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Central Office Names

Started by poplar1, May 14, 2013, 07:52:52 PM

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poplar1

In Minneapolis, some phone numbers changed from 2 letters + 4 numerals to 2L + 5N in 1955. Here is the cover of the 1955 directory showing changes that year:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261214428922

"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

poplar1

In 1952, Los Angeles had a mixture of 2 Letters + 4 numbers and 2 letters + 5 numbers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200922828956

Here are the office names shown on page 28-29; there may be others not listed:

2 letters + 4 numerals:      2 letters + 5 numerals

[22]   CApitol*                   CApitol 2-                             2 letter + 4 numerals: 4xxx, 8xxx, 9xxx, 0xxx
[23]   ADams*                   ADams 1, ADams 3-, ADams 4-             2L4N: 8xxx, 0xxx
[24]                                  CHapman 5, CHarleston 8-
[25]   ALbany                    CLeveland 6-, CLeveland 7-     ALbany numbers 1xxx, 9xxx, 0xxx
[26]   ANgeles                                                    
[27]                                  BRadshaw 2-
[28]                                  CUmberland 3-
[29]  AXminster*                AXminster 1-, AXminster 2-, AXminster 3-      2L4N: 8xxx


[38]                                  DUnkirk 3-, 4-, 7-, and 9-
[39]                                  EXbrook 1-, 5-

[43] HEmstead
[44] HIllside
[45] GLadstone
[46]                                  HOllywood 9-
[47] GRanite
[48]                                  HUdson 2-

[52] LAfayette
[54] KImball
[56] LOgan*                     LOgan 5- 8- AND LOrain 6-, 9-        *2L4N are LOgan 3xxx and LOgan 0xxx
[58] LUcas

[62]                                 MAdison 6-
[63]                                 NEvada 6-

[64] MIchigan
[65] OLympia
[66] NOrmandy*               NOrmandy 1-, 2-, 3-   *2L4N are NOrmandy 5xxx, 9xxx, 0xxx
[68] MUtual

[72] PArkway
[73] REpublic*                  REpublic 1-, 2-, 3-       *2L4N REpublic 6xxx
[74] RIchmond*                Richmond 7-, 8-          * 2xxx, 3xxx
[75]                                 PLeasant 1-, 2-, 3- AND PLymouth 4-, 5-, 6-
[76}                                ROck...(?) 9-        
[77] PRospect
[78]                                STate 4-
[79]                                PYramid 1- AND SYcamore 8-

[83]                                TExas 8-
[84] THornwall
[86]                                UNderhill 0-
[87] TRinity
[88] TUcker
[89] TWin oaks

[92] WAlnut
[93] WEbster*                   WEbster 3-, WEbster 8-
[94] WHitney
[96] YOrk
[99] WYoming
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

poplar1

"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

poplar1

#3
Central Office names for Atlanta, GA

Manual (non-dial)       Dial, 2 letters--4 numerals:                         Dial, 2L-5N:

Downtown:                 29 Auburn Ave.
                                WAlnut (panel) >.............. chg to.......JAckson 1-0001-2499 and JA 2-2500-9999
                                MAin (panel)     >................................MUrray 8-
                                LAmar (step-by-step)..........................JAckson 4-
                                ALpine (SxS)).....................................JAckson 5-
                                CYpress (SxS)....................................JAckson 3-
                                OFficial..............................................MUrray 5-                                  

Brookwood (Midtown): Crescent Ave. at 10th St.
"HEmlock" (manual)
                                 VErnon (SXS)......................................TRinity 2-
                                 ATwood (SxS).....................................TRinity 4-
                                 ELgin (SxS).........................................TRinity 6-
                                 EMerson (SxS).....................................TRinity 5-

Buckhead:                   (SxS)
                                 CHerokee.............................................CEdar 3-
                                 EXchange.............................................Cedar 7-

Decatur:                      (SxS)
"Decatur"                     DEarborn..............................................DRake 3-
                                  EVergreen............................................ DRake 8-

West End                      (SxS)
"West".........................RAymond...............................................PLaza 3-
                                  FRanklin.................................................PLaza 8-
                                  AMherst.................................................PLaza 5-

East Point                     (SxS 1931)
"East Point"..................CAlhoun.................................................POplar 1-
                                   FAirfax...................................................POplar 7-

East Atlanta:                  (SxS)
N/A                               DIxie.....................................................MArket 7-

Hollywood Rd.:
                                    BElmont................................................SYcamore 4-


Toco Hill:                                                                                    (last SxS installed in Atlanta)
N/A..........................................................................................MElrose 4-

Columbia Drive:                                                                          (#5 Crossbar)
N/A......................................................................................... BUtler 9-

Sandy Springs:                                                                             (#5 XB)
N/A..........................................................................................BLackburn 5-

Fairburn Rd.                                                                                 (5XB)
N/A..........................................................................................DIamond 4-

References:
Atlanta Telephone directories and
www.atlantatelephonehistory.info

"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

AMCer

I remember my grandmother's metal dial telephone had the exchange name on it and when it was changed out (to a plastic dial (in the 70s)), she just had the numbers.

