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Lemon Yellow or Lime Green? 500

Started by TelePlay, April 20, 2016, 09:49:57 PM

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TelePlay

This BIN for $99 plus $14 shipping 500 seems like a very nice sort of rare color 500.

Given images are not always true to actual color, this phone seems like a -106 Lime Green, or is it a -93 Lemon Yellow? Or something else?

A bit to high for me to make it mine.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Western-Electric-500-Yellow-Rotary-Dial-Desk-Phone-Reconditioned-1960s-/272218682267

Any thoughts? How rare are these colors?

poplar1

I vote for neither lime green nor lemon yellow.
The handset is from the 1968-1982 "Bell System Property" years, which would probably indicate this is --56 yellow, the same yellow that WE used for 500s from about 1954 - 1986.
As far as I know, WE never made 500s in lime green or lemon yellow. ITT and S-C made lime green 500s.
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

poplar1

#2
Paul-F. lists the following in the Design Line sets:

Sculptura (902/2902) --  white (-58),  yellow (-93) and brown (-104)

Accent (920/921/2920/2921) -- including yellow (-93) and lime green (-106) and others

Noteworthy (950/2950) -- including yellow (-123)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From my own observation, the "Big Ten" sets were available in the standard yellow (--56) color.

In addition, the  R-223/2223 Trimlines, and R-554BMPs, remanufactured from about 1990-1994 were available in Sunny Yellow (-303).

Maize Yellow (-308) has been found on both Signature 2500 and Signature 2554 sets.

Has anyone found Western Electric/AT&T  lime green (-106) or lemon yellow (-93) 500s or 554s?
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

TelePlay

Quote from: poplar1 on April 20, 2016, 11:07:19 PM
I vote for neither lime green nor lemon yellow.

Yes, after reading some of the posts, I dug out my 2 accent phones, one green and the other gold yellow (Wisconsin football colors) and this 500 is certainly not lime green. So, it's a "yellow" but it still is an attractive, if not overpriced for me, matching cords phone.

And, the bottom, the feet, are in really good condition for a '60 phone.

poplar1

#4
Note June, 1969 remanufacture date on base pan (R669C). The following are consistent with the 1969 date, but not 1960:

If that is a 9C dial = then after 1964
G-3 handset shell 1968-1982 logo
Tapered grommet on H4CJ handset cord = sometime later than 4/68
"Tangle free" fat mounting cord typical for long cords of that era
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

Dennis Markham

The dial appears to be a 7 series dial.  The finger stop tells the story.  The bezel has the wide opening with the finger stop support beneath the stop.  The 9 series dial bezel had a thin opening, just wide enough for the finger stop.

~Dennis

poplar1

Dennis, I think you're r Iight about the dial. It's either a 7C or 7D that was updated with the newer style finger wheel, and likely a new dial number plate as well. Could have been done in 6/69 since there aren't any other refurb dates shown.
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

19and41

I would've said yellow for the number plate.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
— Arthur C. Clarke