The AM Forum

WOW, I'd love to add that to my collection,
but it'll go big I'll bet.
I have a friend that has one just like it that he bought
at the 1938 ARRL nat. convention.

A really neat piece.

Is there a reason that I couldn't reply to the original message?

Ron W4RON

I have been noticing this as well lately.
What appears to be random posts that do not allow replies.

Read the Announcement at the beginning of the forum category.

There has been at least one of these listed previously.  Wonder if this is another one or the same one?

Grant/NQ5T

I have one of those.  They are made of cast steel, and finished with paint.  Inherited mine from Robert Parmentier, who used to be the chief lab technician at ARRL HQ before WW2 and chief operator at W1MK (before it became W1AW).  Not sure if Bob actually attended the 1938 convention or acquired it afterwards, but I suspect he attended.  It's a little more rusty than the one now on ePay. 

No desire to part with it.

Looks like a primitive, non-powered sex tool .

Or else a busted tuning fork.

What is it ?

I don't blame you, if I had one it'd never leave here either.
At least until it was sold in my estate sale...

73, Ron

you obviously missed the 1/4" flex drive coming off it leading to the weedeater motor.  :o

I thought that they were presented as a high honor for excellent operating practice.  It was kind of like a "secret" society for recognition of highly proficient operators.  It is ironic that these awards are now just collectors items.  Does anyone know if there is still any sort of award program like this that still exists?

73,  Jack, W9GT

  "  Does anyone know if there is still any sort of award program like this that still exists? "

Yes, the League has an award program .... ..

https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/diamondclub/


klc

And its precise method of use has debated and discussed for decades. It doesn't take too much imagination to figure out the most likely mode d'emploi.

For thems that haven't see the reproduction....   klc

The original reference to the Wouff Hong was in the "Rotten QRM" diatribe by The Old Man (a.k.a. Hiram, W1AW). Below is the pertinent section from that historic rant.



And this, my friends, is why we speak of 'swinging a monkey', 'monkey swing', and the like. Despite what some poor, uninformed souls claim, it has nothing to do with CB radio. Many are ignorant of this important historical fact.

Clearly T.O.M. and his cohorts didn't take themselves, or ham radio too seriously. They knew how to cut it up (in a 1920's kinda way) and probably enjoyed a good belt of single malt scotch whilst enjoying such shenanigans - on the air or otherwise.

Always thought the Wouff Hong looked like a repaired handle from an old horse-drawn furrow. It's got nothing on the Rettysnitch.  ;D

Could well be.  It was obviously something someone JS'ed together from junk lying round.  Notice that it is held together with a piece of  sheet metal, wire and some nails.  If you weren't careful, you could injure yourself just handling the thing.

For a description of both the Wouff-Hong and Rettysnitch, and the uggerumph, see
http://www.cebik.com/tales/ugger.html

More on the Wouff-Hong here (http://www.cebik.com/tales/wouf.html).

Now, is there a similar device out there somewhere made for errant slopbucketeers?

  "  Now, is there a similar device out there somewhere made for errant slopbucketeers?  "

ah yes, the fickle finger of fate.
d'emploi avec merde, mon ssb'ers.

On vas s'enculer les  slop-bucketeers  avec ça!     ;D :P

Here you go, the story of both --> http://www.w1ujr.net/rotten_radio_series.htm

And the article that started it all, Rotten Radio --> http://www.w1ujr.net/rotten_radio_org.htm

The "Young Squirt" reply to the T.O.M. --> http://www.w1ujr.net/rotten_young_squirt.htm

The 1UJR updated version --> http://www.w1ujr.net/rotten_digital_radio.htm


(http://www.w1ujr.net/images/T.O.M.%20250%20dpi.jpg)

the rettysnitch makes the WH look like a toy.

A $898.88 toy?  WOW ! ! ! !

Ron

Derb,
I hear they used that device before you could mount a tiny camera at the end of the cable. Used to remove klingons

Well, the guy who won it, W8BAC, is an AM'er.  He's running a Collins 20V-3 that used to be run at WBAC in Cleveland, TN on 1340.

What's his middle name?

Beats me, is this a trick question? ;D

I figured you knew his bio or something.

Well, that's one Wouff Hong that won't be going out in the trash.
Yep, $900 for one is an eye opener, but on the other side, I see the price insures that Wouff Hong will be well cared for, and passed onto future generations.
I'm glad to see that someone values radio history so greatly.  :D

my wife just looked over my shoulder and saw the picture... after utteringg a few things in spanish she accused me of being in an adult chat forum..  lucy how the heck can i be splaining this

Has she seen ur avatar ???

I live on the lake that was modeled after the Wouff-Hong.

vH

Herb, I think you should petition the town to change the name to Wouff-Hong Lake, and supply backing data in the form of photos, historical documents, and even an actual reproduction example to prove the point.

Of course, 100 years from now any surviving souvenir Wouffs will likely be used as door stops or clothes line holders, perhaps outlasting most old gear by a few years for having some utility. Maybe the Smithsonian will keep one somewhere in a dusty closet? Because if memory serves me correctly, didn't the ARRL once have a nice, large display of donated and preserved old gear at HQ which has since been mostly dispersed? Guess they were ahead of the curve for a change.

Come to think of it Herb, that lake has a pretty good name right now.  ;)

Congrats to Mike on his ebay win, too.

From the 1926 Radio Amateurs Handbook (which was the first edition) and I quote:

"The Old Man...T.O.M. is an odd radio character who puts into words the things that we all feel at times but find difficult of expression.

The Old Man sits in his "Shack"  and reflects on the "rottenness" of everything. He glares at "Kitty", spitting out his grouch on all who care to listen. At his right hand he keeps the sacred Wouff Hong to use in punishing those who commit offenses against the radio law. The Rettysnitch is kept within easy reach to use in enforcing the principles of decency in operating work. Close by is Old Betsy , another ancient piece of radio apparatus (rotary gap), into which are fed the remains after the Wouff Hong and Rettysnitch have done their work.

The Old Man visits the Radio Club  and there we meet Radical, Final Authority, and other radio celebrities, all easily recognized in any gathering of amateurs." (Note: esp. here on the AM Forum) - MM.