Ever wonder about the history of ubiquitous objects found around your home? From your hair dryer to your doorknob, they all have a story to tell. Who invented it and why? Since we’re surrounded by design, let’s get to briefly know some of the unsung heroes who’ve made our lives more manageable.
Sadly not containing a drop of alcohol, Scotch Tape was invented by 3M engineer Richard Drew in 1930. The transparent, waterproof adhesive tape was intended for grocery perishables by way of enhancing sealed food wrap for meat packers and bakers. The product grew in popularity amongst the Depression clan who realized that tape can mend just about everything (minus a broken heart or an empty stomach).
Why the trademarked name Scotch?
Frustrated with the perceived cheaply made tape, a customer disparagingly told Drew to “take this tape back to your stingy Scotch bosses and tell them to put more adhesive on it”. With that, 3M began using Scotch as a prefix in its brand names.
What goes into making adhesive tape?
Apparently a combination of rubber, resin, cellophane, and oils.
Other known uses?
Russian scientists discovered that if you unravel a roll of tape in a vacuum it can produce X-rays. Or what they like to call tribolyuminestsentsiyey (triboluminescence). Kinky!
Many thanks to MyNameIsChris for the title suggestion.
(Images c/o 1)
