In some parts of this area, Contel only offered hunt groups with terminals. The customer got one main number (always ending with a 1) and the terminals were designated B, C, D, etc. Their idea of a "good" business number was something like 2141. I think this had to do with reducing wear on their mechanical switches. Even after they changed them to DMS offices, they still maintained this policy.

The wouldn't allow for hunt groups with true separate numbers without a major extra charge. They also required that all numbers be in sequential order. If a customer had 2141 as their main number and they wanted it to hunt to a real number, 2142 had to be available. If not, the customer had to change their main number. I know of a construction company that waited four years for the next number to become available.

At the same time, Contel would give the good numbers, like 4000 to any average residential customer out of the hat for their modem line.

Once GTE took them over, this policy went away.

Wow, sorry for the sidetrack.

Ed Vaughn, MBSWWYPBX