[Joe Hadenuf]

The term HAM may have come from one of the first call signs used or issued......This is what I heard and may be just speculation....

[steveo]

I once read (again speculation) it was coined in a early radio construction book or magazine. Story is that it stands for 'Home Amateur Mechanic'.

73 de N6QBZ

K

[archy]

The term HAM may have come from one of the first call signs used or issued......This is what I heard and may be just speculation....

The term *Ham* used to derisively denote a rookie or ham-handed railway telegrapher dates back to at least the time of the US Civil War, and I was so designated by my three brasspounding teachers long before I ever developed the slightest interest in amateur radio. But I eventually could send and copy whole pages of data from The Official Railway Guide, North American Freight Service Edition at around 35 words per minute without error, and they quit calling me that.

But I *weally* wonder whence the ham wadio term *Elmer* is derived. Pwerhaps it's becwase the voices of so many operwattors sound wike Elmer Fudd....

73 de archy, N9TQT,

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