WE/NT/ITT/SC plastic phone colors

[markosjal]

as many of the WE, NT, ITT, and SC phones appear identical at first glance I was wondering if anyone knows if there is consistency in colors between these manufacturers.

For instance I have a SC Slenderet (Trimline) in Burnt Orange. Is this the same as WE Burnt Orange?

What manufacturers shared color consistency with WE ? I can see that for instance my AE Styleline in beige is way off from WE Beige, but it seems many years ago I had an AE model 80 that was a close match to WE Beige. I also know that SC made the trimline in bright red and not sire WE ever did, only dark red.

I pose the question because if someone has a WE red handset cord fo4r sale how will I know if I have a dark red SC, ITT or NT that it might be a close match??

Thanks,

Mark

[paul-f]

Each manufacturer had its own ordering code for colors.

I've been gradually collecting and posting the codes we find here. Additions and corrections are welcome.

  http://www.paul-f.com/color.htm

The 500 series was licensed from WE to ITT and SC and their successors, and the matching colors for the clone sets is usually the same, but ITT and SC had their unique colors as well.

  http://www.paul-f.com/color.htm#WE500
  http://www.paul-f.com/color.htm#ITT500
  http://www.paul-f.com/color.htm#SC500

AE was usually proud to go their own way, as you have noticed.

  http://www.paul-f.com/color.htm#AE

Matching cord colors is a chronic problem, as the colors may not have been identical when made plus housing parts and cord colors tended to fade differently with age and environmental exposure. In general, if you get a close match when ordering a cord, you're lucky.

Edit: added some on-page links for ITT and SC 500 colors.

[dlvh]

Each manufacturer had its own ordering code for colors.

I've been gradually collecting and posting the codes we find here. Additions and corrections are welcome.

  http://www.paul-f.com/color.htm

The 500 series was licensed from WE to ITT and SC and their successors, and the matching colors for the clone sets is usually the same, but ITT and SC had their unique colors as well.

  http://www.paul-f.com/color.htm#WE500
  http://www.paul-f.com/color.htm#ITT500
  http://www.paul-f.com/color.htm#SC500

AE was usually proud to go their own way, as you have noticed.

  http://www.paul-f.com/color.htm#AE

Matching cord colors is a chronic problem, as the colors may not have been identical when made plus housing parts and cord colors tended to fade differently with age and environmental exposure. In general, if you get a close match when ordering a cord, you're lucky.

Edit: added some on-page links for ITT and SC 500 colors.

On your site Paul, When you list different colors for the WE 500 models for example Red, you list: "Cherry Red", "Cardinal Red" & "Fiesta Red". Does that mean, there were 3 different Reds produced that year (1953), or did they just get called 3 different color names?

[paul-f]

On your site Paul, When you list different colors for the WE 500 models for example Red, you list: "Cherry Red", "Cardinal Red" & "Fiesta Red". Does that mean, there were 3 different Reds produced that year (1953), or did they just get called 3 different color names?

At the top of the chart entry for WE 500 colors:

Note: The first color name is typically the one found in the initial BSPs.  Other names were used in marketing literature and often differed among the Operating Companies.

All color names following a color code are made from the same color plastic. For example, from the chart:

   -53 Red, Cherry Red, Cardinal Red, Fiesta Red. (MD before 1963)The color code ordering suffix is -53 for all the following color names. There may be other color names to be found.

[markosjal]

Thanks Paul-F,

I I also found this page: http://www.frillfreephones.com/cova.html ( dead link 05-02-21 )

and this page: http://www.beatriceco.com/bti/porticus/bell/telephones-colorcharts-1.html

Very helpful

[dlvh]

Thanks to both of you for this information! Very interesting.