> Since the topic has been brought up - just how did the first three
digits
> of phone numbers (not the area code) get started or assigned?  -
which came first - the numbers or the
> letters?


The letters came first.  The New York Daily Newshas a Rear View Mirror
article at
http://www.nydailynews.com/1999-01-21/New_York_Now/Cityscape/a-17123.asp
that gives a brief history of the telephone system and explains the
change from letters to numbers.  (It even mentions BUtterfield 8
briefly!)



Rachel


==
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