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When bakelite and plastic were used instead of metal and wood, it became possible to actually make the phones in colors. The obvious advantage was that the color was in the material and did not wear off with frequent use. Collectors keep asking the question, "What colors was it made in?" and losing or forgetting the answer. This page is a place to help keep track of what we've found. Colors are divided into "standard production colors" found in the manufacturers' literature, and "other colors" that were available on a special order or custom basis. Other colors also includes sets that are in collections, but haven't been found in catalogs yet. The source column refers to the standard production colors. This page does not include colors that were apparently added by homeowners or third party refurbishers. For some outrageous examples of phone decorating, see the page, Why did they do that? Most info here is from manufacturer catalogs and ads plus discussions on the ATCA and TCI listservs. No claim is made regarding accuracy or completeness. If you're enjoying looking at this level of detail, and haven't joined one of the phone clubs yet, see the links page. This is a work in progress. Please send comments, additions and corrections. Last update: 1 Jun 2024 |
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Phone Model Family
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Standard Production Colors
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Other Colors
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Source
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| Automatic
Electric Monophones 1A thru 50  |
black, mahogany, chinese
red, orchid, nile green, royal blue, maroon, walnut, old
ivory Models 34, 40, 50 only - jade green |
Found sets: butterscotch, transparent AE50 beige with handset clips |
AE
brochure Catalogs - 4055C, D & F Listservs |
| AE 80 desk, 90 wall, 95 panel, 182 Starlite, 183 Spacemaker, 192 Starlite Wall, 880 Speakerphone, 980 Styleline  |
GTE GSPs Listservs |
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Kellogg bakelite 700, 900, 925, 990, 9917   |
black walnut (brown) |
Catalog 10 |
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| Kellogg 1000 "Redbar"  |
black walnut (SelectOPhone system) |
Found sets: white, blue, ivory, red pink ("given to salesmen") |
Catalog 10 Catalog 11 Listservs |
| Kellogg 1000 "Clearbar"  |
-- |
Found sets: black, green, red white/purple_swirl |
Listservs |
| Kellogg / ITT* DK500 500 & ITT 500  * Kellogg became part
of ITT in 1951.
|
00 Black 02 Red 03 Brown (Dark, Discontinued in 1957) 04 Yellow 05 Green 06 Blue (Dark, Discontinued in 1957) 07 Beige (Dark, Discontinued in 1957) 08 Gray (Dark, Discontinued in 1957) 09 Ivory (After 1957) 10 Turquoise 11 Rose Pink 12 Aqua Blue 13 Light Beige 14 Light Gray 15 White 16 Sea Green (After 1964) 30 Turquoise (After 1972) 43 Orange (Later - ca. 1978) 43 Burnt Orange (Orange) 44 Light Ash 45 Cocoa Brown 46 Harvest Gold 47 Cherry Red |
Note:
2-tone sets were available for several years in the
mid-1950s with colored housings and black handsets and
dials. |
1958 K500 Handbook ITT Telephone Guides: 1968, 1972, 1978 TIMM: 1968, 1977 Listservs |
| Leich 1xx "Convertible"  |
black red, gray, yellow, light blue, white, beige, green, turquoise, pink, ivory |
Found sets: dark gray, rose beige, dark blue and clear. Note: 2-tone sets were available for several years in the mid-1950s with colored housings and black handsets and dials. |
Leich
Catalog, 1961 Listservs |
