What is the source of the phrase "double nickels." I see it used to
indicate that a person is or is turning 55 years of age.   All I've
found is Double Nickels on the
Dime, the name of an old rock album.

Hello kate6140-ga,

A nickel is:
- The U.S. 5-cent piece regularly containing 25 percent nickel and 75
percent copper
- The Canadian 5-cent piece 
- Five cents

Two times the digit "5" from the 5-cent-coin ... makes "55". 


There are a number of sources for the phrase double nickel, however I
believe the surveyors' usage is probably the oldest, predating the
Citizens' Band radio slang.

*****************

Surveyors' Slang:

“Surveying, like any profession, has its special terms and slang. Some
are just humorous, some help distinguish similar sounds (e.g. eleven
and seven), and some are just plain strange.”

The double nickel is referenced as follows:

”Double nickel - Slang for .55, as in 6-double nickel (6.55).“

Source: Surveying Units and Terms - Surveyors' Slang
http://users.rcn.com/deeds/survey.htm 


*****************

In the Glossary of CB Jargon:

”Double Nickel:  Two five's, or 55, the present speed limit on
interstate highways. “
http://website.lineone.net/~colin_mccord/Radio/glossary_of_cb_jargon.htm


*****************

Ogden's Basic English: 

“The classification as an international word allows its use in its
various meanings. But let's not get carried away. An international
race car driver understandably did not understand this question put to
him by a U.S. sports commentator: "What do you think of our 'double
nickel’?" Nickel is an international metal ore. In the United States
it is also a synonym for a 5-cent coin originally made of that metal.
By extension, nickel is sometimes used to indicate the number five.
The double nickel referred to above meant 55, implying the U.S. speed
limit for unmarked highways of 55 miles per hour.

Ogden’s Basic English: International Words
http://www.basiceng.com/intlworj.html


*****************

Guy Bourrie in his article Trucker speak says “Just about every trade
and profession has its own set of idioms.” Here are two nickel related
phrases.

“Double nickel is a 55 mph-speed limit.
Nickel City is Buffalo, N.Y. There is a buffalo on some nickels.”
http://camden.villagesoup.com/opinions/GuestCols.cfm?StoryID=1550


*****************

A double nickel in basketball is 55 points.

“Oh come on, do you really think he's going to drop another
double-nickle (for those NBA-illiterate people out there, a
double-nickle is 55 points) on the Knicks or any team for that
matter?”

Source: The Michael Jordan Saga Continues Again by Brian Yu
http://www.pigstuy.com/editorials/jordan.php


*****************

“DOUBLE NICKLE” - Monday night at Merlin’s means 5 shots and 5 beers
in 55 minutes,
http://www.writesafe.com/uploads/HARDSCRABBLE.htm


*****************

The article “Dealing with the double-nickel” by Doug Thompson is about
his 55th birthday.
http://chblue.com/artman/publish/article_1332.shtml


*****************

From a chat board:

“Tomorrow I will start my Glide on the Big Double Nickle. Please don't
ask me what is a double nickle! That's like someone ask me on this
site how much was 5k. Excuse me while my Double Nickles and I Glide
On”
http://www.segwaychat.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=824


Search Criteria:

“double nickels” 
“double nickel”
“double nickle”


Thank you for your question and I hope this response has provided you
with the information you were seeking. If anything I have written is
not clear, please post a request clarification before rating my answer
and I will do my best to meet your needs.


Best Regards,
Bobbie7-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 21 Feb 2003 17:33 PST

The "double nickel" dates back to the Korean War, as depicted in the
TV series M*A*S*H:

“The original MASH outfit was the 8055 (eight-oh-double nickel) MASH,
which moved around quite a bit--as far north as Pyongyang and south to
Uijongbu, which is about 20 miles or so north of Seoul.”
Source: Google Newsgroups
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=19970628045601.AAA16255%40ladder02.news.aol.com&oe=UTF-8&output=gplain

“They have been, but I can't remember if they were both mentioned in
the same ep I remember the 8055 more commonly referred to (by Radar)
as the 8-0-double-nickel.”
Source: Google Newsgroups
http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=38DDAD40.2F999E36%40globalserve.net&oe=UTF-8&output=gplain

“In "Tea & Empathy" Potter refers to the "Eighty Double Nickel" (8055)
outfit. ..Wasn't the 8055 M*A*S*H the real-life unit Dr. Richard
Hornberger (Hooker) was stationed at, & the inspiration for the
fictional 4077?”
Source: Google Newsgroups
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=lang_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&newwindow=1&safe=off&th=50cb505db4366c75&rnum=10

(A special thanks to my fellow researcher Pinkfreud)

Another "double nickel" military reference, this time from World War
II:

"After the war the 55th Fighter Group, known as the Double Nickel
outfit that gave the enemy Double Trouble, did occupational duty in
Germany."
Source: 55th Fighter Group Early History
http://www.55srwa.org/55_history.html

Lightening fast as well as helpful.