[CC-ARES-RACES] Origin of 73

[JD Delancy]

kw3u passed along another interesting version of the origin for 73 ..


"Hi all, in checking out some older QST's I bought on ebay I stumbled across this
tidbit I thought I would pass along. I've seen threads on this before however I
believe this is a new one (at least to me).

  73    Many of us have often wondered where the telegraphers' conventional signal
of greeting, "73" had its origin.  It dates back to the early days of telegraphy.
During the Civil War, Andrew Carnegie administered both the telegraphs and the
railroads. Shortly after the war the Order of Military Telegraphers was organized.
The members of this order had a fine "esprit de corps." During the Civil War,
telegraphy was just as new as radio was during the World War and the operations of
armies depended in a large measure upon the intelligent use of the telegraph.  Upon
Andrew Carnegie reaching the age of 73, the Order of Military Telegraphers gave him
a testimonial dinner and from this the term "73" came into being as a symbol of good
wishes.
      ---Office of Operations Bulletin, U. S. Navy

from the April, 1934 issue of QST

                   73's all  de KW3U"