| Leich North 7H6 Conversion  (Makes a North
H-series set
look like an AE80) |
-- Black (no
suffix) A Ivory C Beige H Turquoise J White L Pink |
Leich Catalog, 1961 | |
| North H-series "Galion"  |
black, ivory, green,
maroon, mahogany, royal blue, chinese red |
Found sets: White, tan |
Brochure Listservs |
| North 541  |
Black Emperor Blue (B) [dark] Tawny Green (G) [dark] Chartreuse Yellow (Y) Indian Ivory (J) Coral Sand (T) [like WE rose beige] Executive Gray (GR) [dark] Richland Red (R) Click for North 541 Color brochure page Note: 2-tone sets were available for several years in the mid-1950s with colored housings and black handsets and dials. |
Found sets: pink, white |
North
Sales Guide - 3/56 Listservs |
| Northern
Electric Uniphone  |
black brown |
Found sets: Ivory (Found Set) -- Apparently never marketed, due to problems with warping and color stability. |
Catalog T7 1947 Listservs |
| Northern
Electric 500 Series |
-3 black -50 Ivory -51 Moss Green -53 Red -56 Yellow -58 White -59 Pink -60 Light Beige -61 Light Grey -62 Aqua Blue -64 Turquoise [added after 1964] |
NE T-9 Catalog 1964 [See catalog for colors by model code] |
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| -29 Orange -50 Light Ivory -53 Cherry Red -56 Pastel Yellow |
NT Catalog Cards 3/76 |
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| -26 Cocoa Brown -31 Harvest Gold -35 Chameleon Gray -38 Light Cherry Red |
NT Catalog Cards 11/78 |
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| Northern Electric Princess / Contessa |
-58 White -59 Pink -60 Light Beige -62 Aqua Blue -64 Turquoise |
NE T-9 Catalog 1964 |
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| Northern Telecom Contempra Imagination Sets NT Color Codes (new window)  |
almond, beige, biscuit,
black, brown, burgundy, cafe au lait, clear, dark blue,
pale blue, harvest gold, moss green, ivory, mauve (MD73),
burnt orange, red, sienna (rust), dark turquoise (MD73),
white, light yellow. dark brown leather, light brown leather, white leather swirl. |
Found sets: American Club Limited Editions Granit series (Looks like rock or marble): White, Ivory, Black, Green Woodgrain series: Light Burlwood (Ivory), African Burlwood (Dark Brown), Oak Link to American Club colors |
Listservs |
| Stromberg
Carlson 119x-series  |
black (Bakelite) Brown, Chinese Red, Ivory, Maroon, Nile Green, Orchid, Peach, Powder Blue (Tenite from Eastman Kodak) |
Found sets: clear |
SC Catalog
1942 Ads Listservs |
| SC 1240-series |
black |
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| SC 1543-series |
black (like WE early 500-series colors) 01 Desert Beige (dark) 02 French Blue (dark) 03 Chestnut Brown (dark) 04 Dove Gray (dark) 05 Olive Green 06 Antique Ivory 07 Chinese Red 08 Canary Yellow Note: 2-tone sets were available for several years in the mid-1950s with colored housings and black handsets and dials. (like WE 1957 500-series colors) 10 White 11 Aqua Blue 12 Rose Pink Light Beige Light Grey Click for T-3003 Color Brochure |
SC Catalog SC T-3003 Listservs |
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| SC 500 2500 Miniwall (rotary) Slenderet (Similar to WE Trimline below) |
BLK Black BLU Blue GRN Green LGR Lime Green CBR Cocoa Brown CRD Cherry Red ORG Orange HGD Harvest Gold BGE Beige ASH Ash IVY Ivory WHT White (Limited Edition Swirl Sets in Slenderet Desk models only -- ca. 1978-82) - Click for Swirl Ad CRS Cherry Swirl (red/white) CHS Chocolate Swirl (brown/white) BSS Butterscotch Swirl (yellow/white) MTS Mint Swirl (green/white) |
