Crayola crayons hold a special place in many people’s childhood memories. Since the first Crayola crayons were produced in 1903, the iconic brand has introduced many creative color names and innovative products. But do you know what color was the very first Crayola crayon?
As one of the most recognizable crayon brands today, Crayola has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Over the years, the company has released over 200 distinctive crayon colors with creative names like “Jazzberry Jam” and “Tickle Me Pink.” However, the original Crayola crayons only featured 8 standard colors when they were first produced in 1903.
So which color has the honor of being the very first Crayola crayon? Let’s take a closer look at the origins and history of Crayola crayons to find out. Understanding the early beginnings of this classic American brand provides insight into how Crayola built its reputation as a beloved art supply company for children and adults alike.
The Invention of Crayola Crayons
Crayola crayons were invented by cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith in 1903. Binney and Smith owned a pigment company based in Easton, Pennsylvania that produced various coloring products like chalk and carbon black. At the time, most coloring options for children were limited to blackboards, pencils, and paints.
Noticing the need for a safer, affordable, and mess-free way for children to express their creativity, Binney and Smith decided to develop a new wax crayon product. They found that by combining paraffin wax with safe powder pigments, they could create durable, vibrant crayons that did not smudge or crumple easily.
After years of experimentation, Binney and Smith finally launched their first box of Crayola crayons in 1903. The debut box featured 8 colors priced at 5 cents per box. This was an exciting new art medium that was non-toxic, easy to handle, and affordable for most families.
The 8 Original Crayola Crayon Colors
When Crayola crayons first debuted in 1903, the standard box featured 8 classic colors:
| Black | Blue | Brown | Green |
| Orange | Red | Violet | Yellow |
These original colors reflected some of the most commonly used pigments of the time. They provided a versatile palette for young artists without being overwhelming.
The first crayon color produced by Binney and Smith was black. So while black was not necessarily unique or creative, it holds the distinction of being Crayola’s inaugural crayon color.
The other 7 founding colors – blue, brown, green, orange, red, violet and yellow – rounded out the spectrum of hues in that first Crayola box. Though considered standard colors, they were highly innovative at the time and satisfied consumer demand for a safe, reliable art product for children.
Notably, popular color names like purple and pink were not among the debut colors. Binney and Smith likely chose violet over purple given its slightly different hue. And pink did not make the cut perhaps because it was seen as too feminine for this initial gender-neutral offering.
While the first 8 crayon colors may seem mundane today, they were quite revolutionary in 1903. The rich saturated hues and clever color names set Crayola crayons apart from competitors right from the start.
Early Packaging and Marketing
The first Crayola crayon boxes stood out for their appealing packaging and savvy marketing techniques as much as for their innovative product.
Binney and Smith packaged their first crayons in attractive yellow and green boxes. The boxes prominently featured the Crayola brand name alongside colorful illustrations of children happily coloring. This dynamic packaging was designed to grab customer attention on store shelves.
Early Crayola ads and promotional materials further emphasized the fun, reliability, and safety of Crayola crayons compared to other art supplies. Taglines like “Safest for the Little Ones” and “Clean, Bright Colors” highlighted advantages that would appeal to concerned parents.
Giveaways, endorsements, and bulk sales to schools also helped Crayola establish itself as the crayon brand preferred by teachers and discerning parents. By marketing both to children begging for the colorful new crayons and to adults doing the actual purchasing, Binney and Smith strategically made Crayola a household name within a few short years.
The Growth of Crayola’s Color Palette
The original 1903 Crayola crayon box was just the beginning for Binney and Smith. They quickly built on early success by expanding their color selection.
In 1904, Crayola introduced new boxes with 18, 28, and 38 colors. New additions like magenta, sky blue, and turquoise gave children more shades to mix and match. By 1905, Crayola was offering nearly 50 different crayon colors across multiple box sizes and price points.
New hues were frequently debuted to maintain consumer interest and brand relevance. In 1949, Crayola retired many outdated colors and introduced new favorites like carnation pink, coral, and cyan. Their 64 box introduced vibrant colors like magenta and lime green in 1958.
Major product launches often coincided with Crayola’s anniversary celebrations. For the 50th anniversary in 1953, Crayola released an all-new fluorocarbon-based crayon formula with richer pigments. Then for the 90th anniversary in 1993, the company retired 8 colors and introduced 8 new shades including cobalt blue, burnt sienna, and sunset orange.
Today Crayola produces over 120 different crayon shades across various product lines. While the original 8 colors laid the foundation, Crayola has continually adapted their palette to align with consumer preferences and color trends. This dedication to innovation is key to Crayola’s continued growth and success.
