Lefty, I agree with you 100% There is a great color code reference in Chapter 22 of the ARRL handbook...
Table 22.4
Resistor Color Codes
Color Significant Decimal Tolerance
Figure Multiplier (%)
Black 0 1 { ? (0) }
Brown 1 10 1
Red 2 100 2
Orange 3 1,000
Yellow 4 10,000
Green 5 100,000 0.5
Blue 6 1,000,000 0.25
Violet 7 10,000,000 0.1
Gray 8 100,000,000 0.05
White 9 1,000,000,000
Gold 0.1 5
Silver 0.0 10
No color 20
This is a rough cut and paste from the handbook but the information has been in the "Public Domain" for so long, I have no issues with repeating it
There will not be a 3 or 4 band resistor with a 3rd band greater than blue or 000000 6 zero's. Not in the EIA standard list.
There is a big bunch of resistors that can be purchased from Amazon, for $29.00 you get 4550 resistors, All 1% metal film and Blue bodies, that for my old tired eyes, even with one of those headband magnifiers @ full strength... makes me grab my Fluke 179... just to make sure.
Doc