SCOTCH
THE CREATION OF SCOTCH TAPE
The inventor behind the practical Scotch tape is an engineer from 3M named Richard Drew. In 1925, while testing 3M products, Richard noticed painters struggling with masking which sparked his million dollar idea. Using treated crepe paper and adhesive made from glue and glycerin, Richard created the first masking tape. Unfortunately for the artists, it wasn’t quite what they needed. They complained that they were being miserly with the adhesive and told Richard to take it back to “his Scotch bosses” and not to be so cheap with the adhesive. This is the feedback Richard used to create the brand for the world’s most famous tape.
BECOMING A HOUSEHOLD ITEM
It wasn’t until 1930 when Scotch tape became what it is today, launching a colorless adhesive used to fix and mend items together or in place called “Scotch Cellulose Tape”. Throughout the 1930’s and 1940’s Scotch tape started to become a common household item, rolling out the plastic snail-shaped dispenser that customers know today. During this time, Richard wanted to show the brand’s deep Scottish heritage through the packaging by adding the iconic plaid design we recognize today. 2 decades later, 3M invented “Scotch Magic Tape”, a matte-finish tape that becomes visible on paper and can be written on with a pen.
