Odd accuracy question/LEtters?

[texbodemer]

In the Seattle area, all number calling came to the Seattle area around 1973. Does that means rotary and touch-tone phones in Seattle made before 1973 would have number cards in the alphanumeric format? To use a locally known example, would a 1970s phone inside Nordstrom be labeled Area Code 206 MA8-2111 or Area Code 206 MAin 8-2111, or Area Code 206 622-2111?

[texbodemer]

From the Seattle P-I

[Kellogg Kitt]

I do not know anything specifically about the Seattle area, but Touch-Tone phones could indeed have letters on the number card.  I have one right here.

I have never seen one with the full exchange name, and I suspect that those do not exist, not only because of the space constraints on the number card, but also because when Touch-Tone phones were introduced, the practice of showing the full exchange names was already beginning to fade away in favor of showing just the 2 letters.

Also, something else to keep in mind regarding this subject:  In many areas, all number calling was not done on a single hard "cut over" date.  Rather, it was phased in over time to allow the public to acclimate to it.  Look in some big-city phone books from the late 1960s and early 1970s, and you will see a mixture of 2L-5N and 7N listings.  New service and changed numbers got 7N, while existing customers kept their letters until eventually all of them were changed.

[Doug Rose]

very cool....I have never seen that before....Doug

[Kellogg Kitt]

I think your specific question here is, how were the number cards on the phones being labeled in those last days, weeks, months before the official conversion.  That is an interesting question, and I do not have any knowledge of it.  The only thing that we have evidence of today is directory listings, or (less common) customers' bills and Telephone Company records.

Just my speculation, but I would have to assume that when new service was installed, the number card on the telephone would match the number on the customer's account/bill, which would match the directory listing.  If they were different, the customer might wonder why.

[texbodemer]

That sounds like the best summary! Does anyone have pictures of number cards along with the year of the phone?
Nick

[FABphones]

...I would have to assume that when new service was installed, the number card on the telephone would match the number on the customer's account/bill, which would match the directory listing...

That is as it was in the UK.

The engineer would arrive on the prearranged day, unbox (or unbag) the telephone, test the phone and line worked correctly, and insert the preprinted number card on the telephone. If an outside line had to be run to the building that was done prior by the chaps often known as 'Poles and Holes' (although they weren't usually too keen on the nickname).

When signing up for the telephone service the subscriber could choose to be ex-directory, and not have an entry in the telephone book. The telephone number of the subscriber was printed on their telephone bill alongside their account number and other details,  which arrived every three months from BT (later, when other providers became available they were usually monthly).

[SUnset2]

This is my experience growing up in Seattle, and picking up a few phones locally. Until 1958, it was 6 digit dialing, and the number cards had the EXchange spelled out, and four numerals stamped. Starting in 1958, the number cards had the EXchange spelled out, and five numerals stamped with a hyphen after the first.
After about 1960, the number cards had just the first two letters printed, and five numerals stamped. The area code was also printed. This was also used on the Touch-Tone cards.
After about 1972, only the area code was printed, and seven digits were stamped.
Computer printed stickers were mailed out with the ADD number on it to stick over your old number.