On Wed, 21 Jan 2004 19:16:25 +0000 (UTC), mike ring
wrote:

Does anyone remember indelible pencils?

Just about. Frequently a dark violet colour.

They've disappeared, so I can't find out WTH they were *for*.

Laundry markers. You can still get them, but they're rare.

A similar thing is a Chinagraph pencil, which is still pretty common.
They're very similar to use (they need a lick before they'll write
straight off on a low-friction surface). Not indelible though.