The AM Forum

It's my personal opinion, but I think the term "elmer", meaning a ham radio mentor, plainly sounds dumb, and I wish it would go away for good.

Some have insisted that it is part of our heritage that dates back to the earliest days of amateur radio.

Actually, the term "elmer" is something relatively new, and only recently has it come into common use.   It was first used in a March 1971 QST article by Dave Newkirk.


I have been licensed since 1959, first becoming interested via SWL'ing in 1953.  I was very active in ham radio throughout the 1970's and 80's, but NEVER heard the term "elmer" until about 1980.  It is at best a johnny-come-lately part of our history, associated with the brief influx of new amateurs that occurred as a spin-off of the CB boom that began in the mid-70's.

I am curious; what is the earliest verifiable reference anyone can find to the term, such as use or mention of it in an amateur radio publication (excluding the Newkirk article) or a documented speech at a major ham radio event?

Please post your findings here.

they all need to go away...
Elmer
HiHi
XYL

 :P

Hey, let's have a replay of the Dorkspeak thread!

Fudd

Personally I never liked the term. 

Courtesy of Google:

Origin of the term "Elmer"

The term "Elmer"--meaning someone who provides personal guidance and assistance to would-be hams--first appeared in QST in a March 1971 "How's DX" column by Rod Newkirk, W9BRD (now also VA3ZBB). Newkirk called them "the unsung fathers of Amateur Radio." While he probably was not trying to coin a term at the time, here's how Newkirk introduced "Elmer" in his column and, as it turned out, to the rest of the Amateur Radio world:

"Too frequently one hears a sad story in this little nutshell: 'Oh, I almost got a ticket, too, but Elmer, W9XYZ, moved away and I kind of lost interest.'"

Newkirk went on to say, "We need those Elmers. All the Elmers, including the ham who took the most time and trouble to give you a push toward your license, are the birds who keep this great game young and fresh."--Rick Lindquist, N1RL

As you can see, the term is not very old. Prior to the first use of Elmer as the one who guided and encouraged us, what were these folks called? I have received a lot of suggestions; teacher, mentor, tutor, guide, helper, sage? All are appropriate but my guess would be that first and foremost they were called friend.

Norm Fusaro, W3IZ

I am obviously mistaken but I could have sworn that I called my mentor, "my Elmer" in 1956.

However, if time in grade is the criterion for acceptable vocabulary, the under 30 crowd would be speechless as opposed to just being inane.  I use the term "vernacular of airheads" to describe the vocabulary of the pop culture.

>end spleen vent</

js

Don,
What is your source that this was the first use of the term? Is it possible that the name "Elmer" was used in the story because in this case it is a homonym?

I am pretty sure I heard it used in my pre novice days which would have put it into the early mid 60s.

But hey, I've been wrong before.

73

Carl /KPD

Another excerpt from "How's DX?", March 1971 QST, page 91:

"We need those Elmers.  They're the antithesis of the sickies and yowling sadsacks mentioned here last month.  And our Elmers, too busy with the helping hand to make much noise themselves, rate thankful recognition.  All the Elmers, including the ham who took the most time and trouble to give you a push toward your license, are birds who keep this great game young and fresh.

The head Elmer in our old neighborhood, for example, was pre-WWII W9NUF, one real amateur's amateur.  Bud was a super-Elmer even.  Though busy with his own operating, building, arduous studies, chronic family illness, and full social calendar, he miraculously found time to be big brother to any local youngster or oldster groping uncertainly toward hamdom.  'NUF always managed to scrounge up the odd part needed to keep a guy on the air, always stood ready to help hook it up.  You couldn't be anywhere near him without catching that old ham spirit.  In the glow of Bud's enthusiasm pessimists shriveled and slunk away.  He's gone now but the many amateurs he spawned doubtless include a few Elmers in their own right."
- - - - -

The statistic is that the average age of the ham is getting older; no young people getting into the hobby.  Now you know why.

From his previous month's column, February 1971 QST, How’s DX?, p. 87, Rod writes:

"Who else:

    All of us have our pet peeves and chronic complaints which we broadcast loud and clear.  The right protest at the right time in the right way is what makes the world go ‘round.  Most of us also manage to find a few things in life worth equally outspoken appreciation.  Not everybody.  Like beauty to the poets, only gross iniquity and conspiracy lie in the eyes of some beholders.

