The traditional understanding of "73" can be traced back to the early days of telegraph development. It appears in some of the earliest numerical telegraph codes, although each version has its own definition, they all share the same meaning: that it indicates the end or signing of a message.
The American publication, "The National Telegraph Review and Operators' Guide," was first published in April 1857. This marked the first formal written use of the term "73," which meant "My love to you." Subsequent editions continued to use this definition. Interestingly, other numbers that were used at the time also had similar definitions, but the usage of "73" began to change relatively quickly.
In the United States' national telegraph code, this number transitioned from a sentimental greeting to a general expression of fraternal affection. Here, "73" was a greeting used between operators, a friendly "term" that was common in all communications.
In 1859, Western Union Company established the "92 Code" standard. This code created a list of numbers from 1 to 92 to standardize the terminology used by operators. Of these 92 rules, rule 73, which originally expressed "brotherly affection," became an elaborate and ornate phrase meaning "accept my compliments." This aligns with the preference for florid language that was popular at the time.
From 1859 to 1900, numerous telegraph manuals showed that the meaning of "73" changed over time. Dodge's *The Telegraph Instructor* simply stated it as "praise." The *Twentieth Century Manual of Railway and Commercial Telegraphy* offered two definitions: "my praise," but in its abbreviation glossary, it was simply "praise." Edison's *Telegraph Self-Instructor* showed a return to "accept my praise." However, by 1908, Dodge's latest manual provided the definition for today's "most sincere greeting," while also referencing an older meaning from another part of the work, which it listed as "praise."
From then on, "the most sincere greeting" became the standard meaning of 73. Today, amateur users use it in a way that more closely resembles what James Reid hoped for – "friendly conversation between operators."
Note: Within the Chinese amateur radio community, it's common to use phrases like "send 73" colloquially. For example, "Send 73 for a wonderful exchange!" However, this isn't entirely accurate and doesn't fully convey the intended meaning. It's recommended to simply state "73" after the contact is complete, without adding any further embellishment. DE BD3OOX
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