Was NES Hardware Ever A Perfect Grey Color?

[racketboy]

I'm not trying to re-hash an old discussion of how to get rid of the coloring or how it happens.

I'm hoping somebody just addresses my actual question.
Sorry if I'm coming off as snippy, but I'm looking for an actual answer.

I think the actual answer is 'yes'. Looking at old photos (as opposed to altered images for advertisement purposes) the NES did look perfectly gray.

I also remember (though I can't find anything to back this up) that the Nintendo 'gray' was supposedly trademarked by Big N and that Sony was able to borrow the color for their original Playstation due to rights they reserved after Nintendo backed out of their joint venture.

Well, some of the controllers I picked up off eBay looked more grey in the photographs, but just a tad more yellow in person. I don't think the photos were intentionality deceiving, but I wish I could remember back to the 80s with more detail

[lwcook]

I'm not trying to re-hash an old discussion of how to get rid of the coloring or how it happens.

I'm hoping somebody just addresses my actual question.
Sorry if I'm coming off as snippy, but I'm looking for an actual answer.

I think the actual answer is 'yes'. Looking at old photos (as opposed to altered images for advertisement purposes) the NES did look perfectly gray.

I also remember (though I can't find anything to back this up) that the Nintendo 'gray' was supposedly trademarked by Big N and that Sony was able to borrow the color for their original Playstation due to rights they reserved after Nintendo backed out of their joint venture.

Well, some of the controllers I picked up off eBay looked more grey in the photographs, but just a tad more yellow in person. I don't think the photos were intentionality deceiving, but I wish I could remember back to the 80s with more detail

Most of the NESes i've opened up definitely show signs of being more grey. If you get a chance, open up the system/controller and take a look at the underside. Usually you'll see it's original color (since it has been protected from UV.)

[Flake]

I've had similar problems with buying controllers off of ebay - too many counterfeits or bait and switches. Especially with dog-bone controllers and SNES pads.

[racketboy]

I've had similar problems with buying controllers off of ebay - too many counterfeits or bait and switches. Especially with dog-bone controllers and SNES pads.

Well, the third-party ones (which I now sell in the store) are actually really close replicas.
The SNES ones won't have the logo in the center though. And I can't tell you the NES differences off the top of my head, but they are very similar. On the plus-side at least it's cheap and easy to get some good replicas. But if the auction is saying that they are the real original ones, that sucks.

[racketboy]

Most of the NESes i've opened up definitely show signs of being more grey. If you get a chance, open up the system/controller and take a look at the underside. Usually you'll see it's original color (since it has been protected from UV.)

Good idea -- not sure why I didn't think of that
Thanks!

[Flake]

Well, the third-party ones (which I now sell in the store) are actually really close replicas....But if the auction is saying that they are the real original ones, that sucks.

That's usually what ends up being the case. I have no problem with the sale of replicas (it's not like they are manufacturing the real deal anymore) but not all stores / sellers are as credible as the Racket Store.

[Hobie-wan]

Just to add to my opinion, I remember the NES being plain gray back in the day. The SNES always looked a bit blue tinted to me, but it could just have always been the purple affecting my perception.

[CRTGAMER]

True Fish Story
I modded a pristine ROB robot a while back. When I bought it, no kidding it was complete in the bag inside a Deluxe Nintendo box, perhaps only used once? The gyro still has the protective cellophane over the red anodized paint. Pretty sure its been out of sunlight for years or decades, it is shiny new and the batteries inside were mush. Luckily all that battery powder came out. Bought a used NES from a member here and both have a very close color match. The pics on the original box look similar too, unless both box, NES and ROB all faded.

Get to the point
I noticed most NES consoles seem to hold the blue grey color well as in N64 carts. Maybe fade if sitting out on that swap meet table too long. (I am dying to post my Swap Meet Finds I just got today, photos and story/review to compile) SNES consoles, my portable fan and Apple II+ are a beige fade problem. I'm just glad my iMac CRT escaped that fire retard plastic.

EDIT
Come to think of it the insides of the ROB are the exact same color. So the used NES I bought later has no fade. So looks to be a nice dark and light grey, none of that red tinge in it.

[flamepanther]

Yes, the NES used to be a clean, plain grey. I don't think it takes long to pick up that yellow tint though.

The North American version SNES was a soft purplish grey. It's not just the purple switches messing with you.

[Jamisonia]

Yes, I have one now. I got my NES repaired by Nintendo shortly before they stopped doing repairs. They replaced the shell with a brand new one, so my NES looks perfectly new. I can tell you it has a perfect grey color, no yellow tint at all. Unfortunately they replaced my brick controllers with dog bones.