QSL / Historian Inquiry

[edorbs]

Hello! I am interested in finding people who know about the history of CB culture in its prime, especially the printing and exchanging of QSL cards. I am a historian and documentarian who bought a CB as soon as I got my first car. I lived three blocks off the highway and eventually connected the CB indoors and would chat with truckers from my basement. They were often surprised to hear a sixteen-year-old girl on the other end! hahaha. Anyway, three summers ago I found the most amazing thing that I never knew existed---two sets of QSL cards from an antique store in the Wisconsin Dells. Since then, I've been hooked! As a historian, I'd like to find out more from those who participated in the creation and trade of their QSLs. I'm looking to tell the story of a few of those who remember the excitement of this type of pre-facebook social networking.

If you can, please consider and answer/contact me with responses to the following questions here or in a message:

1.Did you have a QSL card?
2. Did you trade them?
3. Do you have a collection?
4. Do you know others who traded? Who may still have a collection?
5. Or do you have merely a strong recollection of QSL trading?

I found this thread and if some of you are still kicking around here, I'd love to hear from you! Thanks in advance!

[231]

1.Did you have a QSL card?
2. Did you trade them?
3. Do you have a collection?
4. Do you know others who traded? Who may still have a collection?
5. Or do you have merely a strong recollection of QSL trading?

I found this thread and if some of you are still kicking around here, I'd love to hear from you! Thanks in advance!

First off, welcome to the forum.

1.) Not anymore (for CB anyway)
2.) Yes, back in the 70's
3.) No, not anymore.
4.) No. See below
5.) See below

For some of us it became risky business giving out even a PO Box to trade QSL cards. After all, technically shooting DX is (and was) illegal. And there were times the FCC would crack down on areas. What better way to get popped than to give your address out over the air?

Eventually in the later 70's I quit exchanging QSL cards. The risk was too great...especially running the kind of wattage I was running. Then I started 'Freebanding' some which is even more risky in exchanging QSL cards. Most of the people I ran with who regularly chased DX finally got away from it entirely.

Hopefully some of the others will help out.

Good luck
231

[str8stroke]

The major auction site is full of Cards. Just search. One interesting thing is how CB has changed so many lives. Just look into the Movies & TV shows that have them featured. There is a thread here on that too.

[721HACKSAW]

We had a small CB club here in my area back in the 70s. We would meet once a month, AKA a "Coffee Break, to discuss our hobby. We had a PO Box, at the end of the meeting the QSL cards received would be distributed to the addressed operators, this was the highlight of the meeting, with accolades going to the operator receiving the most cards and from the longest distance. My handle then was Wild Bill, my card had the image of Clint Eastwood as the outlaw Josey Wales, alas I didn't keep any of that stuff over the years..

[silvereagle1]

I've only received one actual QSL card in my life via mail if you could even call it that. Did get a few post cards here and there. Back in circa 1986 or 87 I exchanged address with a guy in Jamaica. A few weeks later I receive a letter from him begging for money. somewhere in the house I still have that letter. Left the hobby for a little while in the 90's and when I came back everything is now on the Internet. I keep a log of all my dx contacts on a spreadsheet on the computer now. I think forums make up 80 percent of the hobby now which makes it more exciting for me. I can give a fellow member a pm about a QSO time and day and if conditions are right we make a pre arranged weekly contact. we have to go up above 405 just a bit where no one is there but it works most of the time. I think people are more open now than they were 30 years ago. It was risky back then and still is today but if you take a trip around all the forums people talk openly about what they are using and how much power they use as well compared to a few years back.

[Radar-DLDN]

Welcome to the forum!

This doesn't relate directly the your QSL card question, but if you are interested in stories from back in the day then give it a read. It's one of my favorite topics on the site!
[Please login or register to view this link]

[MDYoungblood]

Hello edorbs,
Welcome to the forum. It is good to hear that a young lady is interested in this hobby. I too had many QSL cards sent and received over the early days of my CB addiction but like 231, they no longer exist. If I get a chance I will dig around in my stored stuff (wife calls it junk) for one of my old QSL postcards and PM you a copy of it to you.

As a new member could you post a small intro in the "Welcome to the Forum" topic, [Please login or register to view this link] , so other can say "Hello", thanks.

