The 92 Code was first adopted by Western Union

Western Union

The Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado. Up until 2006, Western Union was the best-known U.S...

 in 1859. The reason for this adoption was to reduce bandwidth usage over the telegraph lines and speed transmissions by utilizing a numerical code system for various frequently used phrases.

1859 Western Union "92 Code"

The following code was taken from The Telegraph Instructor by G.M. Dodge.

1	Wait a minute.	25	Busy on another wire.
2	Very Important.	26	Put on ground wire.
3	What time is it?	27	Priority, very important.
4	Where shall I go ahead?	28	Do you get my writing?.
5	Have you business for me?	29	Private, deliver in sealed envelope.
6	I am ready.	30	No more - the end.
7	Are you ready?	31	Form 31 train order.
8	Close your key, stop breaking.	32	I understand that I am to ....
9	Priority business. Wire Chief's call.	33	Answer is paid.
10	Keep this circuit closed.	34	Message for all officers.
12	Do you understand?	35	You may use my signal to answer this.
13	I understand.	37	Inform all interested.
14	What is the weather?	39	Important, with priority on through wire.
15	For you and others to copy.	44	Answer promptly by wire.
17	Lightning here.	55	Important.
18	What's the trouble?	73	Best Regards.
19	Form 19 train order.	77	I have a message for you.
21	Stop for meal.	88	Love and kisses.
22	Wire test.	91	Superintendent's signal.
23	All stations copy.	92	Deliver Promptly.
24	Repeat this back.	134	Who is at the key?

Contemporary usage in Amateur Radio

Today, Amateur Radio

Amateur radio

Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...

 Operators still use codes 73 and 88 profusely and –30–

–30–

–30– has been traditionally used by journalists to indicate the end of a story. There are many theories about how the usage came into being,e.g...

is used in journalism. The other codes have mostly fallen into disuse.