Somewhat off-topic research question about old communication system
CaptHenway
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I am researching the token manufacturing firm of Meyer & Wenthe of Chicago for an eventual article. I just bought on eBay a six-inch aluminum ruler given out by them as an advertising piece. From the address on it, it is from the late teens to the late 1920's.
In addition to their addresses and phone numbers and other information there is the notation just below the phone numbers
"AUTO 48,879" (without quote marks)
followed by a similar AUTO number with five digits and a comma. Does anybody know what communication system that "AUTO 48,879" refers to? Perhaps some sort of old business teletype system?
Thanks,
TD
In addition to their addresses and phone numbers and other information there is the notation just below the phone numbers
"AUTO 48,879" (without quote marks)
followed by a similar AUTO number with five digits and a comma. Does anybody know what communication system that "AUTO 48,879" refers to? Perhaps some sort of old business teletype system?
Thanks,
TD
Numismatist. 50 year member ANA. Winner of four ANA Heath Literary Awards; three Wayte and Olga Raymond Literary Awards; Numismatist of the Year Award 2009, and Lifetime Achievement Award 2020. Winner numerous NLG Literary Awards.
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Comments
A long time back, words were used for the first two digits of a phone number. My number as a child if I remember was "Hickory" 27,511. You would simply dial the first two letters in the exchange (HI - 44) or "Auto" which would be AU or 28 on a rotary phone; followed by the other 5 digits. Back then it was thought to be easier to remember two letter and 5 digits as opposed to 7 digits.
Chelsey 25325 where Chelsey would correspond to the numbers/letters on the phone
Eric
would the tribune have microfiche of papers from back then? maybe other ads will show similar ph#s ? or maybe the library has microfiche of other old docs with ph#s?
ahhhh, the good old days... squinting at poorly illminated pictures of newspapers.
that would be a neat giveaway. The use of aluminum was regulated by 1918 as was the cost due to WW1, and thereafter it was in good demand. The cap of the Washington monument (1887) is aluminum as was the lift grille on the Mauretania (1906) - made to look like wrought iron. I believe it was about .15 a pound by WW2. Demand dropped off by the middle-late 20's so that is my guess for a date.
Eric
<< <i>AU4-8879, maybe? That would be 284-8879, I think. >>
Or dial PA 6-5000
<< <i>I it is from the late teens to the late 1920's.
In addition to their addresses and phone numbers and other information there is the notation just below the phone numbers
"AUTO 48,879" (without quote marks)
>>
OK, one more time and IMHO.
What this "AUTO" number is, is a very early automatic dial rotary phone exchange number.
"It is from the late teens to the late 1920's." , referenced in the OP is when auto rotary dial was becoming more than a novelty, but not yet mainstream.
"In addition to their addresses and phone numbers" The phone numbers listed are what you would tell, speak to, the switchboard operator the number is you want to be connected to.
"AUTO 48,879 Forget the "Auto". It's a description from the day for "Automatic" If you had one of those newfangled, rotary dial phones, that used a new, mechanical switching system that switchboard operators didn't use telephone jacks to connect one phone to another, it was considered to be "Automatic", even if you had to manually rotate the dial on the phone. You picked up the phone, listened for a dial tone and dialed 48879. If it all went correctly, you would be connected.
Two separate systems existed back in the day as the technology slowly went from switchboard to auto-dial and now, auto-pulse.
<< <i>
<< <i>I it is from the late teens to the late 1920's.
In addition to their addresses and phone numbers and other information there is the notation just below the phone numbers
"AUTO 48,879" (without quote marks)
>>
OK, one more time and IMHO.
What this "AUTO" number is, is a very early automatic dial rotary phone exchange number.
"It is from the late teens to the late 1920's." , referenced in the OP is when auto rotary dial was becoming more than a novelty, but not yet mainstream.
"In addition to their addresses and phone numbers" The phone numbers listed are what you would tell, speak to, the switchboard operator the number is you want to be connected to.
"AUTO 48,879 Forget the "Auto". It's a description from the day for "Automatic" If you had one of those newfangled, rotary dial phones, that used a new, mechanical switching system that switchboard operators didn't use telephone jacks to connect one phone to another, it was considered to be "Automatic", even if you had to manually rotate the dial on the phone. You picked up the phone, listened for a dial tone and dialed 48879. If it all went correctly, you would be connected.
Two separate systems existed back in the day as the technology slowly went from switchboard to auto-dial and now, auto-pulse. >>
<< <i>
<< <i>I it is from the late teens to the late 1920's.
In addition to their addresses and phone numbers and other information there is the notation just below the phone numbers
"AUTO 48,879" (without quote marks)
>>
OK, one more time and IMHO.
What this "AUTO" number is, is a very early automatic dial rotary phone exchange number.
"It is from the late teens to the late 1920's." , referenced in the OP is when auto rotary dial was becoming more than a novelty, but not yet mainstream.
"In addition to their addresses and phone numbers" The phone numbers listed are what you would tell, speak to, the switchboard operator the number is you want to be connected to.
"AUTO 48,879 Forget the "Auto". It's a description from the day for "Automatic" If you had one of those newfangled, rotary dial phones, that used a new, mechanical switching system that switchboard operators didn't use telephone jacks to connect one phone to another, it was considered to be "Automatic", even if you had to manually rotate the dial on the phone. You picked up the phone, listened for a dial tone and dialed 48879. If it all went correctly, you would be connected.
Two separate systems existed back in the day as the technology slowly went from switchboard to auto-dial and now, auto-pulse. >>
Excellent explanation! Thank you!
He knew nothing about "Auto" or "Hickory" - never recalled using a word instead of numbers.
Good opportunity to talk about something besides his health.
Now, her older sister might!