Why amateur radio operators say “73”
Posted By RichC on January 18, 2014
Those who spend any amount of time listening to amateur radio hear operators closing their exchanges with a polite and concise “73” … meaning “best regards” … but where did it come from?
From what I’ve read, it goes back to a convention in 1859 where telegraph operators discussed saving “line time” by devising a code that would reduce the number of characters for standard expressions. Twenty years after the the convention, Walter Phillips, created a list of shorthand codes and it became the Phillips Code. The number portion of the codes were called “Wire Signals” and a few remain with us today.
Here’s one of the shorthand abbreviations that I found particularly interesting:
“The terms POTUS and SCOTUS originated in the code and entered common parlance when newsgathering services (in particular the Associated Press) adopted the terminology.”
The numeric code is a small part of the abbreviations outlined in the Phillips Code (developed by telegrapher Walter P. Phillips). Here are the numbers as referenced:
W I R E S I G N A L S
WIRE Preference over everything except 95
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- Superintendent’s signal
92- Deliver promptly
93- Vice President and General Manager’s signals
95- President’s signal
134- Who is at the key?
See full Phillip Code at Radions.net
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