I THINK it was "COlony 6" was the exchange name they were using for the 266 prefixes but I know that
     AMherst
     ANdrew
     COlfax
     COlony
     COngress

     ...were are all acceptable names.

I'm wondering if anyone knows for sure what the Richmond/Henrico 266 exchange was 'officially' called in the 50s and 60s.

jsowers

Quote from: AMCer on May 20, 2013, 12:42:09 PM
I remember my grandmother's metal dial telephone had the exchange name on it and when it was changed out (to a plastic dial (in the 70s)), she just had the numbers.

I THINK it was "COlony 6" was the exchange name they were using for the 266 prefixes but I know that
     AMherst
     ANdrew
     COlfax
     COlony
     COngress

     ...were are all acceptable names.

I'm wondering if anyone knows for sure what the Richmond/Henrico 266 exchange was 'officially' called in the 50s and 60s.

The Exchange Name Project does list COlony for Richmond, VA. They also list BOulevard, which is a very old one. Another poster to the project says that COlony replaced ELgin for the area north of Richmond city limits in the late 50s or early 60s.

Here is the link to that site...

http://rcrowe.brinkster.net/tensearch.aspx
Jonathan

AMCer

My grandparents built their house in 1956 and that is when they got assigned the telephone number. So it would have been after BOulevard (probably).  I really think it was COlony.

I'm happy to report that I have twice saved the number from being reassigned and thanks to VOIP, I use it now.  In 2016 my family will have had the same number for 60 years.

jsowers

Also, here are the New York City exchanges from 1951, from something I posted a while back. If you scroll up, you will see New Jersey too, also from 1951.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=5886.msg70654#msg70654

This includes what may be my favorite exchange of all time, just because it's so obscure. SChuyler 4. Most people would want to spell that with SK instead of SC. I have a 202 with a SChuyler 4 number card (see below). I'm fairly sure it's pronounced "skyler" and not "shuler."

About having the same number for 60 years, my aunt, who's 96, has had the same phone number for about 58 years, and the same area code since the inception of area codes. But she no longer has the 302. They converted everything to Touch-Tone about 1973.
Jonathan

poplar1

I almost always have trouble with the TEN site. Under COlony and Colony, I don't see Richmond, VA. Under Richmond, VA and Richmond, Va I don't see Colony or COlony. 26- is not even on the numerical list. I did see BOulevard under Richmond, Va. What am I doing wrong?
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

jsowers

Quote from: poplar1 on May 20, 2013, 03:31:49 PM
I almost always have trouble with the TEN site. Under COlony and Colony, I don't see Richmond, VA. Under Richmond, VA and Richmond, Va I don't see Colony or COlony. 26- is not even on the numerical list. I did see BOulevard under Richmond, Va. What am I doing wrong?

I get four pages when searching on Richmond in the City and VA in the state and COlony is on page 3 at the bottom. You should have a 1234 at the bottom center in the blue border and those are extra pages in the search.

I agree it's a clumsy search engine. And yes, 26 isn't on the numerical list. It's clumsy at best.
Jonathan

AMCer

According to here:
http://ourwebhome.com/TENP/Recommended.html

In 1955 Bell publish a list of acceptable names (COlony is in there).  That would be 1 year before we got our number.

And I VAGUELY remember the old metal dial telephone with the name on it. (Honestly, I like BOulevard better)

poplar1

Montréal, Québec Exchange

http://www.jbb.poslfit.com/Pages/514.html

From the above site:

From 1925 to 1958, 2 Letter 4 Digit (2L-4D) dialing was used in Montréal. Here are the old prefixes for the Montréal exchange.



