Didn't have a crank phone, but phone numbers were assigned to "regions"
The town I grew up in was Watertown, CT. It's telephone region was "CRestwood" so all number began with 27 (CR).
The next town over, Thomaston, was "ATwood" so all numbers began with 28 (AT).
So if someone asked you what your phone number was you would say ... "Crestwood 4-5555".
Also, if you were in the "Crestwood" region and wanted to dial another number in the "Crestwood" region you only had to dial 4-xxxx.
Most of us withing this age spread could probably relate to this ...
During the summer, I would get up and out the door at 7 am in the morning. Take off on my bike with my buds, and not have to be home until 5 pm. During that time, my mom never knew where I was and it was never a concern. Can't do that nowadays.
You just had to make sure that your arse was in the dinner chair for 5 pm tho ... else all hell broke loose ... go figure.