It's "73s" not 73. Even 1 AW himself said so!

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eHam.net Forum : elmers : It's "73s" not 73. Even 1 AW himself said so!

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It's "73s" not 73. Even 1 AW himself said so!	Reply
by K0OD on October 26, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I've seen comments over the years that using 73 in the plural was improper. Was just looking over some very early QSLs on the web and in most cases these 1920s cards, from the U.S. and outside, used "73s" or "73's." I did see one 1926 card from Union College's station that used a singular 73. Furthermore even Ole Hiram Percy himself signed his cards, "Best 73's" http://qsl-history.webs.com/thepioneerstheusa.htm ---------- Fascinating to examine these remnants of that period. Earliest surviving QSLs date from 1920. Above all (DX nets take note), none of the 1920s cards used RSTs. ------------- The language was often formal but one 15 year old kid said "CUL and best wishes fr better DX. I Crave Wallpaper." That card was from 9CXX, Art Collins!

RE: It's "73s" not 73. Even 1 AW himself said	Reply
by K4JSR on October 26, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
At least The Old Man didn't wish eighty apes in seventy trees to anybody!! I would have to sic my gorilla friend on him if he had! Ah! Here comes the nurse with my meds! K4JSR

RE: It's "73s" not 73. Even 1 AW himself said	Reply
by W8JI on October 26, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Things change over time. Being gay, knocking up, getting cuffed by the screws. Go to McDonalds and listen to the speaker. What language is that? Today, 73s means best regardses. Tomorrow it might be OK.

RE: It's "73s" not 73. Even 1 AW himself said	Reply
by K0OD on October 26, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Just before ham radio's "spitball" was banned, this 1925 card lists 4 possible modes: CW, I.C.W., Fone and SPARK! http://w2uc.union.edu/2XQ.jpg "Aerial... Single Wire Almost Vertical" Interesting that the card uses the word "worked" to mean, "make a contact." QSS (slite) is an archaic version of QSB

No, it's 73	Reply
by N2EY on October 27, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Remember that T.O.M. had a keen sense of humor, and that his use of the wrong form was probably a poke at the ham who had sent him a card using the wrong form. The numeral abbreviations 73 and 88 are derived from a much longer list used on the landwire telegraph. On that list, 73 simply means "best regards" - already plural. 73 de Jim, N2EY

RE: No, it's 73	Reply
by K5END on October 27, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
When I was a kid I asked my English teacher why a certain arcane grammatical rule even mattered, given that (in my view at the time) most people are ignorant of that rule and would not know the difference. She said that the people who know the difference are the ones who matter. 73

RE: It's "73s" not 73. Even 1 AW himself said	Reply
by WA3SKN on October 27, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Radio took "73s" from the landline telegraph "73" that came from the "Phillip's Code Book" that originated in the 1855-1858 time frame. Now, is that important? -Mike.

RE: It's "73s" not 73. Even 1 AW himself said	Reply
by KA5N on October 27, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
Frankly I hold out for Best 73's. (Best Best regardses). Remember that the old man's old man Hiram Maxim made his money from the sale of his machince gun which was used to mow down thousands of French, English, American (and others)soldiers in WWI. Of course they in turn used his machine gun to mow down thousands of German soldiers. Maxim was an acoustic engineer and invented all sorts of handy items such as silencers for guns. Allen

RE: It's "73s" not 73. Even 1 AW himself said	Reply
by N5LRZ on October 27, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
What GD Difference does it make? The Sun is still going to rise in the East and set in the West either way.

RE: It's "73s" not 73. Even 1 AW himself said	Reply
by K4DPK on October 27, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I've been using "73" on CW, "73s" on phone for almost 55 years. I did it because my "old timers" did. I got curious and looked back over quite a few QSL cards. In both domestic and DX, they are split about 60/40 in favor of "73s". I don't know why this has become such a big concern over the past ten or fifteen years. I don't remember anyone complaining about it before then. Phil C. Sr. k4dpk

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