    Kissin’ cousins of the DX kooks discussed here last month are amateur radio’s scattered crepehangers, the howling hand-wringers whose monotonous bag is to proclaim endlessly that every day in every way hamming is getting worser and worser.  They’re easier to tune out, fortunately.  The sour apples range from niggling nitpickers to grandiose prophets of imminent doom.  You can usually spot them by large chips on the shoulders.  They’re consistently loud and consistently wrong.  These Chicken Littles  have a particularly rough time in our world of DX.  How can you badmouth real big when the audience is too happily absorbed to listen?"

- - - - -

Rod's quite a writer.  Those 2 paragraphs are relevant to many topics discussed here on the AM Forum this month.

AMEN, Tom. I think folks have too much time to find things to piss and moan about, and the 'net just makes it that much easier. We all do it, some moreso than others.

It's supposed to be fun, after all. Don't like it? Don't do it. And if the hobby makes you miserable to the point that you only see 'the bad', perhaps it's time to take up something else?

More time on the air, less time online. Back to the basics, work with what you've got, stop whining about the past or trying to make 'amateur' radio somehow sound professional. Have fun, and enjoy it while you've got it to enjoy.

'Tis the season, ya know?   ::)

Geez Don, by the time I read the rest I didn't notice that this was in your original post.  Carl asked about the source.  .. its on the ARRL web page.   Ed

I would offer that the term 'Elmer' might hearken to the late Elmer Osterhoudt, proprieter of 'Modern Radio Labs' who, for 60+ years sold mail order crystal radio kits, coil forms, 30 triodes, litz wire, variable caps, and other buzzardly paraphernalia indespensible to the vintage tinkerer.  The company is still around, BTW...

73 - NE4AM

Interesting...there are Worse things I imagine.....

I'm hoping to generate some fun for the boys at the Scout meeting...If I can lightly get the right melding of todays tech and yesterdays mode...I hope to generate some thoughts...it ain't easy....what ever it's Called....

I can't stand that term. Every time someone mentions their "Elmer" I think they are talking about a part of their anatomy. I never heard it until the QST article cited in the original message. It's why I quit the ARRL.

Jerry

   "  Every time someone mentions their "Elmer" I think they are talking about a part of their anatomy "
 
I think you are mistaking "Elmer" for the "Elmo".   .... ..              klc

I stand corrected!

Jerry

Personally, I see nothing offensive about it.  It's just an endearing title given to those who assist others.  Or is it an acronym..?

E        Extended
L        Learning
M       Method  (of)
E        Electronic
R        Radios


 ;D
Rick/K5IAR

I found this story of  "Elmer", as it relates to an old ham, residing in a text file within the bowels of my computer.  I don't know the origin of this story, but I'm fairly certain that the original Newkirk article predates it. Perhaps Rod will stumble across this thread here on AMfone.net and set us all straight as to whether he believes the QST article is correct and his was the first use of the term.  I suspect it was.  I remember reading the original article when it came out and had never heard of the term prior to the article but have heard of ELMER constantly since then. Can't say that I particularly like the term, but there are many terms in modern ham lingo that I believe are more irritating. I don't mind XYL or HiHi, they have a long tradition of ham usage, by golly, but I can see where those terms might sound goofy to non-hams.

Another "Elmer" story:

A HAM NAMED ELMER LIVED WITH HIS XYL NAMED SUE.
WHILE AT THE QTH ONE NIGHT, SUE SUDDENLY  WENT QRT. (DIED).
ELMER PICKED UP THE PHONE, AND CALLED 911 AND REPORTED THAT HIS WIFE HAD JUST DIED AND COULD SOMEONE COME OVER TO PICK HER UP. THE OPERATOR ASKED FOR HIS ADDRESS AND ELMER SAID HE LIVED ON THE END OF EUCALYPTUS LANE...SHE ASKED HIM TO SPELL THAT.
THERE WAS A LONG PAUSE ON THE END OF THE LINE AND THEN ELMER SAID.
"HOW ABOUT I JUST DRAG HER OVER TO OAK STREET AND YOU MEET ME THERE"!!


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