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Fred Johnson Elser was known as “FJ” to the ones with whom he communicated in CW mode, from his first two-way wireless contact in 1916 from Manila, Philippine Islands (PI) and the numerous QSO’s that followed from exotic locations in the world spanning close to 70 years. His station slogan was “OUR SIGS COVER THE WORLD, NOT THE TUNER.” Fred, in October 1919, has the distinction of being the first licensed amateur radio operator in the Philippine Islands, then a U. S. Possession. He operated ARS 1ZA, PI-3AA, K3AA and KA3AA. |
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His interest in radio was “sparked” at a very young age during three Trans-Pacific voyages he and his family took in 1911, 1913 & 1916. The ships back then were equipped with “spark-gap” wireless transmitters and the “noise” these units made drew his attention and interest. Fred learned the International Morse Code on wire telegraph during the years of the WW-I…what was a young man to do then? In the few years to follow, he was operating his own spark-gap station. In the early years, there was no licensing authority for Ham Radio and it remained unregulated until 1912. Fred was a pioneer of radio in the PI’s not only in Amateur Radio but also in Broadcast Radio. In 1923, he built a low-power broadcast station putting out 100 Watts and located in Ermita. Far Eastern Radio purchased his transmitter and contracted him to build a 500 Watt station to become KZRQ at the Manila Hotel, inaugurated in December 1924. In 1926 Fred owned and operated KZUY in Baguio City on 833 kilocycles with 500 Watts. During this period the broadcasters were usually Hams too. He published a 124-page book “Radio In The Philippines” in 1925. He was Stateside in 1920 – 1923 operating “6ANM (W6ANM)” in California. Fred joined the ARRL in 1921 and remained a loyal member. However, in 1930, he was disillusioned with the ARRL when one of its directors got the League’s Board to “throw out” the Philippine Hams along with the Pacific Division. He made his views known to the League and campaigned strongly for these Ham Operators to regain their representation within the League endorsing W6HM in the 1931 elections for Director of the Pacific Division. Fred returned to Manila in 1928 during which time he and Stanley M. Mathes – 1CY (ex-7OE, K1CY), a Lieutenant Commander with the USN & ARRL SCM (1928-29) operated in the ARMY and NAVY CLUB Manila and who was visiting him at Baguio City, were inspired to sponsor an operating award. This award, a wooden trophy carved by the indigenous Igorots of the region, is known as the “Elser-Mathes Cup” to be awarded to the first Amateur Radio two-way communications between Earth and Mars. The trophy is on display at the ARRL Museum where it’s been since 1929 waiting to be claimed! |
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Fred received an Electrical Engineering degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1931. His thesis, co-authored with a fellow named Henry Geddes Hartwell, was entitled: “An Experimental determination of the field distribution about crossed loop antennae excited at high frequencies.” In 1934 he was granted U. S. Patent #1957327 for his “Magnetically Modulated Vacuum Tube Oscillator.” He served as an Officer in the U. S. Army’s Signal Corps retiring with a rank of Colonel. He was married and had two daughters and a son, none of which became Ham operators; he put it this way “More radios for me!” In 1981, to fulfill requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in American Studies at the University of Hawaii, Fred submitted a dissertation titled: “Amateur Radio – An American Phenomenon.” |
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Fred also served as the Technical Adviser for the Philippine Association for Single Sideband, PASS, in the early 1960’s. Serving with the U. S. Military, Fred traveled the world allowing him to enjoy the hobby under different operating conditions. He was a recipient of various operating awards: DXCC, WAC, WAS, WAZ and many others. Altogether, Fred held about 57 call-signs in his lifetime. Later, Stateside: W6FB, W7OX and KH6CZ. This tribute is written in celebration of his forthcoming birthday anniversary, March 1. Mario “Ricky” Maipid, KB4SAD February 2010 |