Crayola Classic? Old Colors To Get New Life

EASTON, Pa. - The makers of Crayola crayons decided that eight drab colors dropped last year weren't so bad after all, so they are bringing them back for a curtain call.

The Binney & Smith Co. announced today it would offer the colors in a "collectors edition" of 72 crayons that will be available through the end of January.

Crayola in August 1990 retired blue gray, green blue, lemon yellow, maize, orange red, orange yellow, raw umber and violet blue.

It replaced them with cerulean, dandelion, fuchsia, jungle green, royal purple, teal blue, vivid tangerine and wild strawberry.

Crayola said children, the main users of its products, wanted brighter colors.

"Kids just love the eight new colors, but moms liked the old eight we replaced," Binney & Smith president Richard Gurin said.

Spokesman Brad Drexler said the company has no plans to bring the old crayons back at regular intervals - if ever again.