Early telephone systems provided party line service. A single line was shared among multiple homes. When a call came through, it rang in all homes at the same time. People were able to distinguish their own calls by listening to the ring pattern, which was derived from their individual phone numbers.

The phone numbers were 3 and 4 digits long. The first two digits dictated the ring pattern. The third and optional fourth specified the circuit number.

The ring pattern was formulated like this:
5 - one short ring
6 - two short rings
7 - one short, one long
8 - one long
9 - two long

Thus, a phone number such as 5823 would specify ring pattern 58 on circuit 23. The ring pattern would be one short ring followed by one long ring, notated as S - L. Similarly, the number 796 would ring as S - L - L - L on circuit 6.

QUIZ QUESTIONS

Examine the telephone directory and determine the answers to these questions.

1. What was the ring pattern for telephone number 877?

2. Who was assigned the ring pattern ( L - S - L ) on circuit 7?

3. What other people shared that circuit?