QSL postcards...from the HAM radio Archives

[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

 

I'm not into HAM radio. I thought about getting into it for emergency commination in a SHTF scenario. But only unlicensed.

 

 

I'm underground and not much of a license person. Of course, I'm not underground in everything I do, just some things. A big reason I never got into HAM is; it is not conducive to being able to use it by just picking it up to use with no training. It takes some dedication and $$ to be a HAM.

Another reason I didn't get into HAM was, in WW2 the gov jammed / outlawed HAM radio due to national security. So, no doubt in a SHTF world, TPTB would shut down all Wi-Fi, cell phones and probably ham radio as well. And to put all that time and $$ into something that would be outlawed is not worth my time or budget. 

Still, I can have an interest in HAM, radio and early TV without actually being into it. QSL postcards were an early area of interest for me, as they were postcard related, which is a big area of collection for my Archive. In fact, that is how I found out about them...via postcard collecting.

The HAM radio operators would send QSL postcards back and forth after they talked on air with each other.

Here is the scoop...

QSL card - Wikipedia

Looks like fun, but I'm not one for chewing the fat much. Too much GD work!

Here are a couple from the risqué QSL collection...

 

 

Here are a couple from the non-risqué collection...

Pimpin takes $$ and looks like Rev. Jones has a nice stack on hand...

 

 

Yes, radio was the big deal back in the day. Too bad my dad or a relative was not into it. I could have picked it up by osmosis!

 

 

I have a huge audio archive of old radio shows as well as related paper / ephemera. Fascinating time capsule stuff. Although, I still like film best!

 

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Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Archival Collection
Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Small Gauge Film Archive
Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Advertising Archive
Daniel D. Teoli Jr. VHS Video Archive
Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Audio Archive
Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Social Documentary Photography

 

 

 

 

[dan kessler]

I was active in ham radio in the late '60's, early 70's.

Don't remember any risque QSL cards whatsoever.
There was an on-air code of conduct, too, and
everyone stuck to it, thinking that the FCC might
be listening in and could pull your license.

It was a great hobby for electronics enthusiasts.
You had to pass tests in both theory and morse code
to get licensed.  Building and operating one's own gear
and communicating with people around the world was a
real achievement.

Radio amateurs also had a reputation for civil service,
many times being the only communications link during
natural or man-made disasters.

Unfortunately, the rise of integrated electronic circuitry,
digitization and the internet pretty much rendered it all
obsolete.

 

[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

Yes, lots of ads for building radios / equipment in the early radio magazines. I think that was Radio Shack's main biz in the beginning...selling kits and parts. 

The risqué cards were a lot rarer than the average cards. I don't know their history, I just know some existed. Maybe they were sent between like minded operators / old acquaintances?