P.O. Box 252
Osburn, ID  83849

PHONE: (208) 512-0266
FAX:  (208) 556-1003

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  MEANS SOS!

     The practical use of wireless telegraphy was made possible by Guglielmo  Marconi in the closing years of the 19th century.  Until then ship sat sea out of visual range were very much isolated from  shore and other ships. The wireless telegraphers used Morse Code to send messages. Morse Code is a way of "tapping" out letters using a series of dots (short signals) and dashes (long signals). At the Berlin Radiotelegraphic Conference 1906, the subject of a danger signal was addressed. Considerable discussion ensued and finally SOS was adopted. The thinking was that three dots, three dashes and three dots could not be misinterpreted. It was to be sent together as one string. his signal [SOS] was adopted simply on account of its easy radiation and its unmistakable character. The United States did not officially adopt "SOS" until 1912.