In building a model of anything, it's easy to get "sidetracked" into exploring the purpose of,
or the reason why something was designed, and made the way it [IS]. Understanding the history
of the standard established for the (volume unit) by Bell Laboratories, and the various broadcasting
companies during the late 1930s, it was not difficult to read and learn about this using the Internet.
Here's what I could not find.
I could not locate information anywhere related to the color of the VU Meter face.
I'm building a model. I need to know this stuff. ............................................................
Any radio station I was employed with always had audio mixing boards with meter faces having
a certain color. Tape recorders and other types of audio equipment utilized a similar color with
their meter faces as well. ...........................................................................................
Was it tan, beige, almond, antique white, moccasin, light yellow? The list of colors could go on.
Where did the meter Manufacturer's choice in color originate? And what color is it?
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November 29, 2010 UPDATE: Two conferences held in June, 1938 at the Institute of Radio Engineers annual
convention in New York established the design of the volume indicator. In addition to the meter's electrical specifications, other characteristics were chosen to
make the instrument readable over long periods with little eyestrain or fatigue. The meter face referred to as a "Scale Card" was designated Cream Yellow with
markings in Black and Red. (Gracious Thank You to Jack Orman for providing documentation from 1939 "Electronics" reprint, McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., Inc.)