hammer
n.— «Amateur, or “ham,” radios have connected people worldwide since the early 1900s. The device might seem technologically outdated, but it’s far from forgotten.…Sunday was not only a special day for fathers but also a celebration for local ham lovers, who sometimes call themselves “hammers.” John Colaluca, of Frederick, has been “hamming” for about 30 years, he said. He got interested when he was a kid.» —“Lost in transmission? Not these radio buffs” by Sarah Fortney Frederick News-Post (Maryland) June 18, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Among ham radio enthusiasts, the word Elmer has become an affectionate term for an experienced ham radio operator who mentors a novice. It’s also used as a verb: Elmering someone means helping a new ham. The term was coined in a 1971 magazine...
Ron in Gloverville, South Carolina, wonders about the phrase since hatchet was hammer, which some use to mean “for a long period of time,” as in My family has lived here since hatchet was hammer. Another phrase he’s heard indicating the same thing...