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Pontiac's Goodwill toward Ham radio in the 1960s

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In this day when companies barely give you what you pay for it makes goodwill that happened in the old days stand out even more. One of my favorite memories as a Pontiac
aficionado and ham radio operator was that Pontiac printed free-of- charge personalized "QSL" cards for licensed hams. "QSL" cards are postcards that hams sent to each other
confirming that they had contacted one another. But QSL cards actually meant more than that as it was a final courtesy and bonding of friendship to exchange such cards in the ham fraternity.

Although I never partook of Pontiac's generosity to have QSL cards printed, I received many during the 1960s. Here are a couple. Of course in exchange for Pontiac's goodwilll by providing free cards to hams but they also wanted a little advertising which was certainly a fair trade for free personalized QSL cards.

It is also worthy to note that during the 1960s General Motors actually had a ham radio station on corporate premises and supported a ham radio club. It was called
the "Firebird Amateur Radio Club" and I exchanged QSLs with many hams throughout the country who either worked for GM or was retired. Members of the Firebird
club were also provided with free QSL cards.
 

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