HP-41cv trim/bezel brown?

[rexbinary]

Hi all,

I was looking at my HP-41cv with a small flashlight and for the first time noticed that the trim/bezel that goes around the sides and bottom of the unit is actually dark brown instead of black as I thought. Has it always been brown and I just never noticed? Well, you can't answer that obviously, but maybe someone can tell me if all 41c calculators have always had brown trim/bezel?

Thank you!

[twoweims]

I would like to find the Pantone or RAL number of this Brown color and also for the Green color used for the HP-71B. This information would help for 3D Printing accessories with accurate color matching.

[Andres]

IIRC, HP-41 were dark brown (consistent with the Coconut nickname) instead of black, as black was deemed too "cold" for these machines, while brown was "warmer" and hence more adequate. I think I read something about the color selection in a HP Digest issue, but as this comment comes just from my memory after some 40 years, of course it may be wrong.

[Didier Lachieze]

(09-29-2021 03:45 PM)Andres Wrote:  I think I read something about the color selection in a HP Digest issue, but as this comment comes just from my memory after 40 years, of course it may be wrong.

You're right, according to this article:

Quote:Choosing the perfect color was more of a task than one might think. Originally, beige was selected as the primary color because it accented the body contour. However, a darker color was preferred because… darker colors don’t show the dirt! Another factor was the continuous availability of certain plastics. Colors were narrowed down, and ultimately a hue called Ink Brown was chosen. Unlike basic black, this color has a warm richness.
Decisions on highly subjective material are made largely on "experienced" intuition. According to Hewlett-Packard designers: "You just know what is right for a product".

[rexbinary]

How could I have missed it was not just brown, but it was Ink Brown?