I find it funny that they called those seats new. There is a video on Youtube from 2 years prior to this thing being published [vid is from '94] that gives you a great view of the business class cabin on the MD-11.

I didn't know, or rather, I forgot that they still had DC-10s with woolly mammoth seats at that time. Flew transcon 2 years later than this publication, DC-10s had the all-leather seats.

How many variations of the old First/Business class seats were there?

I know off the top of my head [and please correct me wherever possible] the following variations [type, design, appearance, aircraft types they were on]:

Woolly Mammoths [sheepshin AND leather]:

- Gray/Red leather/sheepskin covering, 1 seat "Captain Kirk" chair [762s, 763s]
- Gray/Red leather/sheepskin covering, 2 seat pair [762s, 763s]
- Gray/Brown leather/sheepskin covering, 1 seat [MD-11s, A300 Intl.]
- Gray/Brown leather/sheepskin covering, 2 seat pair [MD-11s, A300 Intl., DC-10?]
- Gray/Brown leather/sheepskin covering, 3 seat triplet [MD-11s, A300 Intl., DC-10?]

All Leather seats:

Type:
- All leather, phone in seatback, tray table in armrest, no audio or video functionality.
Seen on:
- Fokker 100s,
Image Link:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Ameri...aa88edd4400686

Type:
-All tan/brown leather, tray tables in middle console/armrest, phone opposite center console [later removed], no audio/video capabilities.
Seen On:
- MD-82s
Image Link:
http://www.airdisaster.com/photos/aa1420/6.jpg

Type:
Same as MD-82s but with audio capabilities
Seen On:
- 727-223s

Type:
-All tan/brown leather, tray tables in middle console/armrest, phone opposite center console [later removed], audio capabilities.
Seen On:
- 757-223s from original deliveries
Image Link:
http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6334354&nseq=14

Type:
-All gray [instead of [tan/brown] leather, tray tables in middle console/armrest, phone opposite center console [later removed], audio capabilities.
Seen On:
- 757-223s delivered in late 90s
Image Link:
http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5718623&nseq=33

Type:
-All tan/brown leather, tray tables in middle console/armrest, phone in seatback, audio capabilities.
Seen On:
- DC-10s [trouble recalling variations that had this]
Image Link:
http://www.myaviation.net/search/pho...992&size=large

Type:
-All tan/brown leather, tray tables in middle console/armrest, oxygen mask in seat back?, audio capabilities.
Seen On:
- DC-10s [trouble recalling variations that had this]
Image Link:

Type:
-All tan/brown leather, tray tables in armrest opposite middle console/armrest, phone on center console/armrest, audio capabilities.
Seen On:
- Non-Intl A300B4-605Rs
Image Link:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Ameri...aa88edd4400686


[UNKNOWN VARIATIONS]:
Type:
Similar to the 757-223, and DC-10 seats, gray [instead of tan/brown], with sheepskin in the center, but not all sheepskin like the woolly mammoths we know, the sheepskin was in the "ridges" in the center of the portion of the seat where your back lies against.
Seen On:
- 80s and 90s Safety Cards [762, 763, MD-11]
- Home Alone 1, and 2
Image Links:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=230428459488
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLvzNfJM8V4 [1:29 - 1:34] AND [1:40 - 1:43] AND [1:47 - 1:48]