Found sets: Orange/white Swirl Blue/white Swirl Black/white Swirl Brown/yellow Swirl Blue/yellow Swirl Yellow/green Swirl |
SC Catalogs SC T916 Issue 1 3/78 Listservs |
|
Western Electric B, C, D and E mountings &
300-series metal, painted(-xx = WE color code)
WE Color Code Chart B-type mounting (~1929)
 D-type mounting (1930-38)  300-series (1936-54) 
Model numbers see: WE 300-series types |
-3 Black -4 Ivory -5 French Gray [gone by 1939] -6 Antique Brass -7 Statuary Bronze -8 Oxidized Silver (1929 Southwest Bell Sales Manual) Added: -6 Old Brass (name change) -11 Medium Gold [gone by 1939] -12 Dark Gold (1932 Southwest Bell Sales Manual, 1935 WE Catalog 9) - - - - - - - - - - -3 Black -4 Ivory -6 Old Brass -7 Statuary Bronze -8 Oxidized Silver -12 Dark Gold Added: -16 Old Rose -18 Dark Blue -19 Gray-Green -20 Pekin Red (1939 WE Catalog 10, 1940 Telephones in Color brochure) Late 211s only: -50 Ivory -51 Moss Green -53 Red -56 Yellow -58 White -59 Pink -60 Light Beige -61 Light Grey -62 Aqua Blue -64 Turquoise |
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- - - - 75th Anniversary Reissue: (~1951) D1 base with F1 handset, plastic fingerwheel, matching subset. From service centers. "Continental" Painted in 302 colors Most common: Ivory, Green and Red. "Silver Continental" - silver base with ivory painted or plastic handset, ivory subset. "Imperial" - Gold base with ivory painted or plastic handset, ivory subset. - - - - - Found sets: 300-series: ( '37 only) Yale Blue Medium Brown |
C30.011,
I6 Addendum, i2 Listservs |
| WE 300-series thermoplastic  |
-3 Black -4 Ivory -16 Old Rose* -18 Dark Blue* -19 Gray-Green* -20 Pekin Red* *desk set only 2-tone 302s in early 500-series colors (1954-57) [C32.502, i8] -50A Ivory -51A Moss Green -52A Gray -53A Red -54A Brown -55A Beige -56A Yellow -57A Blue |
-29
Transparent (1939 World's Fair) - - - - - Found sets: Late 302 housings in 500 colors with painted matching handsets (1954): -50 Ivory -51 Moss Green -53 Red -55 Beige |
C30.011 C32.502, i8 Late 302s reported on Listservs |
| WE
5300-series (1955-) |
-3 black |
Found sets: pink, aqua, biege, white, red, green, clear (With G3 handsets) |
C32.567 C32.568 502-400-101 Listservs |
| WE 500-series (1949-86)  1500-series (1964-67)  2500-series (1968-) |
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.
Note: Dates are based on first appearance in marketing literature. Sets may be found dated the previous year. -3 Black New in 1953 (Black handset, dial & cord): -50 Ivory, Cameo Ivory, Classic
Ivory. (MD before 1963)
-51 Green, Moss Green, Mistletoe Green, Sage Green, Colonial Green. -52 Gray, Dark Gray, Oxford Gray, Charcoal Gray, Dove Gray. (MD* 1957) -53 Red, Cherry Red, Cardinal Red, Fiesta Red. (MD before 1963) New in 1954 (full color or two-tone): -54 Brown, Mahogany Brown, Briar Brown, Autumn Brown. (MD 1957, continued for keysets for several years) -55 Beige, Dark Beige, Rose Beige, Rosewood Beige. (MD 1957) -56 Yellow, Canary Yellow, Sunlight Yellow, Pastel Yellow. (NP* 1963) -57 Blue, Medium Blue, Dark Blue, Mediterranean Blue, True Blue, Capri Blue, Shadow Blue. (MD 1957) New in 1957 (two-tone MD): -58 White. -59 Pink, Rose Pink. (MD ca. 1978) -60 Beige, Light Beige. -61 Gray, Light Gray. (NP 1963, MD ca. 1978 - except data sets) -62 Blue, Aqua Blue. New in 1964 -64 Turquoise (NP 1963, MD ca. 1978) Late Production (80s, 90s) -93 Lemon Yellow -104 Chocolate Brown -105 Dark Green, Hunter Green -106 Lime Green -115 Royal Blue, Dark Blue -123 Butter Yellow -124 Rust -145 Blue, Teal -265 Ultralight Gray -304 Mocha Brown -305 Country Blue - ?? Gun Metal Grey (Oxford Gray) - ?? Peach - ?? Salmon *NP = Nonpromoted Color - supplied on request (see 500-120-100. May differ for wall and keysets.) *MD = Manufacture Discontinued |
