W4SCO wrote:
>Actually "73" was a term the old telegraph operators would use back in
>the old west days. It meant that they owned a Winchester 1873 rifle
>(their most prized possession) and that when they died they would give
>it to the other operator. Hense '73' meant I will will you my 73
>rifle. '73s' meant you had more than one rifles that you would give
>to them (they were a really good friend.).
>
>
Hello,
It's a nice story, but it has no basis in fact. The actual source of "73" and
"88" was the list of numerical abbreviations used by wire telegraphers. These
abbreviations were used in a manner similar to Q signals today. Here's a
partial list of number abbreviations:
1 - Wait
2 - Important business
3 - What is the time?
6 - I am ready
7 - Are you ready?
12 - Do you understand?
13 - I understand
14 - What is the weather?
17 - Lightning here
19 - Form 19 train order (used by RR)
21 - Stop to eat
23 - All copy
24 - Repeat this back
30 - No more, end
31 - Form 31 train order (used by RR)
44 - Answer promptly by wire
73 - Best regards
88 - Love and kisses
92 - Deliver promptly
134 - Who is at the key?
Note that American Morse was used by landline telegraphers. The signal "30" in
American Morse is "..._. ____" (zero is an extra long dash). This was
corrupted into a single character, "..._._" which is usually thought of today
as SK or VA, with the space between letters removed.
73 (never plural!) de Jim, N2EY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is from Louise Ramsey Moreau, W3WRE:
"The traditional expression "73" goes right back to the beginning of the
landline telegraph days. It is found in some of the earliest editions of
the numerical codes, each with a different definition, but each with the
same idea in mind - it indicated that the end, or signature, was coming
up. But there are no data to prove that any of these were used.
"The first authentic use of 73 is in the publication The National
Telegraphic Review and Operators' Guide, first published in April 1857. At
that time, 73 meant "My love to you"! Succeeding issues of this
publication continued to use this definition of the term. Curiously
enough, some of the other numerals used then had the same definition as
they have now, but within a short time, the use of 73 began to change.
"In the National Telegraph Convention, the numeral was changed from the
Valentine-type sentiment to a vague sign of fraternalism. Here, 73 was a
greeting, a friendly "word" between operators and it was so used on all
wires.
"In 1859, the Western Union Company set up the standard "92 Code." A list
of numerals from one to 92 was compiled to indicate a series of prepared
phrases for use by the operators on the wires. Here, in the 92 Code, 73
changes from a fraternal sign to a very flowery "accept my compliments,"
which was in keeping with the florid language of that era.
"Over the years from 1859 to 1900, the many manuals of telegraphy show
variations of this meaning. Dodge's The Telegraph Instructor shows it
merely as "compliments." The Twentieth Century Manual of Railways and
Commercial Telegraphy defines it two ways, one listing as "my compliments
to you"; but in the glossary of abbreviations it is merely "compliments."
Theodore A. Edison's Telegraphy Self-Taught shows a return of "accept my
compliments." By 1908, however, a later edition of the Dodge Manual gives
us today's definition of "best regards" with a backward look at the older
meaning in another part of the work where it also lists it as
"compliments."
"Best regards" has remained ever since as the
"put-it-down-in-black-and-white" meaning of 73 but it has acquired
overtones of much warmer meaning. Today, amateurs use it more in the
manner that James Reid had intended that it be used - a "friendly word
between operators."
I hope that this helps you in some way....
73,
Charles A. Wimer
Amateur Radio Call: KC8EHA
Assistant Emergency Coordinator, Trumbull County (OH)
ARRL Official Emergency Station (OH)
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