3's

Greg

[edorbs]

We had a small CB club here in my area back in the 70s. We would meet once a month, AKA a "Coffee Break, to discuss our hobby. We had a PO Box, at the end of the meeting the QSL cards received would be distributed to the addressed operators, this was the highlight of the meeting, with accolades going to the operator receiving the most cards and from the longest distance. My handle then was Wild Bill, my card had the image of Clint Eastwood as the outlaw Josey Wales, alas I didn't keep any of that stuff over the years..

I love the details here in your story! Do you know anyone who did keep this stuff? Do you still keep in touch with anyone from your CB club? I'd love to know more.

At first, I was also surprised that users provided their mailing addresses or P.O. Boxes given the FCC regulations, but then again, that made it all the more interesting to me! I truly believe this is one of the original social networking examples out there. I love getting cards in the mail (from that auction site!) and going through them, selecting my favorite artwork, reading the personal messages and seeing all of the stamps of the QSL cards around the country. It's especially fun finding them in and around Midwestern cities that I've lived in (Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Kalamazoo.) I even had my own QSL card made and hand-printed last year to go with a record that I put out. The whole record was cb-themed. I used the handwriting of a former CBer from a QSL card I found in a collection. These are works of art and I wanted to celebrate that!

DARN! I tried to insert them, but because I'm new it won't let me. Maybe I'll get permission soon!

[edorbs]

I've only received one actual QSL card in my life via mail if you could even call it that. Did get a few post cards here and there. Back in circa 1986 or 87 I exchanged address with a guy in Jamaica. A few weeks later I receive a letter from him begging for money. somewhere in the house I still have that letter. Left the hobby for a little while in the 90's and when I came back everything is now on the Internet. I keep a log of all my dx contacts on a spreadsheet on the computer now. I think forums make up 80 percent of the hobby now which makes it more exciting for me. I can give a fellow member a pm about a QSO time and day and if conditions are right we make a pre arranged weekly contact. we have to go up above 405 just a bit where no one is there but it works most of the time. I think people are more open now than they were 30 years ago. It was risky back then and still is today but if you take a trip around all the forums people talk openly about what they are using and how much power they use as well compared to a few years back.

Thank you for your response! I like the comparison to pre-forum/internet days of the CB and how you can plan communications now with them. I always loved how random it was when I'd pick someone up on a channel :]. I know now sending a QSL through the mail would seem kind of crazy when you have the instant connection of an online forum, but I still like the idea of getting something handmade in the mail.

Wow, this is so fascinating for me! If I have some follow-up questions, would you be willing to answer them? Thanks again!

[silvereagle1]

I've only received one actual QSL card in my life via mail if you could even call it that. Did get a few post cards here and there. Back in circa 1986 or 87 I exchanged address with a guy in Jamaica. A few weeks later I receive a letter from him begging for money. somewhere in the house I still have that letter. Left the hobby for a little while in the 90's and when I came back everything is now on the Internet. I keep a log of all my dx contacts on a spreadsheet on the computer now. I think forums make up 80 percent of the hobby now which makes it more exciting for me. I can give a fellow member a pm about a QSO time and day and if conditions are right we make a pre arranged weekly contact. we have to go up above 405 just a bit where no one is there but it works most of the time. I think people are more open now than they were 30 years ago. It was risky back then and still is today but if you take a trip around all the forums people talk openly about what they are using and how much power they use as well compared to a few years back.

Thank you for your response! I like the comparison to pre-forum/internet days of the CB and how you can plan communications now with them. I always loved how random it was when I'd pick someone up on a channel :]. I know now sending a QSL through the mail would seem kind of crazy when you have the instant connection of an online forum, but I still like the idea of getting something handmade in the mail.

Wow, this is so fascinating for me! If I have some follow-up questions, would you be willing to answer them? Thanks again!

You'll be able to post pics after your tenth post. I've not been as active in the past few years as some of the other guys on the forum but ill try to answer anything I can.

[edorbs]

Hello edorbs,
Welcome to the forum. It is good to hear that a young lady is interested in this hobby. I too had many QSL cards sent and received over the early days of my CB addiction but like 231, they no longer exist. If I get a chance I will dig around in my stored stuff (wife calls it junk) for one of my old QSL postcards and PM you a copy of it to you.

