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3Hotdogs

(12,382 posts) Tue Mar 26, 2024, 09:21 AM Mar 26

Do you remember your phone number from when you were a 'ute? Ours was operator serviced. [View all]

You picked up the phone and (if the party line wasn't being used) gave the phone number. Ours was Millburn (N.J.) 6, 0209 J

My grandparents - Summit 6, 2011 M.

Later, Bell Telephone got more wires up and everyone got a "single" line. No more, with the neighbors listening to you, talking about them.

Dial came in around 1956. Phone company had an assembly program with the phone company guy and a BIG dial on the stage and the guy is showing us how to dial a phone. 8th grade.

--- and you actually did "hang up" the phone. Or put it on the base.

My friend and her mother would get into arguments and then slam the phone down on the base. Then the other one would call back and slam the phone down on the other one... then the other one would call.... you get the idea. That would go on for a minute or two until one of them would get tired of it. It was hilarious to be there during that shit show.

That's what's wrong with cell phones. Slam the fucker down and ya got other problems. But you would get a lot of satisfaction from it.

42 replies

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Highlight:

Do you remember your phone number from when you were a 'ute? Ours was operator serviced. [View all] 3Hotdogs Mar 26 OP

Those phones were indestructible. Unfortunately they were used as weapons sometimes Walleye Mar 26 #1

i still remember our phone number, and the numbers of all of my friends. Mister Ed Mar 26 #5

Same here. Used to have a head full of telephone numbers. Don't need them anymore Walleye Mar 26 #10

Yup, etched in my memory ... 1950's Fla Dem Mar 26 #2

Yup, way back when we used two letter phone designation with a number, then four digits..Usually the mitch96 Mar 26 #3

You should never post your old number on the internet. blm Mar 26 #4

Interesting. I'm old enough, I can't remember when I last changed my underwear. 3Hotdogs Mar 26 #7

Sadly, scammers are well aware of it. blm Mar 26 #8

blm, thanks for the heads up. Never considered that and doubt it will happen Fla Dem Mar 26 #16

True. During the short time I was on Facebook with a friend & her friends, they really enjoyed Hekate Mar 27 #40

CHurchill 1-3378 appleannie1 Mar 26 #6

Atlantic MOMFUDSKI Mar 26 #9

My greatgrandfather lived in Bryants Pond, Maine, home of the last crank telephone system. bluedigger Mar 26 #11

Operator service for us too, in Auburn, Alabama, in the late 1940s and early 1950s. "Number please!" Bo Zarts Mar 26 #12

BR-549 Duncanpup Mar 26 #13

I think I bought a used car from those guys. retread Mar 27 #41

Not only do I remember our phone when I was a kid in the '50s. I remember my grandmother's phone Wonder Why Mar 26 #14

Lexington, MA started with VOlunteer. I always liked that. nt Nittersing Mar 26 #15

Twilight bmbmd Mar 26 #17

Heck, my sister still has it. It's a couple of numbers longer than it as in the late 40s, but still works. Biophilic Mar 26 #18

Early 60s BOSSHOG Mar 26 #19

Small town justaprogressive Mar 26 #20

i remember my grandparents cause it was fun on touchtone. 258-3719. pansypoo53219 Mar 26 #21

hopkins 36389 dembotoz Mar 26 #22

Hickory 6, 2424 Emile Mar 26 #23

dont remember anymore . a friend of mine in his 70s still remembers his AllaN01Bear Mar 26 #24

Yes, and it's still my Mom's number even though she moved out of the house several years ago. beaglelover Mar 26 #25

anyone remember the andy griffith show . AllaN01Bear Mar 26 #26

Jenny's bmbmd Mar 26 #27

Small useless factoid: 867 5309 Jenny was written a stone's throw away from... Brother Buzz Mar 26 #36

A 'ute? What the hell is a 'ute, Mister Gambini? Aristus Mar 26 #28

4668 Leghorn21 Mar 26 #29

yep.... fantase56 Mar 26 #30

I remember our old number. Different Drummer Mar 26 #31

FRontier enid602 Mar 26 #32

Yes. SamKnause Mar 26 #33

I Do! ProfessorGAC Mar 26 #34

LOgan 4 keithbvadu2 Mar 26 #35

I sure do! HEmlock8-4772 We were on a party line yellowdogintexas Mar 26 #37

Only the "Davenport." soldierant Mar 26 #38

8-5-2-0-5 rsdsharp Mar 26 #39

I remember mine. I also remember my grandmother's #. Mad_Dem_X Mar 27 #42