[South Florida DX Association] QSLing

[Bill Marx]

>From Bill NA2M

QSL, THE BEGINNING

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The following letter was published in the June 1916 edition of QST magazine. The editor of QST, who is not identified in the magazine, but is believed to be Hiram Percy Maxim. The letter appeared in an earlier edition of the NJDXA Newsletter and is published here in response to Jim Smith's (VK9NS) query in one of his stories, about how this QSL business started.

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QSL
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   The Editor received a letter as follows from Mr. Edward C. Andrews of Philadelphia, Pa: I am enclosing a postal which I have received from Mr. W.T. Fraser of Buffalo, N.Y. (8VX) on which he states my signals were heard in Buffalo clear and strong. This is a distance of over 400 miles and I naturally felt somewhat elated as it was accomplished with 1-4 Kw. Chambers open core transformer.

   But aside from the fact that this is a fairly good record, I wish to commend the spirit of unselfishness that is quite evident in Mr. Fraser and others who send cards which tell of the receiving signals of a fellow amateur. While these cards of 8VX (Mr. Fraser) may have come to your attention before, I have never seen a notice about it in your magazine. When one goes to the trouble and expense of having a postal printed in order to inform those whose signals he hears, it seems to me that a long stride has been taken, toward aiding the perfection and inspiration to amateur work.

   Until I received word from 6VX, I thought may maximum sending range was sevety-five miles. At Mauch Chunk and the Delaware Gap my signals were slightly stronger than NAI and quite similar to WHE.

   I would urge upon the members of A.R.R.L. and the readers of QST to notify by postal and by the very next mail the owner of the station whose signals they hear and to give such other information as they may think of aid or inspiration to the recipient.

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   Respectfully,

   (Sgd) Edward C. Andrews, 8TQ

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EDITORS COMMENT: The idea of notifying the amateurs is a fine one, and the Editor earnestly recommends that all of our readers adopt this plan. At small expense a postal can be had and on it printed a short description of the receiving station and other data which brin