RadioBanter - View Single Post

March 9th 04, 10:48 PM

Dennis Howdy wrote in message ...
Serious question. What does "73" mean?

"Best regards"

It derives from landwire telegraph usage, and appears as early as 1857
in a list of abbreviations. Some of these telegraph abbreviations were
transitioned into radio use and have survived because of their obvious
utility.

In 1859, Western Union standardized on the "92 code" in which the
numbers from 1 to 92 were assigned meanings. It was in this list that
73 got its present meaning. Later more numbers were added. Here's a
partial list:

1 Wait a moment
2 Important Business
3 What time is it?
4 Where shall I go ahead?
5 Have you business for me?
6 I am ready
7 Are you ready?
8 Close your key; circuit is busy
9 Close your key for priority business (Wire chief, dispatcher, etc)
10 Keep this circuit closed
12 Do you understand?
13 I understand
14 What is the weather?
15 For you and other to copy
17 Lightning here
18 What is the trouble?
19 Form 19 train order
21 Stop for a meal
22 Wire test
23 All copy
24 Repeat this back
25 Busy on another wire
26 Put on ground wire
27 Priority, very important
28 Do you get my writing?
29 Private, deliver in sealed envelope
30 No more (end)
31 Form 31 train order
32 I understand that I am to ...
33 Car report (Also, answer is paid for)
34 Message for all officers
35 You may use my signal to answer this
37 Diversion (Also, inform all interested)
39 Important, with priority on thru wire (Also, sleep-car report)
44 Answer promptly by wire
73 Best regards
88 Love and kisses
91 Superintendant's signal
92 Deliver promptly
93 Vice President and General Manager's signals
95 President's signal
134 Who is at the key?

"19" and "31" refer to train orders of two different types (absolute
and permissive). They were so well known that the terms "19 order" and
"31 order" were still in railroad use in the 1970s, after the
telegraph was gone from railroad operations.

The Morse code used in US wire telegraphy was the "American" Morse
code, which shares some codes with the "Continental" code we still use
today. (The continent referred to in the name is Europe, and it became
the standard code for radio work early in the 20th century).

The abbreviation "es" for "and" derives from the American Morse
character "&" which was dit dididit. The prosign "SK" with the letters
run together derives from the American Morse "30", which was
didididahdit daaaaaaaah (extra long dah is zero in that code).

There are some urban legends about Winchester rifles and such, but
they do not stand up to historical fact.

73 de Jim, N2EY