73

Magazine Overview

Title: 73
Issue: May 1966
Volume: Four Bits
Publisher: Institute of Amateur Radio, Inc.
Country: USA
Language: English
Cover Headline: 73's Worked The World and other Trivia...

Content Summary

The May 1966 issue of "73" magazine, published by the Institute of Amateur Radio, Inc., prominently features amateur radio achievements with its cover showcasing a multitude of call signs and locations from around the globe, signifying "Worked The World" contacts. The issue also delves into topics of UFOs and theoretical physics.

UFO Enigma and Personal Experiences

A letter from Donald R. Farnsworth (WØJYC) addresses a UFO discussion from the January issue. Farnsworth recounts his personal involvement with the UFO phenomenon, dating back to November 1953 when he conducted the first known UFO seminar on amateur radio bands. This seminar, held daily, attracted regulars who shared personal sighting stories. Farnsworth used a tape recorder to capture these accounts for those who missed them. The discussion group concluded in December of that year as the 15-meter band became less effective for communication. Interest resurfaced in February and March, but many participants had already read published contactee stories, diminishing the novelty of personal sightings. Farnsworth also attended talks by contactees such as Truman Bethrum, Orphio Angelucci, George Adamski, and Dan Fry in California, noting their consistent narratives. He explored related fields like telepathy and reincarnation, ultimately concluding that personal experience is the most reliable source of truth, with other knowledge serving to stimulate these experiences.

Exploring Gravity Physics

Another letter, from Thomas Appleby (W3AX), discusses a "gravity-detector" he has been testing. Appleby posits that if gravity could be controlled and broken into "dots and dashes," his detector might respond at speeds of 15-20 words per minute. He theorizes that gravity operates at an extremely high frequency, far beyond the capabilities of current detectors. Appleby provides theoretical specifications for a graviton, including its wavelength (6.75 x 10-14 cm), frequency (4.54 x 105 cycles per second), mass (3.351 x 10-21 grams), and volume (6.3 x 10-19 cm³). He notes that while the Earth naturally varies the gravity field, achieving this on a smaller scale remains a significant challenge.

Amateur Radio and Membership

The magazine includes application forms for membership in the Institute of Amateur Radio and subscriptions to "73" Magazine. Various membership tiers are offered, including options for regular and student members, with additional benefits for combining magazine subscriptions with membership. Advertisements for related products, such as a "NUMERIC READOUT" display and a guide to simplified mathematics for hams, are also present.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are amateur radio communication and its global reach, alongside a persistent interest in unexplained phenomena like UFOs and speculative scientific topics such as gravity. The editorial stance appears to encourage exploration and discussion of diverse subjects relevant to the amateur radio community, from technical achievements to more esoteric interests. The inclusion of letters from readers suggests an open platform for sharing personal experiences and scientific inquiries.