The Social Significance of Crayola Crayons
On the surface, Crayola crayons may seem like just a popular children’s toy and art supply. But in many ways, the iconic crayons have had great social and cultural significance as well.
Crayola crayons helped define childhoods for generations of Americans across racial and socioeconomic groups. Applying creative names and colors to the crayons fostered a sense of imagination and individuality. Crayon-based art projects allowed children to freely develop skills, interests, and self-expression from a young age.
The affordability and accessibility of Crayola crayons also had a democratizing effect. Children from all backgrounds could equally enjoy quality crayons, coloring books, and other Crayola products. In a society divided along race, gender, and class lines, Crayola crayons helped cultivate a more inclusive definition of what activities and interests were appropriate for all children.
Additionally, Crayola played a role in America’s postwar industrial boom. As manufacturing strengthened across the nation, Crayola’s expansion reflected the growth of consumer goods. The popularity of Crayola crayons paralleled the rise of television, toys, suburban homes, and other consumer products that defined the post-war era.
While crayons are simple child’s playthings, the nostalgia and community connected to Crayola demonstrate that these modest wax sticks have left quite a colorful legacy.
Crayola’s Impact on Arts Education
Beyond just providing art supplies, Crayola has long supported arts education initiatives as part of its brand mission. Since early campaigns emphasizing safety and quality, Crayola has taken an active role in cultivating creative development and visual arts skills.
Free activity booklets, school donations, art contests, and sponsored programs are some ways Crayola has invested in arts education over the decades. These initiatives are built on the notion that encouraging artistic interests from a young age nurtures valuable skills. Creativity, self-expression, fine motor skills, focus, and color/design comprehension are all enhanced through coloring and art projects.
Crayola takes pride in inspiring and equipping future generations of creative thinkers and artists. Its products and programs aim not just to entertain children, but to actively foster imagination, confidence, and cognitive growth. Even as education budgets tightened, Crayola filled an important niche making quality arts curriculums accessible.
While crayons provided children an outlet for individual creativity, Crayola’s educational focus taught them the value of their unique perspectives. Generations of young artists have Crayola to thank for nourishing their inventive spirits and skills through color and creative play.
Fascinating Facts About Early Crayola History
– The Crayola brand name was created by combining the French word “craie” (meaning chalk) with “ola” from oleaginous (oily). This nod to the key ingredients – chalk and oil – created a memorable name evoking creativity.
– The first Crayola crayons were nearly twice the size of modern crayons at 5 inches long. They sold for a nickel per box, equivalent to around $1.50 today.
– Early Crayola ads targeted parents by claiming their crayons had “shape[s] easy for little fingers to hold” compared to competing brands. This consumer safety angle helped them stand out.
– Binney and Smith purchased their first Crayola crayon manufacturing equipment from Germany. The wax and pigment were mixed and molded into sticks using this specialized machinery.
– Teacher endorsements were critical to establishing Crayola as the crayon of choice in schools. Bulk orders from educational institutions accounted for significant early sales.
– In 1915, Crayola released a box of just the primary colors red, yellow, and blue. This allowed children to learn color mixing by blending crayons for the first time.
– Crayola crayons were introduced with French names like cadmium yellow and vert de chrome. English equivalents like lemon yellow were added in 1958 to make terms more familiar to children.
– The classic Crayola 64 Box became a hit after World War II baby boom families sought affordable entertainment options for their growing broods.
– Petitioning from consumers has led Crayola to change controversial color names like “Prussian blue” and “flesh” to more inclusive options over the decades.
Conclusion
Tracing the origins of Crayola crayons shows how a modest art supply became an iconic childhood brand. From the first black crayon in 1903 to the wide spectrum of colors today, Crayola built an empire by recognizing the creative potential in every child.
Though the original 8 crayon colors may seem mundane now, they represented a breakthrough in interactive, developmental toys when first introduced. Crayola ultimately found great success because their crayons fulfilled safety, quality, and affordability needs unmet by competitors.
Of course at the heart of Crayola’s legacy are the magical memories created by generations of children coloring, doodling, and experimenting with their first boxes of crayons. More than just a fun diversion, coloring with Crayola crayons taught focus, creativity, coordination, and other important skills.
So while Crayola now offers many innovations, nothing can replace nostalgic favorites like periwinkle blue, pink flamingo, or macaroni and cheese. For 120 years, Crayola has used color to unleash children’s creative inclinations and potential. Here’s to the simple joy of holding a crayon, putting it to paper, and making your mark.
