I learned Morse code by listening to a cassette tape. The first thing I did, was simply listen to code at 13 WPM, just to see what it sounded like. It sounded like total gibberish to me, and I said I couldn’t possibly learn Morse code. My friends told me, yes I can, just keep at it. I did and in about 8 weeks, I could copy about 7 WPM, enough to get my novice ticket. I only made about 8 or 10 contacts, and I just quit, thinking I won’t get back on the air, till I could do it on voice. By then I was just listening to W1AW code practice sessions, till I got up to about 16 WPM. Then I got my general class license. I never used Morse code again.
I doubt anyone knows that W1AW, was the call sign of the first ham radio operator in the US, Hiram Percy Maxim. Many might remember his father, Hiram Stevens Maxim. Does the Maxim machine gun ring a bell? He invented it.
Great story. That was a Renaissance family.