Greg

Ha, well I'm not as young anymore, but I'm assuming I may still be considered a youngin' around here :]. Please do look for your cards and send me a copy!

Keep the information coming, everyone!! I'd really like to hear your thoughts on QSLs, where you printed them, any that stand out in your memory, did you belong to a CB or QSL club? Any and everything! And tell your friends!

[MDYoungblood]

This forum dates back to 2004, if you use the "Advanced Search" box in the upper right corner of the index page you may find some QSL cards that were posted.
As your post count increases the more privileges to obtain, like stated, 10+ will let you post without the need of an admin's okay and gives you the pic privilege, the sweet number is 100+ posts, that is when "edit" and other things kick in.

3's

Greg

[edorbs]

This forum dates back to 2004, if you use the "Advanced Search" box in the upper right corner of the index page you may find some QSL cards that were posted.

3's

Greg

Yes! That's the first thing that I did. I first posted this in response to those that I found talking about QSLs, but the moderator was kind enough to set me up with my own post (thank you!). I'll just keep posting until I reach 10. I hope I'm not bothering anyone.

Most people have no idea what I'm talking about when it comes to QSLs. I ventured to the I-80 Trucking Museum this summer and I asked if they had anything on CBs and the woman looked at me like, "huh?" "QSLs?" "Whuuh?!" I'd like to see QSL cards in an exhibit. I'd like to tell their stories. Please help me do that. Spread the word!

Erin

[108dt206]

I would love to give a perspective from my side of the pond.. ( Scotland ). Over hear a qsl card was confirmation of a dx contact with another cb station. Generally from another country. I'm sure many operators still have their old qsl cards.. If you want anymore info just ask..

[edorbs]

I would love to give a perspective from my side of the pond.. ( Scotland ). Over hear a qsl card was confirmation of a dx contact with another cb station. Generally from another country. I'm sure many operators still have their old qsl cards.. If you want anymore info just ask..

Yes, QSL is receipt of transmission of communication with another CB user, as I understand it. I'm really just looking for people with cards, collections and stories of them. Unfortunately, I'm not interested in Ham radio QSLs. I really prefer the CB QSLs. If you can contribute, please do. Thanks!

There were also cards exchanged at in-person meetups, right? A smaller, business card size/style? Was it called an "eyeball" card? Did any of you have local CB radio meetups? I'd be interested in that, too!

[108dt206]

Eyeball cards.. Now there's a phrase I've not heard for many, many years.. Yes local cb'ers used to arrange meetings, either at the local cb shop or just as individuals and exchange the credit card size cards with each other. The cards usually had your handle on it a maybe a pic of something relating to your handle. As for ham qsl cards. That's not me.. 100% cb me. Always have been always will be. Cb was illegal over here in the uk until the late 80's. am, ssb has just become legal in the uk last year. So I suppose I've been breaking the law for over 32 years.. Ooft how time flies..

[edorbs]

Eyeball cards.. Now there's a phrase I've not heard for many, many years.. Yes local cb'ers used to arrange meetings, either at the local cb shop or just as individuals and exchange the credit card size cards with each other. The cards usually had your handle on it a maybe a pic of something relating to your handle. As for ham qsl cards. That's not me.. 100% cb me. Always have been always will be. Cb was illegal over here in the uk until the late 80's. am, ssb has just become legal in the uk last year. So I suppose I've been breaking the law for over 32 years.. Ooft how time flies..

Do you know anyone who could talk about specific meet-ups? The QSL artwork in general? I'm really digging for those rich personal experiences. You are touching on those here and thank you!

[Savoirfaire]

I started CB'ing in 1967 and still have some of each card I used. Eventually, I became an Amateur radio operator but no one told me about amateur (HAM) radio until 1988.

I still have CB qsl cards but I spend the vast majority of my time on the Amateur bands because I really enjoy talking to other countries and confirming them. Need about 13 for everything but some just politically or danger getting on islands may be awhile before I work them.

I did qsl to quite a few CB'ers around the world.

I still have them stored in a big dresser drawer.

I know others that collected and traded qsl cards.

73, Frank Savoirfaire (AM)
10 X-Ray 47 (SSB)