Prize Winners for Best "YL" Photos
August 1935 Short Wave Craft

August 1935 Short Wave Craft

August 1935 Short Wave Craft Cover - RF Cafe[Table of Contents]

Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics. See articles from Short Wave Craft, published 1930 - 1936. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.

In an effort to promote entry of women and girls into the amateur radio hobby, Short Wave Craft magazine ran a few contests for Best "YL" Photos. Amazingly - and maybe there are still instances of it today - many (if not most) of the YLs featured had built their own equipment. In 1935, most people built their own equipment, so that is not too surprising. The winner for this month was a 16-year-old young lady (i.e., "YL") who in fact built her rig. Another winner was an 83-year-old grandma who was born before Marconi, Maxwell, and Hertz did their best work! The third winner was a girl who earned her Ham license at age 6, which back in the day required sending and receiving 5 words per minute (WPM) in Morse code. BTW, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) Inflation Calculator says $5 in 1935 is the equivalent of $94.41 in 2020 money.

 YL Contest Issues: May 1935, August 1935

Prize Winners for Best "YL" Photos

Charline J. Armond W6LMA - RF Cafe

Prize Winner - Charline J. Armond W6LMA, of Santa Clara, California.

Miss Charline J. Armond, aged 16, of Santa Clara, Calif. She built her own set and operates it under the call W6LMA. Hats off to Miss Armond!

Miss Charline J. Armond of Santa Clara, Calif., is a regular ham - she built her own radio set and knows how to operate it - as her licensed Government call, W6LMA, attests. Miss Armond, a dainty little miss from beautiful Santa Clara, may give some of you boys a buzz. Miss Armond is shown ready to put through a short-wave phone call to a fellow ham, her band resting on the mike stand. The phone transmitter is shown at the right of the picture, while the receiver used at her station is shown just behind the young lady. If you have keen eyesight, you may be able to find a large snake skin in this picture.

73-Year-Old Lady Operator

Mrs. Madeline Boeder, 73-year-old radio operator - RF Cafe

Mrs. Madeline Boeder, 73-year-old radio operator, who communicates regularly with her son via short waves.

The photo below shows 73-year-old Mrs. Madeline Boeder, a radio operator of many years standing. She communicates weekly with her son who maintains an amateur radio station at Feeding Hills, Mass. She studied radio quite a few years ago in order to keep in touch with her son, who was a steamship radio operator at the time. Mrs. Boeder has lived in the Bronx, N.Y., for 53 years; she is here shown at the key, with one hand on the tuning dial of the receiver. The short-wave transmitter appears just behind Mrs. Boeder.

8 Years Old

Jean Hudson, who successfully took her "YL" operating license test when she was only 8 years old - RF Cafe

Jean Hudson, who successfully took her "YL" operating license test when she was only 8 years old.

The photo [to the right] of little Jean Hudson should serve as a strong incentive to every YL and XYL to send their pictures in to the editor. If Baby Jean walked off with her amateur radio operator's "ticket," there must be many charming ladies in all parts of the country who have obtained their licenses from Uncle Sam and who are daily operating a short-wave transmitter. The editors hope to be deluged with a perfect flock of pictures and descriptions of YL stations for the next issue.

This is the third "YL" Station Photo Contest that we have published. But for the next article and prize award, if there is to be one, we will need some more good photos of our lady operators and their sets. So, come on girls, here is your chance to win a prize and fame!

 

 

Second Award In Our $5.00 "YL" Photo Contest

The editors are offering a $5.00 prize for the best "YL" or "XYL" station photo submitted. All photos entered for the next number should be in the editor's hands by July 20. In the event of a tie, equal prizes will be given to both.

 

Posted March 27, 2020
(updated from original post on  6/16/2015)