Date: Thu, 27 Nov 1997 01:39:30 -0500

From: "Barry A. Popik" Bapopik[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]AOL.COM

Subject: Trouble Hunter



Before there were "trouble shooters," there were "trouble hunters." It's

an Americanism associated with that new-fangled invention, the telephone.

OED has 1909 for "trouble-shooter."

"Trouble hunting" is 1882, but it has "trouble hunter" from only 1910.

This is from the Long Branch (NJ) Record, 26 June 1903, pg. 12, col. 2:



"TROUBLE HUNTER'S" TROUBLE.

Cur Attacked Him, But He Threatens to Attack the Cur.

Jesse Green, the "trouble hunter" at the telephone office, was

successful in finding it Monday morning. While riding his wheel he was

bitten by a dog. The cur buried his teeth in the calf of Jesse's leg.

The wound was cauterized by Dr. S. J. Woolley and Jesse is walking about

as usual, but determined that there will be one less dog in the world as soon

as he can find a way to have the canine shot.



See! He was a trouble-shooter after all!

Now, however, we call them "geeks."