[QCWA] History of "OK" as a telegraph prosig

[Norm Gertz]

Harvey.....from this old man's memory......Navy and Marine Corps radio 
operators used "INT" preceding a query or question to indicate 
"interrogatory" .
We did not use landline telegraph so I cant comment on that.

73   Norm   K1AA


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Harvey Chase" <harvey91 at windstream.net>
To: "Discussion of QCWA or Ham Radio" <qcwa at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 4:53 PM
Subject: [QCWA] History of "OK" as a telegraph prosig


    Sometimes lexicographers commit gross errors in tracing the origin of 
words in common use in the English Language. So I believe it is with their 
opinion as to the derivation of "OK" or "okay." For if you look it up in 
your copy of "Webster's" dictionary you will find that it is attributed to 
"Old Kindernook" a nickname for Martin Van Buren or the club that was 
established to support his candidacy for president (O.K. Club) in the 1836 
election. (He served from 1837 to 1841 before Morse's telegraph became the 
popular method of communication.) or to a corruption of "all correct" [oll 
korrect] used as a telegraph abbreviation.
    I strongly disagree with that My reasoning is as follows:
        First of all, we must realize that the original "Morse" code 
(invented by Alfred Vail, Morse's partner) did not contain any code for 
punctuation (or numerals, either). so there was no code for "?." A signal 
was invented for this consisting of INT all run together [my computer won't 
do overlines]. This signal was used to inquire if everything was all right 
on the other end of the circuit. (The US Navy later used this for the 
question mark). That signal (INT) was soon corrupted to UA, with the same 
meaning. The answer to UA was . . -.- [OK] in the old landline code. Meaning 
"all right."
    For those not familiar with the American Morse (landline) code, please 
refer to my web page at <hhtp://www.qsl.net/w4tg> there is a link at the 
bottom of that page that will take you to my article "A Brief History of the 
Telegraph" with addenda.
    73
    Harvey/W4TG

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