Can You Name That Company?
Only 8 Colors in the Beginning
"Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Brown, and Black were the first of the starting colors. Initially some children got to name some of the colors. After a long time passing, the "Wild" and "FUN" names for each color seemed endless.
This lovely children picture book, called "The Crayon Man," was written by Natascha Biebow, and illustrated by Steven Salerno in 2019.
It's about the time period in 1903 when children had nothing to color with. Most children used a type of clay chalk on a slate board, or had clunky colors that didn't work so well. Not until Edwin Binney listened to his wife and her complaining that something needed to be done about it. He got on it right away, and didn't give up until he had the perfect eight colors of crayon any child could hold within their little hands. They were made with wax and ground up, non-toxic pigments from the earth.
Edwin and his cousin Harold Smith, worked and worked, never giving up with his team who were just as eager to find a solution to making the perfect colored sticks. After much trial and error they finally had come up with the perfect, wax crayon, using a touch of clay for strength.
Eight colors were boxed up and presented special at the St. Louis State Fair. People could purchase their own small box for the first time. The "Crayola Crayon Company" was a success and they won a Gold Medal for all their concerted efforts and fine products. They made children happy everywhere in the world they had become available!
Currently there are 120 different colors all with their own individual special names. Over time there have been up to 400 different names, but right now, they are using 120!
