Edwin Binney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edwin Binney
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| Born | November 24, 1866 Shrub Oak, New York, U.S.
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| Died | December 17, 1934 (aged 68) |
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| Years active | 1885–1934 |
| Known for | Creator of dustless chalk Co-founder of Crayola |
Edwin Binney (November 24, 1866 – December 17, 1934) was an American inventor. He is famous for creating the first dustless white chalk. With his cousin, C. Harold Smith, he also made the first box of Crayola crayons in 1903.
Contents
Early Life and Amazing Inventions
Edwin Binney was born in Shrub Oak, New York. He loved to experiment with different materials. One day, he mixed slate waste, cement, and talc. This special mix helped him create the first dustless white chalk.
This new chalk was a big hit! It even won a gold medal. This award was given at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904.
The Birth of Crayola Crayons
In 1903, Edwin Binney and his cousin, C. Harold Smith, launched something even more exciting. They created the very first box of 'Crayola' crayons. This first box had eight bright colors. These colors were blue, green, red, yellow, black, brown, orange, and violet.
Crayola crayons quickly became very popular. They were known for being the best crayons available at that time. By 1905, Crayola offered many different crayon boxes. Some boxes had 6, 8, or 12 colors. There were also standard and large-sized crayons for artists and kids.
Crayons for Artists
Crayola also made special crayons for artists. The "Rubens Crayola" line started in 1903. These crayons were designed to be high-quality. They could compete with famous art brands from Europe.
Edwin Binney's Community Work
Edwin Binney was not just an inventor. He was also a strong community activist. He helped his local area in many ways.
In 1921, he helped Fort Pierce become a port city. He funded a channel to be cut across Hutchinson Island. This made it easier for ships to come and go. In 1929, he also helped save the St. Lucie County Bank. This was during a tough economic time.
His family's land holding was called Fort Pierce Farms. His wife, Alice, later renamed it "Indrio." This name came from "Indian" (for the nearby Indian River) and "rio" (Spanish for river).
Family Life
Edwin Binney was married to Alice Stead Binney (1866-1960). Alice was a school teacher from London. They had four children together. Their children were Dorothy Binney, Helen Binney Kitchel, Mary, and Edwin Jr.
Their daughter Helen became a member of the Connecticut legislature four times. Their son Edwin Jr. was a talented international swimmer. He also became a Professor at Yale University. The Binney family lived in both Old Greenwich, Connecticut, and Fort Pierce, Florida.
Cool Facts About Edwin Binney
- Edwin Binney's wife, Alice, came up with the name "Crayola." She combined two words. "Craie" is French for "chalk." "Ola" comes from "oleaginous," meaning "oily." This is because crayons are made with a wax that comes from petroleum.
- Before Crayola crayons, Binney and Smith made a wax crayon in 1902. It was used to mark crates and barrels. But it had a lot of carbon black. This made it unsafe for children. They then used their skills to make safe, colorful wax crayons.
- Binney also had the idea for black tires. He used carbon black in them. This material makes rubber stronger. It also helps tires handle heat better.
Images for kids
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Edwin Binney, the inventor of dustless chalk and co-founder of Crayola.
