form was dated 1964, covered in essence only
vacuum-tube technology, and was ten percent essay and schematic drawing.
The primary use of commercial radiotelegraphers was as merchant marine
at-sea and on-shore operators as required by IMO SOLAS requirements.  But
everyone knew it was a dead-end career well before that time.  Morse
phase-out was inevitable.  I had been one of the few people in the Navy who
actually enjoyed going to sea, so I considered briefly a tour as a civilian
radio officer with the Military Sealift Command.  Much better judgement
directed me instead to my current nuclear generating engineer career.

The commercial telegrapher position essentially vanished completely in 1999
when all US commercial Morse stations closed with the implementation of the
GMDSS.  I guess that available Morse operators must have become scarce for a
while about ten years earlier, because in the late 1980s I received a
package of material from one of the merchant radio officer unions
encouraging me to join and train to fill vacant at-sea positions, and
offering a rather decent salary/benefits package.  I suppose they must have
sent out that solicitation to all licence holders on record.

I dropped my telegraph license several years ago.  There wasn't much point
to renewing.  I wonder why the FCC still issues telegraph licenses.

I regretted it when the FCC abolished the First Class Telephone license in
1981.  I guess the only valid commercial license I have now is that cheesy
general radiotelephone certificate that was issued in place of renewing
first and second class phone licenses.  I haven't had much interest in
obtaining GMDSS licenses.

73,
Mike / KK5F