ames Clayton Nicholson *1906-1943* - 8CFM - W8VP - Born March 27th 1906 son of JamesA.(restaurant operator) &Leila Lowe Nicholson. Residence of 815 N. 12th St. Student in the 26 City
directory. First license 1919. North 12th has a pattern with Waller and McMunn living there. Nick as
he was known held two calls in the 1925 amateur call book: 8BVG & 8MX - address given as 912 Grant
Av. Cambridge. W8VP would come later. Nick had a brother, Robert born 16 June 1909 an upholsterer.

JSimply known as “Nick” In the mid
1930's was a radio organizer andresides 703 North 16th St., with hiswife Ethel and son James named after
his grandfather. Nicks father, JimNicholson, 1886-1964, who was abusiness man operated a diner with
Nick named “The Antler Restaurant”
624 Wheeling Av. Nick’s equipment
was a self-excited Hartley circuit usinga type 210 power amplifier tube. His
antenna was a zepp which was theantenna of choice for most hams inthat era. Nicks familiar call W8VP
would come along in 1928. Nickenjoyed the national traffic system using Morse Code to dispatch messages in the region. QST wrote in theirDecember issue 1935: W8VP has a nice new rig built up. Nick knew Chester Thompson very well and wasimpressed with Thompson's expertise and knowledge of ham radio. One time in jest, Clayton said thatThompson could talk to a piece of wire and make it oscillate! Nick and fellow classmate and amateur radio
operator 8BKN Ray Sears are members of CHS Class of 1924. The Sears story is elsewhere.
Clayton was a sub-dealer of ham equipment from Northern Ohio Laboratories in Cleveland. Burgess bought
his National SW-3 receiver through Nick. Northern Ohio Labs was operated by W8BAH Harry Tummondsof Cleveland - a Commissioned Officer in the USNR (Lt Jg) and was a close friend of Nick Nicholson.
(Writer has a sales brochure with both Tummonds & Nicholson’s name affixed) Burgess recalls Nick served
a hitch in the U.S. Navy Reserve prior to WW2. He was very active in the 1930's and a prime mover of theold Cambridge Radio Club. And also the prime founder of the hamfest of 1935 & June 1937 in Cambridgeat the National Hotel. Burgess said Nicks phonetics were “W8 Vest Pocket” But he never knew him to usephone. Nick was hands down one of the best CW operators of his time in town. His band of preference was80 Meter band CW, first licensed at age 13.
In your writers conversation with Clancy Waller W8CL during 1995, he had also bought a National model
SW-3 receiver from Nick. Clancy paid so much down till the balance was paid & stated Nick taught hima lot about radio and electronics. Nick passed on too early in life, March 1943 from TB & rests atNorthwood..The local radio club to this day honors Nicholson utilizing his call sign (W8VP) sincepermission granted by Nicks family. Formed in the 1930s, Nick was an NCO in the U.S. Navy Reserve,installing a Naval Reserve Unit in Cambridge, its specialty was communications which many local young
men enrolled. Dick Burgess believes Nick had a rating of Chief Radioman (CRM) In the U.S. NavyReserve. If not stated earlier the Antlers restaurant address was 614 Wheeling near the Strand theater andConey Island restaurant. – War time duty called, Nick was there, 1941 assigned to Indianapolis, Ind.
Teaching radio and electronics in a U.S. Navy Communications School. He had taken ill and transferred
to Albuquerque, N.M. receiving treatment since September 1942. His days with us were unfortunately
limited (continued page two)Partial Obit: J. Clayton Nicholson, 37, son of James A. Nicholson, Died Monday March 15th 1943 in
Presbyterian Hospital, Albuquerque N.M. Born in Cambridge and spent his entire life here. He was wellknown in Cambridge, having been employed for sometime with his father when the latter operated the Antler
Lunch Room on W. Wheeling Av. Surviving in addition to his father are his widow, Mrs. Ethel Phillips
Nicholson, three children, James Robert 15,Marcia, 5; and Dickie, 3, and one brother, Robertof Lore City. Nicholson's wife and children werewith him in Albuquerque. Funeral services were
held Mar. 19th 1943 at home of Uncle, one
David Wishart 511 North 16th, by Rev. Leland
Miller of the Second U.P. Church. Interment
made in Northwood. Nicholson’s mother Leila
Lowe preceded him 1885-1916.
Our picture featured on Nick’s Bio was taken at
his home station rig, impressive home built
transmitter and commercial National receiver.
The picture is a W8KWN Burgess station hobbyof good quality, the type Dick enjoyed. Ethel (Nick’s wife) later remarried (McDonald 1909-1981) andraised the children in Cambridge. I am very pleased the Radio Club motioned to petition Clay's call W8VP
as a lasting reminder that the Radio Boys of Cambridge had a long worthwhile history. They accomplishedthis while Ethel was still alive and CARA received written permission to utilize Nick’s station call.
At every turn, we couldn't come up with Nick’s month or date of death. Nothing at Probate, nothing at
Health Department so we did the ultimate, got the microfilm out for 1943 and ran it till the obituary wasfound. James R. Nicholson of 9545 Brick Church Rd., Cambridge, was not related. Some data is containedin the traffic columns of QST magazine, Nick was a CW expert! He appeared numerous times gaining thecoveted “BPL” Award (Handling over 500 messages in a month) which was January and March of 1933.
He had handled a monthly high of 498 messages in November of 1932. As well as 485 messages inDecember 1931. In January of 1932 he was ill part of the month and had to repair his transmitter but wasable still to handle 239 messages! Mention of Nick being elected President of Cambridge Radio Assoc.
March 1935, George Smith is Secretary, Al Phillips elected as treasurer. Charlie Hines, activities. Club
meets on the 2nd and 4th Wed. of the month. All stations work 56 MHz (5 Meters) and 10M each Sunday.
Nick and Harry Tummonds, Navy Reserve friends and ARRL office holders, unfortunately Tummonds wasdefeated by vote in the ARRL Section Communications Manager election October 1934 by Mr. Irvine ofCleveland, not a mention of them until (Tummonds/Nicholson) 1937 issue of QST in the traffic column.
At times radio politics can be brutal. Both friends dropped out of the traffic part of amateur radio until
February of 1937 when there was a mention of Clay Nicholson (W8VP) In QST magazine. “W8VP an Old
Timer is back again and QRV on 3.5 mc.” Nick was a member of C.H.S Class of 1924 along with fellow
amateur 8BKN Ray Sears eventually of the Bell System in New Jersey. Sears is a major story in itself.
Nick took a good photograph in the school journal and was nicknamed “High Pockets.” Your author waschecking Labor Day 2003, John and brother William Nicholson are not relatives. Pictures, cards personal
information are always welcome. 73 - With thanks to friend W8JYZ Bob Green OldQSLCards.Com &Guernsey County Public Library, Cambridge, Ohio, with a fine historic section.
W8SU added 2013