My first multi-line phone.

[cchaven]

Great info...I've often wondered what the large red 'B' on the dialcard of my 465G meant.

Jeff

[paul-f]

Jeremy Walters provided the scan of a worksheet from his collection.  It shows columns for the letters A thru P.  The sets shown had 3 pick-up lines wired.

http://www.telephonecollectors.info/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_details&gid=3883&Itemid=2

[Adam]

OK!  Now I want to know which collector has the highest letter K plan number card retainer!

[Adam]

Another phone just showed up on eBay with a big red letter on the dial.

[Greg G.]

Mine is a 440, so I'm guessing the 440 has to do with the number of buttons on it?  So would this be a 660?

[Adam]

No, the set pictured above is a 460.  (Could be a 461 if it has an exclusion key, which you cannot determine from the above pics.)

It would be a 464 if it had clear buttons (and associated lamps).

Maybe the second digit has to do with the number of buttons?  I never put that 2+2 together before.  It holds true for the later 4 button 544 and 6 button 564.  Anybody else have any thoughts on that?

[AE_Collector]

That was always my take on the subject. 4xx because it is a multiline version of the 3xx series and they figured that they weren't blowing throiugh all of the possible numbers for the first digits fast enough. Once they hit the 5xx series they decided to put the brakes on and keep the multiline variety of the 5xx's in the 5xx range. The second digits are the number of keys.

Terry

[HarrySmith]

Just came across this one on eBay with an F stamped on it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Western-Electric-Public-Service-Dial-Number-Ring-Card/233544361360

[Babybearjs]

I also have the 440EC-3... great lkitle phone, mine is just like yours except it does have the degination windows on it...  just a 4 line phone with lit buttons.... I really love the 400 series... Like the 302, the art deco design is great!

[Greg G.]

For a Fun time...