[CQ-Contest] History of Low Power Category

[Michael Keane, K1MK]

Speaking of ARRL November Sweepstakes specifically, the chronology of 
the Low Category/Class goes like this:

1930 - In the beginning there were no power classes.

1934 - For the fifth running of Sweepstakes, power multipliers for 
scoring are introduced with three classes:

     <= 25w input:  x3
     > 20w input [sic] and <= 75w input: x2
     > 75w input:  x1

1935 - Power mults simplified to <= 100w input: x1.5.

1938 - The "power factor" (multiplier) is reduced to x1.25; the dividing 
line remains 100w input.

1952 - The multiplier is increased to x1.5 for Phone; CW is still x1.25, 
and 100w the limit for both modes.

1956 - The low power limit is increased to 150w input for both modes.

1968 - Precedence of A or B introduced based upon the 150w input limit 
for the low power class (A).

1969 - The power multiplier for scoring is eliminated.

1972 - The low power class is increased to 200w input.

1974 - Separate awards issued to the highest scoring class "A" and class 
"B" entrants in each section.  Prior to this, it was one award per 
section to the highest score regardless of class.

1983 - Definition of low power category changed to 150w output.