Small businesses with their roots in the early to mid-20th century still abound in the pockets and corners of Manhattan. And what a treat it is to come across one of these old New York businesses still using a pre-1960s two-letter phone exchange.
Case in point: Abbey Locksmiths, at 1558 Second Avenue just shy of 81st Street. The main sign for this business, established in 1952, has an all-numerical phone number.
But look closely at the neon signage in the front window: the phone number starts with LE.
LE for Lexington? After years of looking into these old-school phone exchanges, I’ve found that though some are named for local streets and landmarks, others have no ties to the neighborhood.
But Lexington Avenue is just two avenues away, a shopping street with a subway stop at 86th Street. In the absence of a comprehensive guide to old New York phone exchanges, it’s as good a guess as I can come up with.
Related Posts
h0911
·
September 23, 2024
·
“Kalki 2” is an impressive cinematic work from India, continuing the thrilling journey of the main character, Kalki, in a world overshadowed by darkness. The film opens…
h0911
·
September 23, 2024
·
“MalaiKottai Vaaliban” is a film that presents an engaging story about the life of a young man, Arjun, who lives in a peaceful rural area but becomes…
h0911
·
September 23, 2024
·
The character played by Ram Charan is a brave man, but his life is haunted by a personal tragedy. In his quest for justice for the losses…
h0911
·
September 23, 2024
·
The Indian military plans a strategic mission to liberate hostages in Sierra Leone in the July 2000. Operation Khukri featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Rajkummar Rao is…
h0911
·
September 23, 2024
·
“Heretic” (2024) is a film directed by Robert Eggers, known for his work on atmospheric and intense horror films. This one follows a group of archaeologists who…
l1202
·
September 23, 2024
·
“Damsel” (2024) is an upcoming fantasy adventure film directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo and starring Millie Bobby Brown in the lead role. The film is set in…