I remember at the high school I attended (built in '66), that the range and dryer receptacles in the home-ec room were all the 4-wire type. They were connected to a 120/208 volt single-phase circuit, which originated in a three-phase panel. Although they could have purchased special models for the 208 volt service, they got standard 120/240 volt appliances. The reason for this is that two local appliance dealers (Frigidaire & GE) provided most of them at no cost, and switched them out every so often. Since they wanted to sell them afterwards, they had to be ones that would work in most homes.
They used 4-wire cords and receptacles because the circuits originated in remote panelboards, rather than in the main service as would be the case in most houses. Even 50 years ago, the code required that the ground be separate from the neutral in that situation. I've also seen ranges and dryers in large homes use the 4-wire configuration, due to being connected to a remote panel. The only place the neutral and equipment ground are allowed to be joined in in the main service entrance.