UL2

This phone was in the basement of my parents' home when they died. 

I remember our phone # being UL2-0874.

Eventually the UL was dropped and 852 was used. 

I wonder if the new owners kept it, tossed it, or sold it? It's definitely an antique -  UL2 label, rotary dial, AND the cord is cloth covered!

Mom and Dad built the house in 1950. I wonder if this was the original phone? When they died, the phone in the kitchen was a rotary phone, but it had a coiled rubber or plastic cord (It was a VERY long cord that gave you quite a good range of motion while talking on the phone.)

This article gives an interesting history of exchange names such as Ulrick.

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Phone related memories 

No phone calls during meal times

Phone calls were supposed to be short. Mom sometimes set the timer. I don't recall how long calls could be. This same timer was used to remind us about acceptable duration of showers. 

That long cord made it possible to sit on the top of the basement stairs with the door closed in an attempt to have a bit of privacy during a phone call. 

After we children left home, Mom and Dad would get on different phones (kitchen and basement or den phone) to talk with children and grandchildren. This was before the days of speaker phones.

One of my siblings gave Mom and Dad a wireless phone that untethered them from the corded phone. They often took it outside with them. 

Long distance calls were very expensive. They were for special occasions or emergencies. Dad liked to tell this story about one of his cousins. Dad received a telegram from K. The message told him to ignore the first telegram. Dad called K to let him know he hadn't received a first telegram. "I know," said K. He then told Dad he'd read about a situation with the family and wanted to talk with Dad - but he wanted Dad to incur the cost of the long distance phone call!

When I was in college we had a phone in the room. It was connected to the dorm switchboard. The operator/receptionist could call to tell you about a visitor or some other message. I don't recall if you could make calls to people on campus. I know you had to use the pay phone in the dorm if you wanted to call home. I think people could call you on the pay phone. Someone would answer the ringing phone and seek out the person being called on the pay phone. 

Things have certainly changed!