Sometimes people called out the first two digits as letters. I think they must have marketed it that way when they went from 5 to 7 digits in the US, before I was born. I remember older people using that convention though.

Yes, very early in my childhood, I remember that...wasn't old enough to use a phone but I remember listening in on other conversations.

My home town was probably among the last to get the updated phones.

I think our first phone had a 5-digit number, but not certain. It became 7 digits not long after that. We didn't have a party line though.

I'm probably older but our first phone had a 3 digit number, was attached to the kitchen wall and before we could dial we had to check if a neighbor was already talking on the Party Line. I actually still have that phone and when the electric goes out from a storm my modern landline phones don't work so I plug in the rotary and as long as the phone line is up I can call out.

I'm sure I knew how to use a phone from watching adults use them. Someone with some mechanical ability could figure it out. They didn't even figure out that the phone needed to be turned on by lifting the receiver. It's a much simpler device than today's gadgets.

Yes it is pretty funny but then I have to consider my inability with a lot of this new tech stuff that gives me fits trying to navigate and I give them a pass.

Fun, thanks GaryL!