UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post

Scott37 · 26th Aug 2018, 4:48 pm

I was referred to this forum by someone on a newsgroup, who spoke highly of the expertise here. I hope this question is not off-topic through being about history rather than about any individual piece of equipment.

I have been reading about Director exchanges. My understanding is that to dial any number in the Director area (eg London, Glasgow) it was necessary to dial all seven 'digits' - three letters and four numbers. I can see why this was necessary as the first three digits of the subscriber number could correspond to the three digits (letters) of another exchange. As I understand it then, it was necessary to dial seven 'digits' to call someone in your own exchange.

However, this got me wondering. When the first London automatic exchange was introduced (Holborn?), did you then dial only four digits - and use the operator for all other London numbers - or seven digits in anticipation of the roll-out of the Director system?

26th Aug 2018, 4:48 pm	#1
Scott37 Tetrode Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Posts: 55	Early automatic exchanges UK I was referred to this forum by someone on a newsgroup, who spoke highly of the expertise here. I hope this question is not off-topic through being about history rather than about any individual piece of equipment. I have been reading about Director exchanges. My understanding is that to dial any number in the Director area (eg London, Glasgow) it was necessary to dial all seven 'digits' - three letters and four numbers. I can see why this was necessary as the first three digits of the subscriber number could correspond to the three digits (letters) of another exchange. As I understand it then, it was necessary to dial seven 'digits' to call someone in your own exchange. However, this got me wondering. When the first London automatic exchange was introduced (Holborn?), did you then dial only four digits - and use the operator for all other London numbers - or seven digits in anticipation of the roll-out of the Director system?