2 Letter 4 Digit Prefix            Replaced by                                       Date

86–UNiversity                       86–UNiversity 6                                 1951-05-06 
[new]                                    48–HUnter 8                                     1952-06 
[new]                                    73–REgent 3                                     1952-06 
[new]                                    74–RIverside 4                                  1952 
[new]                                    76–POntiac 6                                     1952 
[new CO]                               72–RAymond 2                                  1953-04 
38–DUpont                            38–DUpont 8                                    1953-07-26 
39–EXdale                             73–REgent 7                                   1954-02 
28–ATlantic                            73–REgent 8                                    1954-02 
52–LAncaster                        28–AVenue 8                                  1954-07-25 
26–AMherst                           52–LAfontaine 1                             1955-07-31 
24–CHerrier                           52–LAfontaine 2                            1955-07-31 
37–FRontenac                        52–LAfontaine 3                            1955-07-31 
32–FAlkirk                              52–LAfontaine 4                             1955-07-31 
46–HOchelaga                       52–LAfontaine 5                             1955-07-31 
44–GIffard                              52–LAfontaine 6                            1955-07-31 
29–BYwater                            74–RIverside 7                              1955-07-31 
25–CLairval                            25–CLairval 5                                 1956-08-05 
88–TUrcotte                            25–CLairval 9                                 1956-08-05 
36–DOllard                              27– CRescent 1                              1956-08-05 
22–CAlumet                             27–CRescent 2                              1956-08-05 
47–GRavelle                            27–CRescent 4                             1956-08-05 
84–VIctoria                              27–CRescent 6                             1956-08-05 
27–CRescent                           27–CRescent 7                              1956-08-05 
82–TAlon                                  27- CRescent 9                              1956-08-05 
92–WAlnut                               48–HUnter 1                                    1957-03 
83–VEndome                           38–DUpont 7                                 1957-08-04 
43–HEmlock                             76–POntiac 7                              1957-08-04 
87–TRenmore                          76–POntiac 8                              1957-08-04 
96–YOrk                                   76–POntiac 9                               1957-08-04 
42–HArbour                              84–VIctor 5                                1957-08-04 
62–MArquette                          84–VIctor 9                                 1957-08-04 
94–WIlbank                             93–WEllington 2                         1957-08-04 
93–WEllington                        93–WEllington 3                          1957-08-04 
34–FItzroy                              93–WEllington 5                         1957-08-04 
45–GLenview                          93–WEllington 7                        1957-08-04 
75–PLateau                            84–VIctor 2                               1958-09-21 
23–BElair                                84–VIctor 4                                1958-09-21 
35–ELwood                           48–HUnter 6                               1958-09-21 
33–DExter                              48–HUnter 7                              1958-09-21 
[new CO]                               36–DOminic                                1958-07 
[new CO]                               32–DAniel                                   1958-10 
[new CO]                               33–FEderal                                 1959-07 
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

tallguy58

Well, my dad bought our house in Cote-St-Luc in 1957 and when they got a phone the number was  HU9-1005. The house was brand new in a new development. All my friends had Hunter #'s as well. I find they're easier to remember. Obviously... I still remember it.
Cheers........Bill

poplar1

So would that be the Monkland wire centre?

The 2 Letter 5 Digit column shows current assignments of the 2L-5D named prefixes that have existed since the 1950s. Some wire centre boundaries and prefixes have changed over time. Most central offices now use additional prefixes.

CO CLLI     Rate Centre Wire Centre 2 Letter 5 Digit Prefix

MTRLPQ02  Montréal  Belmont  86–UNiversity 1-4-6-8, 87–TRiangle 
MTRLPQ03  Montréal  Cadillac  25–CLairval 
MTRLPQ05  Montréal  Pointe-aux-Trembles  64–MIssion 0-2-4-5 
MTRLPQ07  Montréal  Papineau  52–LAfontaine 
MTRLPQ08  Roxboro   68–MUrray 3-4-5 
MTRLPQ19  Montréal  Côte-des-Neiges  73–REgent 
MTRLPQ23  Montréal  Dudemaine  33–FEderal 
MTRLPQ24  Montréal  Decelles  74–RIverside [merged with Dudemaine in the 1990s] 
MTRLPQ28  Montréal  St-Dominique  27–CRescent 
MTRLPQ29  Montréal  Montée St-Michel  72–RAymond 
MTRLPQ30  Montréal  Montréal-Nord  32–DAniel 
MTRLPQ31  Montréal  Sauvé  38–DUpont 
MTRLPQ34  Montréal  Rivière-des-Prairies  64–MIssion 3-8 (was 66–MOnument 5) 
MTRLPQ42  Montréal  Ontario  84–VIctor, 28–AVenue 
MTRLPQ43  Montréal  Atwater  93–WEllington 
MTRLPQ44  Lachine  14e Avenue  63–MElrose 4-7-9 (was 63–NElson 5) 
MTRLPQ45  Lachine  Dorval  63–MElrose 1-3-6 
MTRLPQ46  Montréal  LaSalle  36–DOminic 
MTRLPQ47  Montréal  Monkland  48–HUnter  
MTRLPQ48  Montréal  Verdun  76–POntiac 
MTRLPQ50  Pointe-Claire  Chemin St-Jean 69–OXford 3-4-5-7 (was 68–OVerbrook) 
MTRLPQ51  Montréal  Anjou  35 
MTRLPQ53  Pointe-Claire  Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue  45–GLendale 7 
MTRLPQ54  Ste-Geneviève   62–NAtional 0-4-6 
IPRTPQAA  Île-Perrot   45–GLendale 3 


http://www.jbb.poslfit.com/Pages/514.html
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

tallguy58

Here's a pic of the Monkland Exchange building at 6055 Monkland Ave in Montreal.

Used to be called the Elmwood Exchange building. Built in 1928.

Still used I guess. Has Bell logo on it.

Cheers........Bill