Our History --we are older than we thought While recently scanning through an old Canadian Call-Book published July 31, 1923 by the Department of Marine and Fisheries, our Vice President Dave Schwartz VA3DGS came across the following interesting entry. This being the case, our roots go back to at least 1923 and possibly beyond. Although since it was a new three letter call, it most likely was issued in 1923 or late 1922. I have submitted a request to Industry Canada hoping that a radio Amateur within the department will champion our search for details on this early Call-Sign. I have also sent of some background information to Rob Ludlow VE3YE, the Editor of TCA that they will publish in the April or May TCA to assist in our search for information between 1923 and 1939. In looking back at the manuscript for "From Small Beginnings" we read the local amateurs in Guelph, Kitchener - Waterloo, Galt, Preston and Hespeler thought they should propose a club which was called the Radio Club of Galt. This was in 1933 and subsequently in late 1935 or early 1936 the name was changed to The Progressive Radio Club. The first President of the Progressive Radio Club was W.H. "Bill" Barrie VE3AAS and meetings were held in the Kitchener Y.M.C.A. building which matches with the address of the club in the 1923 Call-Book. Anyone wishing to do any research on callsigns issued to Radio Amateurs in 1923 or to Broadcast station in Canada and the USA can utilize the KWARC web site where the complete list of Canadian Hams in 1923 as well as all Canadian and US broadcast stations can be searched by Callsign, licensee or address of the stations. The address http://www.kwarc.org/dbaccess/radio1923.html provides search access to the Radio Amateur listings for all call areas in 1923. Back then there were no VE prefixes and only 5 call areas. Areas one, two and three where as today however the Prairies and BC were split up between section four and five. Section 6 through 10 were reserved for various commercial and test facilities. Charlie Shedden VE3NV is the only known local ham who is listed with his original 3NV callsign when he lived in Woodstock. Unfortunately Charlie did not move to Kitchener-Waterloo until much later and does not recall the 3ABA callsign. Lets hope that the publicity we will get in TCA will bring forth someone who may have some old records or memories of this callsign. 73 Paul Cassel VE3SY Editor and Webmaster editor@kwarc.org BACK TO MAIN MENU For more information email info@kwarc.org [ TOP ] © 1998 Kitchener-Waterloo Amateur Radio Club Inc. Comments and bugs reports to webmaster@kwarc.org