I am fascinated by CB radio culture of the 1970s. I have thousands and thousands CB radio QSL cards, numerous catalogs and other crazy memorabilia from a sadly under documented era. I have spent the better part of a decade researching all I could find on the subject of the CB-radio craze and trying to document it all.
CB radio has often been dismissed as a fad from the 1970s akin to the pet rock. Admittedly, CB really did thrive most in the 1970s, reaching its peak in 1976-79, but it is a lot more just than a fad.
On September 26, 1978, Governor Dolph Briscoe of Texas declared, "10-4 Day-CB Recognition Day" to honor the the 1958 birth of citizens band radio. This would be one of the last major years of the CB radio craze.
The speech given that day sounds eerily familiar to the social media of today:
In his proclamation, Governor Briscoe noted the growth of CB Radio and its social aspects; "friendships formed, the monotony of tedious journeys broken, communication established between home and business."
Governor Briscoe joined the nation's other governors as well as many federal officials in observing "10-4 Day." The Oct. 4 celebration highlights a special yearlong anniversary program sponsored by the Electronic Industries Association which includes the honoring of former First Lady, Betty Ford, as "CB's First Mama," and recognizes her early use of CB radio.
This is the story of America coping with a gas crisis, sharing homemade and professional made artwork, collecting and learning a whole new form of what we now refer to as social media.
CB was truly a medium for people. It didn't matter if you were rich or poor, black or white, urban or rural you could use and enjoy Citizens Band Radio. QSL cards were an extenion of the appeal and accessibility of CB. The story of these cards was not well documented. I have endeavored to find out as much as I can about these items.
I could write about this all day, every day. I will try to keep this short.
What is a QSL card?
In “Q Code,” a standardized language of three-letter codes used in radio operations, the code QSL means, literally, “I acknowledge this transmission.”
QSL cards started with Ham radio in the early 1920s and worked its way to CB radio in the 1960s/
QSL cards are the written confirmations used by radio amateurs to confirm their two-way radio contacts with each other.
So, if you and I spoke over the radio, we would obtain each other’s information and mail each other a postcard sized card with our name, call letters/numbers and handle.
Originally QSL cards were proudly tacked or taped on the wall near the user’s radio as as a display of all their CB interactions. These displays often completely covered the wall, hence the nickname “wallpaper” for QSL cards.
In fact, some people took the wallpaper theme so far as to have their cards printed on actual wallpaper.
Throughout the 1960s and very early 1970s, QSL cards we mainly function over form. There was not much art. If a user had a handle (username) it was often pretty basic. It had all of the pertinent information needed for the card, but there wasn’t much to catch your attention.
QSL cards were often printed at local printshops or ordered from the biggest QSL printer in the country, CBC Whole Club out of Lexington, Kentucky.
CBC printed more cards over a longer period of time than any other company. They provided stock art and a basical templet in which you could add your information and they would print your cards and mail them to you for distribution.
Things pretty much stayed the same for years.
But, as the US Oil crisis started taking shape and the number of CBers started to increase, the whole tenor of CB radio, QSL cards and pop-culture started to change. In the coming years a whole new world of radio came in to fashion and it ultimately lead to the boom and bust of both CB and QSL cards. That’s a story for later.
Bonus.
Since it is 10-4, I figured it would good to share the 10-code for radio users, in case you happen to be surfing the CB airwaves tonight.
10-1 Receiving Poorly
10-2 Receiving Well
10-3 Stop Transmitting
10-4 Ok, Message Received
10-5 Relay Message
10-6 Busy, Stand By
10-7 Out of Service, Leaving Air
10-8 In Service, subject to call
10-9 Repeat Message
10-10 Transmission Completed, Standing By
10-11 Talking too Rapidly
10-12 Visitors Present
10-13 Advise weather and road conditions
10-16 Make Pickup at…...
10-17 Urgent Business
10-18 Anything for us?
10-19 Nothing for you, return to base
10-20 My Location is ......... or What's your Location?
10-21 Call by Telephone
10-22 Report in Person too ......
10-23 Stand by
10-24 Completed last assignment
10-25 Can you Contact .......
10-26 Disregard Last Information/Cancel Last Message
10-27 I am moving to Channel ......
10-28 Identify your station
10-29 Time is up for contact
10-30 Does not conform to FCC Rules
10-32 I will give you a radio check
10-33 Emergency Traffic at this station
10-34 Trouble at this station, help is needed
10-35 Confidential Information
10-36 Need correct time
10-37 Wrecker needed at …...
10-38 Ambulance needed at .........
10-39 Your message delivered
10-41 Please tune to channel ........
10-42 Traffic Accident at ..........
10-43 Traffic tied up at .........
10-44 I have a message for you
10-45 All units within range please report
10-50 Break Channel
10-60 What is next message number?
10-62 Unable to copy, use phone
10-65 Awaiting your next message or assignment
10-67 All units comply
10-70 Fire at .......
10-71 Proceed with transmission in sequence
10-73 Speed Trap at ............
10-75 You are causing interference
10-77 Negative Contact
10-84 My telephone number is .........
10-85 My address is ...........
10-91 Talk closer to the Mike
10-92 Your transmitter is out of adjustment
10-93 Check my frequency on this channel
10-94 Please give me a long count
10-95 Transmit dead carrier for 5 seconds
10-99 Mission completed, all units secure
10-100 Need to go to Bathroom
10-200 Police needed at ..........
I have not read it. I will definitely check it out. Thanks for the recommendation!
Great post!
My spouse is a ham and we have lots of cool QSL cards from other countries.
Have you read this book? It's a good one.
https://dannygregorysblog.com/books/hello-world/
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