What colour was the first laser ever invented?

Question: What colour was the first laser ever invented?
- Keywords:
  colour,
  invention
Asked by wentwardroyalchant to Mike, Pip, Tianfu, Tim, Tom on 28 Jun 2012.
- Tom Lister answered on 28 Jun 2012:
  
  Ruby red. We have a ruby laser in our department, the colour is similar to the red laser pointers you may have seen, but a bit less orange.
- Tim Stephens answered on 28 Jun 2012:
  
  Yup

Question: What colour was the first laser ever invented?