When Was Scotch Tape Invented?
Scotch tape was invented in 1930 by engineer Richard Drew. 3M (originally The Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, hence the name) was founded in 1902, and dealt in sandpaper and sandpaper products. Richard Drew joined the company in 1923, and invented masking tape in 1925. In 1930, cellophane became very popular, so Richard Drew invented a waterproof, see-through, pressure-sensitive tape that could be used to seal cellophane. Frugal Depression-era Americans started using the “cellophane tape” to fix torn paper, money, ripped window shades, and whatnot, and it became a lasting success. Here’s 3M’s official story on the origin of the “Scotch” brand name: “Richard Drew had just invented the first masking tape designed to help auto painters to make two-tone paint applications, a Roaring ’20s craze, neat and easy. Drew was eager to have the tape sampled by its intended customers. He brought a prototype roll to a St. Paul auto painter. The painter carefully applied the masking tape a
Cellophane, which was invented in 1920, is made from cellulose, a substance found in the cell walls of plants. In 1929, scientists were trying to find a tape that could be used to seal packages wrapped in cellophane. One young scientist had an idea: Why not use cellophane itself, coating it with glue to form a tape. Before long,
