About Crayons
Children use, on average, more than 700 crayons by the time they turn 10. Crayons are also used by amateur and professional artists in the form of Conté crayons and pastels, but the wax crayon remains on top of the crayon industry. With well over 100 colors, you can find a crayons to fit any need you may have, and they will continue to remain popular, especially among children, because they aren't messy, expensive, or hard to use like markers or paints.
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History
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The first wax crayons were made by Crayola (previously Binney & Smith), a company that is still the largest manufacturer of this product. Crayola began making crayons in 1903, selling boxes of eight colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black and brown). These first boxes of crayon were sold for just five cents and were marketed to children. Prior to this, some companies produced Conté crayons for artists, which are still made today. Conté crayons were invented in 1795 by Nicolas-Jacques Conté, who was frustrated by the shortage of graphite during the Napoleonic Wars.
Types
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There are two main types of crayons. First, Conté crayons, used by artists, are made using natural pigments and clay. They are commonly found in black, white, gray and shades of red-brown. The second type of crayon is the wax crayon, typically used by children. Some people also consider grease pencils and pastels as types of crayon. Grease pencils are writing tools are used primarily for marking on hard, glossy surfaces. The marks from a grease pencil are water-resistant, but can be removed with a dry cloth. Pastels consist of pure pigment and a binder without the wax of a traditional Crayola crayon. Some pastels include oil while others are considered "dry."
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Size
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While Crayola crayons were once sold in simple boxes of eight, today, you can find boxes of crayons in multiple sizes from both Crayola and rival companies. By 1958, there were 64 colors and the 64-color box is still one of the most popular Crayola crayon sellers. As of 2008, there were 120 Crayola crayon colors. Conté crayons are usually sold in packs of three to 12. Generally, both wax children's crayons and Conté crayons are 5 to 6 inches long, though Crayola also has a giant version meant to be used by smaller hands.
Misconceptions
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In 2000, some sources reported that Crayola, Rose Art and Prang crayons all contained asbestos. Asbestos is a very dangerous substance that can cause cancer, breathing problems and other medical issues. After extensive testing by the companies themselves and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, it was found that crayons do not contain scientifically significant amounts of asbestos. They found that even if crayons contained asbestos, it is highly unlikely that the substance could harm children unless ingested in high amounts, since the fibers are embedded in the wax.
Features
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Crayons are typically made with just two ingredients--wax and pigment. The paraffin wax is heated and pigment is mixed in. Then, the liquid is poured into molds and cooled. Crayola has a number of specialty crayons as well. By adding extra ingredients, the company has created crayons that glow in the dark, sparkle, have a gel-like finish, and even smell. Wax crayons can be easily identified by their waxy smell and blunt tip. They are covered with paper to keep hands clean. Other types of crayons may or may not be covered with paper, but usually do not have a tip.
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