Wes Schum, Amateur Radio’s Unsung Hero
Bibliographical Information
Name of book, Wes Schum Amateur Radio’s Unsung Hero, Author, Dominic (Nick) Tusa. Published September 2021, Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc. Johnson City, Tennessee.
ISBN: 978-1-954978-18-8. 249 pages.
Background Information
Dominic (Nick) Tusa, amateur radio callsign K5EF “Is the principal radio communications consultant and founder of Tusa Consulting Service. For over 43 years, Tusa has provided technical services involving the design, implementation, and maintenance of land mobile radio and microwave communications systems for both public safety and private industry. Tusa earned his first amateur radio license at age 11 and has been continuously active in the hobby for 57 years” (Tusa, D. p. 249).
Intended Audience
This book was written for the interests of amateur radio operators, electronic engineers, and electronic enthusiasts.
Subject and Thesis Statement
As a high school student, the author was a member of his high school’s amateur radio club. They had an old single sideband transmitter, manufactured by Central Radio Corporation of Chicago, Illinois. He and several other students and the Catholic Priest who was the director of the club and owner of the transmitter, were working on getting the older transmitter working. They could not get any information, so they found that Zenith Radio Corporation had bought out the company, however, dissolved it several years earlier. Zenith Radio’s co-founder, Karl Hassel, W8AKG, who was a ham himself and hearing it was for school students, referred Mr. Tusa to Wes Schum, W9DYV. Wes was the founder of and designer of all the amateur radio gear sold by Central Radio Corporation. After Zenith acquired Central, Mr. Schum was retained by Zenith as president of the division. He helped the young man with the problems and helped them repair their transmitter and they were on the air using single sideband.
Mr. Tusa, from Louisiana, kept in touch by mail and Mr. Schum slowly became Mr. Tusa’s mentor both to his aspirations of his career as an engineer and his love of ham radio. They became life-long friends. Mr. Tusa was not the only one who was mentored by Mr. Schum.
Wes Schum also was known in the late 1940s and early 1950s as the force that caused amateur radio operators to start using the new form of voice communications known as single sideband. His manufacturing company was said to make a far superior type of amateur equipment than any of his competitors.
This book also told Mr. Schum’s life story, stories of both professional and personal history. During World War Two, he was deferred from serving his country as he was an engineer and lead designer for a company that helped develop radar, anti-torpedo equipment, voice and visual communications equipment and other electronic equipment to be used during the war.
He served in the U.S. Army. After the end of the war, he was a communications and electronics instructor for Army intelligence. The firstborn of his three daughters was born with a hearing disability. When he went to the school for deaf children in Chicago where she was enrolled, he found the equipment being used to instruct the children was sub-standard and it was the only equipment available. He was fresh out of the military and went to the manufacturer of the equipment, Jay L. Warren, Inc., and presented his ideas to improve the equipment being manufactured. He worked with the schools to perfect a machine that gave totally deaf students the gift of hearing the instructions being taught. He eventually bought this company.
Summary of Content
The argument of this review is, was he the first to introduce people to single sideband? For over seventy years, He was the person they called the father of single sideband radio emissions. He was also known as an “Elmer”, ham slang for mentor, to many amateurs and electronics enthusiasts. He was not only a so-called electronics genius, but he also proved it by the many amateur, military, and many other electronic objects he engineered and designed and was also called one of the greatest electronics designers of his day.
Critical Comments
In conclusion, Mr. Tusa’s book, I would say, truly achieved its point even though it might be a bit biased. I feel Wes Schum was truly an unsung hero not only to amateur radio but to electronic design. I knew of him personally as my “Elmer”, Francis T. (Bud) Ryan, W9EUA SK, not only knew him as a fellow ham radio operator but also professionally. My father was also an engineer and designer in the same field, working after the war for Belmont Radio, Raytheon Corporation, Silvertone Manufacturing, Hallicrafters Radio Corporation and Northrup Corporation. He had worked with him on several projects, and they had consulted several times with each other. My dad had a great regard for him. His contributions to the electronics field in amateur radio, military and to the hard of hearing were outstanding. As I had said there might be a bit of bias in the author’s portrayal, however, I truly believe the facts and evidence were true and factual. The data that was presented can be proven by the equipment he designed and actual history written and discussed in other circles and journals. Another hero of amateur radio manufacturing and in mentorship, Bob Heil, K9EID, Heil Sound, Ltd. was also a good friend of Wes Schum and wrote the forward to this book. Mr. Heil is also a highly trusted and regarded amateur radio operator.
