Society of Wireless Pioneers - California Historical Radio Society Volume 1 Number 2 'S P A R K S' Summer Edition - 1974 as a MONTHLY SPARKS NETBUL and mail to all hands whether they have ham stations or not. That will keep you updated on all the important 'scuttlebut' aboard the SS. OZONE. We have bou^it a bit of equipment that should help in collating and mailing and a gal to help who is a 'whiz' on the m ill. WHAT WE DO NEED is your stories of all kinds, pictures and memorabilia that can be used. You see examples of what we need in this copy of Sparks..........Many members have had exper­ iences that should be recorded for posterity. This is the place to do it. The Anecdotes and short stories will go in the "JOURNAL" while lengthy experiences will find their way aboard the ...TALES OF THE WIRELESS PIONEERS. I am sure Henry Dickow would have been pleased with his 'brain-child'. 73 de Bill Breniman Old Timer. How are you this fine day ? TOPS Tried to get this out in April but as you can see, "FO" our Car­ toonist (Ralph Folkman) down Cleveland way had to have his Iittle APRIL FOOL joke with the Ship's Computer, so we didn't quite make it. However, here it is and I hope you like it I I really enjoyed the fine response from the initial issue. We got literally hundreds of letters. They all said about the same thing only in different ways... "ON COURSE" I It sure was heartwarm­ ing and rewarding. Think it even chipped off on Eb Cady, John El wood, Bob Shrader and others! Now before you get too far into this issue, lets sit down and talk a bit about ... PLANS AHEAD. Perhaps you have already guessed it. We wi 11 put out at least one more edition of PORTS O ' CALL - perhaps more. The one in the works now should be out by early falI. It is about 50% complete. Many have ordered extra copies and they are on file, I am a bit embarrassed at the amount of time it has taken to publish this issue and if you are tired of waiting ( I do not blame you) w e'll refund your money or credit your account. HOWEVER. we are reasonably sure it will l?e quickly sold out and we will be crying for copies... so at this early date w e'll make you an offer: If you return your 1974 POC in first-class Condx... we' II refund $2.50 or credit your account with same. Think about that a moment. If you return the copy. dues for 1974 will only cost you $2.50. Another important note. A few members have not paid their 1974 dues. Obviously, due to increasing cost of publishing and mail­ ing expenses, we will have to drop those from the list who have not responded to past calls for sustaining dues. We do not have the time or facilities for sending repeated notices about dues. We feel those who enjoy the Society will respond without such notice. Of course, letters do get lost etc. W e'll be reasonable I and for sure ... any old timer who is having a bit of struggle with annuity that doesn't stetch, ill, etc. Don't worry. Your copies will keep coming along. "SURE, IT'S GOT POSSIBILITIES— BUT VfE HAVE TO Now for the real kicker... We hope to increase both the size and BREAK IT OF THAT NASTY HABIT OF CALLING OTHER frequency of SPARKS. Also, we hope to issue our NETBUL SHIPS, THEN SAYING 'APRIL FOOL'.'' iority, he might 'puli' an assignment on a 'Grey­ hound' that sails the 'Western Ocean' to Eurone. Some Ops enjoy assignments on 'Hurrah-boats' which are excursion steamers. Others sail on a 'pick- iocket' which means a boat of small cargo capacity. 'Banana-boat' which carries the golden fruit from the Carib to various ports, North and South, while others are content on a 'Tramp' and wouldn't sail anything else. In sailing the 'Main 'j Sparks will probably cross IT he world of the Radio Operator is a unique one. "The Line' which might be the equator in which Not only does he have the opportunity of visiting event he will be initiated by King Neptune and 'far away places with strange sounding names' but party. Perhaps initiated isn't the word but he he has to learn to live with a terminology and will be painfully aware that Davy Jones find all of nautical slang that is strange and different. the denizens of the deep carry out their appointed missions with dispatch and aplomb even if dignity For example: While officially he may be signed on fails to prevail. Of course the 'line' might be as the ship's Radio Officer, he suddenly becomes the 'Sunday-Monday Line' if you are sailing the "SPARKS" to all of the crew members. When he uses 'drink' across the Pacific which means crossing the a typewriter, it suddenly becomes a "mill". In 180th parallel of longitude. Your route may take sending messages he 'tickles' his 'bug' unless he you through the 'Roaring Forties' where you can ex­ has a 'glass-arm'. The rotary gap suddenly be­ pect some 'heavy weather' (generally between 40 and comes a 'rock crusher' and when he receives mes­ 50 degrees North or South Latitudes. The Gulf is sages his detector is usually a 'cats whisker' to generally the Gulf of Mexico, The 'Medi' refers to find the most sensative spot on his hunk of 'rock' the Mediterranean, Salt Chuck is Puget Sound, The (galena). Potato Patch is a stretch of water at the tip of Coney Island where the currents of Gravesend and Sometimes he has to jar the Chief Engineer's com­ the ocean mingle and cause bad eddies; Cape Stiff pass to have the 'juice' turned on. When all goes refers to Cape Horn; Cross Roads of the World - well, the sigs slide off his 'sky hook' without Panama Canal; Down under refer to the antipodes— trouble unless QRM or QRN give him a bad time. especially Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania. Hululand Hawaii, Limeyland is England, Newfie, Sometimes people ashore call him a 'Jack Tar' or an Newfoundland. Sable Island is known as the Grave­ 'Old Salt' unless he is out of work when they call yard of the Atlantic and your port of destination him a 'beachcomber.' Of course when assigned he is sometimes known as 'Hole in the Beach'. Carib takes his 'ticket' aboard the 'rust-bucket' and of course refers to a voyage into the Caribbean. puts it up in the shack where he stands his 'trick' Some even sport 'pink' tickets— they are the elite. Of course blue-water sailors include all national­ ities. The 'herring-snapper' is usually a Nova While the ship is working cargo he has to watch out Scota or Newfoundland seaman and a Down-Easter hails for the 'winch hog' or 'winchie' who drives the from Maine. The true Blue Nose is a Nova Scotia winches that control the slings. He also has to seaman while a Lascar is an East Indian. The watch out for the 'reindeer' who are the fast Frogs come from France and the Krauts from Germany. handed-truckmen shuttling cargo. Guard against The Yankees and the Limeys usually fight the Revo­ the 'pile-drivers' who are the careless winchmen lutionary war all over again when they meet in a who set their load down hard or the 'appleknockers' bar shoreside. Decision always indecisive. A who may be a green hand at the winch. 'Swensker is a Swedish seaman while a Scandihoov- ian, Scowegian or Scandiwegian refers to a Scan­ Once aboard he becomes acquainted with 'Bucko' the dinavian. Continued on Page 5 mate, Dicky, the Second Officer and 'The Old Man' who might still be in his late twenties or early thirties. The Old Man is the "Skipper'1 of the 'Oil­ can1 if she is a tanker, a 'Reefer' if she carries refrigerated cargo, a'pig-boat', if she is a sub­ marine, a cattle-boat or if Sparks has enough sen­ liquor. Many sailors SPLICE THE MAIN BRACE (mostly for fatigue) after a hard night fighting QRM/QRM Strange World .... or weak sigs. (This usually in cold or cool (?) weather. When we land a new assignment, we have been known to 'wet our stripes' in celebration A ship usually has its roster of 'characters1. thereof. The 'Forecastle rat' is a spy for the officers or owners; JONAH is usually a sailor who brings bad Of course one who can not control his intake or is luck to the ship. The Sea-dog or Sea Stiff is slightly inhibited might be described as being usually found on the 'tramp' steamers. The sea- 'awash' or primed to the 'plimsoll mark'. He lawyer is usually an egotistical and talkative might also be well-spliced or moored in sots bay. sailor; a sea-pig likes his chow. Deckaroo is Some might be charged with being a sheet in the the term sometimes used for the deck hands while wind or even four sheets in the wind, watertight the 'Black Gang' work below in the engine room. with full cargo aboard, under too much sail, etc. Five or Sixer usually loans money to fellow ship­ etc. mates. You take five and pay back six.(dollars, pounds, pesetas, guilders, etc. A number tener Some of the daily routine we get used to is the may jump ship while a number eleven will complete Mate (and or others) shooting Charly Noble every the round trip.