-29
Transparent - - - - - - - - - - Note: Two-tone sets were available for several years in the mid-1950s with colored housings and black handsets and dials. They used the same color codes with the suffix A. (e.g. -53A for two-tone red.) Sets have also been found that have matching housings and handsets, but black dials with metal fingerwheels. After the MD date, continued demand for 2-tone sets was satisfied by conversion of black sets using colored housings. Work was performed at the Distribution Centers. - - - - - - - - - - Sets were painted for presentation sets and for special orders. Clear number plates were painted from behind with matching color. Reported sets found in: -7 Bronze -12 Dark Gold -63 Gold Shiny Gold Shiny Chrome Orange |
C14.002 500-120-100 Issue 4, 7/63 Issue 5, 4/65 Listservs (Observation) AT&T Press Releases |
| WE Princess (1959-) - 1702: 1963-68 - 2702: 1968 -- |
New in 1959 -58 White -59 Rose Pink -60 Light Beige -62 Aqua Blue -64 Turquoise (NP* 1963, MD* 1970) New in 1963 -3 Black (NP 1963) -51 Moss Green (NP 1963) -56 Pastel Yellow (NP 1963) -61 Light Gray (NP 1963, MD 1970) New in 1967 -50 Ivory -53 Cherry Red Late Production (80s) -104 Chocolate Brown -145 Blue, Teal -255 Cameo Green -258 Peach -293 Slate Blue *NP = Nonpromoted Color - supplied on request *MD = Manufacture Discontinued AT&T 2703 Signature Princess (1993 introduction) -50 Ivory -58 White -59 Pink -62 Aqua Blue -258 Peach |
-29 Transparent "Imperial" - Gold or Chromed base with ivory or black handset. |
Listservs (Observation) 500-120-100 Issue 4, 7/63 Issue 5, 4/65 R. Mountjoy |
| WE Design Line |
Colors by model included in
the table at: WE Design Line Sets |
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| WE Trimline (1964-) |
-3 Black (NP 1963) -50 Ivory (NP 1963) -51 Moss Green, Mistletoe Green (NP 1963) -53 Cherry Red (NP 1963) -56 Pastel Yellow (NP 1963) -58 White -59 Rose Pink -60 Light Beige -61 Light Gray (NP 1963) -62 Aqua Blue -64 Turquoise -104 Chocolate Brown -105 Dark Green, Hunter Green -111 Harvest Gold -114 Bright Red -115 Royal Blue, Dark Blue -124 Rust -139 Charcoal Gray -142 Midnight Blue -143 Burgundy Red -144 Cinnibar Red -145 Teal Blue -146 Dark Teaberry Pink -147 Creamy Apricot Pink -170 Mocha -258 Peach -302 Green, Forest -303 Yellow, Sunny -305 Blue, Country |
-29 Transparent |
Listservs 500-120-100 Issue 5, 4/65 |
| WE Merlin  |
-03 Black -58 White -104 Chocolate Brown -139 Charcoal Gray -142 Midnight Blue -143 Burgundy -144 Cinnabar Click for Merlin Color brochure page |
Listservs |
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| WE
Headsets |
52-type in -3 Black, -51 Moss Green, -53 Cherry Red, -56 Pastel Yellow, -58 White 53-type in -3 Black (clear or black caps) 60 and 61-types in -3 Black, -50 Ivory |
-50 Ivory, -60 Light Beige |
Listservs 028-360-501 028-361-501 028-362-501 028-363-501 |
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To view 1984 Western Electric Color Charts, follow these links: For Phones , or For Components . (Thanks to Todd Bernstein and David Massey for providing these charts!) |
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Thanks for contributions
from Arthur P. Bloom, Paul Fassbender, Steph Kerman,
William Wright, Richard Gerber, Dave Haber and David
Willingham.
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©2004-24 paulf. All rights
reserved.
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