Research for TV drama - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Flashingby · 21st May 2022, 6:17 pm

Hi all, I hope somebody can help with a research question.
I'm working on a TV drama set in Whitechapel, London in 1941.
I'm looking for a list of telephone exchange codes for London at this time. I've found many examples from the 1960s and later.
Does anybody know where I can find a list that is accurate for 1941?
Thanks.

paulsherwin · 21st May 2022, 6:47 pm

Are you aware of the Wikipedia article? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...nges_in_London

London exchanges didn't change much between the 40s and the 60s, but you would need to double check the history of any specifically referenced examples.

It's good to see a production company taking historical accuracy seriously.

Pellseinydd · 23rd May 2022, 6:15 pm

I have a list of the 146 'Director' automatic exchanges in service in the London area for 1941. By 1960 there were 194 'Director' Automatic exchanges which rose to 313 by 1970. Each with its own code !
It will take a bit of extracting the info into a single list.

Flashingby · 24th May 2022, 9:37 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pellseinydd

I have a list of the 146 'Director' automatic exchanges in service in the London area for 1941. By 1960 there were 194 'Director' Automatic exchanges which rose to 313 by 1970. Each with its own code !
It will take a bit of extracting the info into a single list.

Thank you. If you want to send the full list I can extract the London ones.

21st May 2022, 6:17 pm	#1
Flashingby Diode Join Date: May 2022 Location: Manchester, Greater Manchester, Northwest, UK. Posts: 2	Research for TV drama Hi all, I hope somebody can help with a research question. I'm working on a TV drama set in Whitechapel, London in 1941. I'm looking for a list of telephone exchange codes for London at this time. I've found many examples from the 1960s and later. Does anybody know where I can find a list that is accurate for 1941? Thanks.

21st May 2022, 6:47 pm	#2
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,965	Re: Research for TV drama Are you aware of the Wikipedia article? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...nges_in_London London exchanges didn't change much between the 40s and the 60s, but you would need to double check the history of any specifically referenced examples. It's good to see a production company taking historical accuracy seriously.

23rd May 2022, 6:15 pm	#3
Pellseinydd Heptode Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Flintshire, UK. Posts: 707	Re: Research for TV drama I have a list of the 146 'Director' automatic exchanges in service in the London area for 1941. By 1960 there were 194 'Director' Automatic exchanges which rose to 313 by 1970. Each with its own code ! It will take a bit of extracting the info into a single list.