It is really not that hard to get a hamsters tamed.  Keep your hamster in his cage for the first few days so he gets used to his new environment.  Make sure he is in a quiet place and give him plenty of bedding and a box so he can hide whenever he wants to.  Once he is used to you, you can put him in a busier place. 

At first let him get used to your hand.  Pet him softly and let him eat out of your hand.  When you see he is getting used to your hand and he doesn't fear your hand any more, you can put the cage on the ground and scoop your hamster up with your hand.  Don't just pick him up from the top because it will scare him.  Make sure you only pick him up when he is awake.  Let him run around on your body but keep an eye on him all the times because they can escape in a matter of seconds.  Don't yell when you are holding them but talk with a soft voice.  Once your hamster is really used to you, you can start handling your hamster while standing up.  Keep him faced towards you in the beginning so he won't have the reaction to jump of your hand.

You will see that hamsters nearly never bite.  They only bite when they are scared or when they feel threatened so most of the time it is your own fault.   Make sure you wash your hands first before (and after) you handle your hamster.   You don't want to get your hamster becoming confused and start biting you when he thinks your hand is an apple after you just ate one.  Don't forget that hamster have a very bad sight !

Always remember that when you are handling your hamster that you should stay calm, relax and talk with a soft voice.  Don't just grab him but scoop him out of his cage and never squeeze him to hard.

I believe you can tame every hamster, even one that is old and never been held.  With the necessary patients you two will become buddies.