I never look for numbers, but go by sight. Numbers are usually hard to find anyway on old, worn, scuffed, or dirty wiring. It's easy enough just to look at the size. If a pencil's what they use, bust the wood off a number 2 and give the lead a good look.
Any questionable stuff in the pile, just ask when you get to the scale if it's all #1, but then I've got simple yards around here, where there isn't usually a line, and the scale master isn't in a platform office where you can't easily talk to him
good luck
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