[SFDXA] How to Find Old Amateur Radio Call Signs...

[Bill]

I was always told finding history on really old call signs wasn't 
possible due to loss of paper records. I did some Google searching 
recently and found some one had posted old government records going back 
to 1913.

I found my call sign first in 1931 listings(when I first thought it was 
assigned) just prior to the Communications act of 1933(I think that was 
the name) anyway...I found the call in the 1931 records. So I looked 
also at the records beginning in 1921 and found another name holding 
2CQ. He held it until 1924 and then the same name came up as in 1931.

I hope you are still with me. So I went all the way back to the 1913 
records and found 2CQ, his name address and Power in watts 30! Then it 
changed hands again in 1916! In those years they are US held calls so 
you have to scroll past radio stations and Naval ships and other ships 
but half way through the listings are the Amateur Call Signs.

No one was assigned my call in 1938 or 1940. Maybe in 1933 they didn't 
assign it?  I know who held it in the last 30 years but my search 
continues.Ill keep looking.

So if you have a 1x2 or 1x3 callsign and want to dig in to find the 
previous owners here is the link to the source I found. He gives 
instructions and a good description of the history of the records. Many 
of you may already be aware of this but it is new to me.

Click here:
http://w0is.com/oldcallsigns/oldcalls.html

The stuff in the 1913 to 1916 and also the books in the 20's require 
some enlarging and other tricks you will find. The actual published 
privately call books in the 30's you can page through by clicking on the 
page and it turns hi. Then you need to enlarge but there are cursors and 
zoom buttons for those.

I hope you enjoy your search as much as I have...HAVE FUN!
73,
Bill W2CQ Held since 1998.(Thanks John)

Click here:
http://w0is.com/oldcallsigns/oldcalls.html