This book is not for everyone, there are many areas of the book that are written in electronics technical jargon and ham speak. For someone like me who has a background in electronics and amateur radio, I find this book easy to read, as a matter of fact, I could not put it down. The book might ask the concluding question, was Wes Schum truly the largest proponent of single sideband radio emissions? It could be discussed, but I personally believe knowing the people presenting the data, my father’s personal relationship with him and with my personal knowledge of my many years as a ham, I believe this to be a true statement. “Wes Schum was an amateur radio unsung hero, and the father of single sideband. I really enjoyed reading this book.
Sources on Writing Book Reviews
Galvan, J., & Galvan, M. (2017). Writing literature reviews. (7th Edition). Routlage. New York, NY
Ham Radio Journal. https://hamjournal.org.
How to write a book review and book reports. https://library.concordia.ca/help/writing/book-report.php.
Machi, L.A., & McEvoy, B.T. (2022). The literature review 6 steps to success. (4th Edition). Sage. Thousand Oaks, CA.
Peoples, K. (2021). How to write a phenomenological dissertation. Sage. Thousand Oaks, CA.
Tusa, D. (2021). Wes Schum Amateur Radio’s Unsung Hero. Jan Carol Publishing. Johnson City, TN.
Writing a book review. https://owl.purdue./owl/general_writing_assignments/bookreviews.html.
Reviewers
- Andrew Mitz – WA3LTJ
- Al Taylor – KN3U
- Jim Alyanak – K3MRI
Certainly! Here is a short peer review commentary on the paper:
Peer Review Commentary
This review offers a thorough and insightful analysis of Dominic (Nick) Tusa’s book, “Wes Schum Amateur Radio’s Unsung Hero.” The author, Dennis K. Ryan, provides a compelling narrative that underscores Wes Schum’s significant contributions to the field of amateur radio, particularly in the development and popularization of single sideband (SSB) communication.
Strengths
- Personal Connection: The review benefits greatly from the author’s personal connection to the subject matter. Ryan’s background in amateur radio and his relationship with prominent figures in the field, including his father and his “Elmer,” Francis T. (Bud) Ryan, adds depth and authenticity to the commentary.
- Detailed Background: The inclusion of comprehensive background information about both Nick Tusa and Wes Schum provides valuable context for readers unfamiliar with their work. This approach enhances the reader’s understanding of Schum’s impact on amateur radio and electronic engineering.
- Critical Perspective: Ryan does not shy away from acknowledging potential biases in the book while firmly supporting the accuracy of Tusa’s portrayal of Schum. This balanced perspective lends credibility to the review.
- Personal Testimony: The author’s personal anecdotes and experiences with Schum and his father’s professional interactions with Schum provide compelling evidence of Schum’s influence and legacy.
Areas for Improvement
- Technical Jargon: While the book’s technical jargon is a necessary component given its target audience, the review could benefit from a brief explanation of key terms and concepts to make it more accessible to a broader readership.
- Comparative Analysis: Including a comparison of Schum’s contributions to those of other notable figures in amateur radio could provide a more comprehensive evaluation of his impact on the field.
- Further Critique: While the review praises the book, it could offer more critical analysis of its structure, writing style, and any potential gaps in the narrative. This would provide a more rounded assessment for prospective readers.
Conclusion
Overall, Dennis K. Ryan’s review of “Wes Schum Amateur Radio’s Unsung Hero” is an engaging and informative piece that highlights the profound contributions of Wes Schum to amateur radio and electronic engineering. The author’s personal insights and balanced critique make it a valuable read for both enthusiasts and those new to the subject. The review effectively positions Schum as a pivotal figure in the history of amateur radio, reinforcing the book’s thesis and encouraging further exploration of Schum’s legacy.
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