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AE Colors (draft)

©2002-12 paulf.  All rights reserved.
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This chart is a team effort.

Please send additions or corrections to:
 
Email Address - Not Clickable
 
Revised: April 17, 2012
 
The color code can generally be found in the code stamped on the bottom of the telephone.

The 4th & 5th digits are the color of the telephone when it was manufactured.
(Housings were often painted or replaced as phones were refurbished.)

Example: NC802100 CSA  = NC802 (model) 10 (color: beige) 0 CSA (dial & ringer)
See bottom of this page for more on -- AE Codes.




AE80
DESK
A
E
9
0

W
A
L
L
P
A
N
E
L
STARLITE
DESK
S
P
A
C
E
M
A
K
E
R
S
T
A
R
L
I
T
E

WALL
S
P
E
A
K
E
R
P
H
O
N
E
S
T
Y
L
E
L
I
N
E

Color
Color
Code

Letter
NC-
80

80E

85

85E

90

95
NB-
182A
NC/D
182A
182
B

183
192
A
192
B
880
A/B
980
A
980
B
Black
00
A
* * * * *
* * * * * * * * *
Beige
(sand)
10
B
* * * * *
* * * * * * *
*
Dawn Gray
11
C
*
*
*



x


*

Green
(avocado)
(jade)
12
D


*

*
*

*
* *


*

*
Ivory
(classic)
13
E
*


* * * * * * * *
* *
Red
(Garnet)
14
F
*


*

*
* *



Turquoise
15
G
*
*
*
* * * * * * *

Dark Blue
16
H
*



x










Yellow
(autumn gold)
(lemonade
17
J
*
*


*

Note 1

Note 1

*




*


*
Pink
(camellia)
18
L

*



*
* * * * * *

*
White
(basic)
(gardenia)
19
M


*
* * * * * * * * * * *

*

*

*
Antique
White
21
N

*
*








* *
Espresso
Brown
22
Y

*
*



*

*
* *
Tropic
Green
23
AA













* *
Electric
Blue

24
AS













* *
Tangerine
25
AC













* *
Candy
Apple
26
AD













* *
Porcelain
Blue
27
AE













* *
Sunny
Yellow
28
AF













* *
Autumn
Gold
29
AG

*
*



*
* *
* *
Blue (forget
me not)
30
K
*


*
* * * x
* *
* *
Beige
31
AH













* *
avocado
32
T








*

*
* *
Desert
Sand
35















*
Terra Cotta
36















*
Forest
Green
37















*
Clear
Note 2

x













x
Woodgrain
Note 3














x

* Found in GTE/AE documentation
x Observed on sets in collections
(  )   Alternate color names sharing the code – usually for different models

Notes:
1. used “17” as Autumn Gold
2. Found sets in clear have color codes based on dial and cord color (e.g. 00 for black or 10 for beige).   Any others out there?
3. Found sets in woodgrain are believed to be trials that were never assigned color codes or put into production.


Initial data and chart layout courtesy of Gary Stathatos
Additional data from Keelan Lightfoot, Jim Stettler, Terry Biddlecombe, John Carson and Bill Wright.

Sources:
GTE Station Equipment Repair Handbook  # CHB-125  issue 3 (11/82)
GTE Station Installation and Maintenance Handbook   CHB-120  issue 13 (8/83)
AE Catalogs: 1957 and 1973



AE “stocklist” codes

Example: NC802100 CSA  = NC802 (model) 10 (color: beige) 0 CSA (dial & ringer)

Most codes are model-specific.  See documentation for details.
Here are some common codes:


Prefix:
 
AE80 and 90
  NA = Manually adjusted set with a potted transmission unit and a Type 81 handset
  NB = Self-compensating set with either a potted or a Type WA-1120 printed wiring board transmission unit and a Type 810 handset.
  NC = Self-compensating set with a Type WA-1154 printed wiring board transmission unit and either a Type 810 or 811 handset.
 
Starlite
  NB = Type WA-1120-A transmission network
  NC = Type WA-1154-A transmission network
  ND = Type WA-1154-A transmission network, 6’ handset cord
  NF = Type WA-1154-A transmission network, modular plug on line cord


Base number:
Digits 1 & 2: Model
Digit 3: Handset Cord (2=retractile)

Suffix:
Digits 4 & 5: Color (see chart)
Digit 6: Optional Equipment (model-specific)
Letter 1: Dial marking
  A = numeric only
  B = no dial (manual set)
  C = “metropolitan” (numbers and letters)
Ringer code: (2 characters)
  SA = Straight-line with adjusting wheel
  SL = Straight-line with no adjusting wheel
  nn = Ringer frequency


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