Why Is Scotch Tape Called Scotch?

Scotch tape became a Depression-era success when introduced in 1930.

3M introduced Scotch tape in 1930 designed for delicatessen owners to use in sealing packages. 3M manufactures 5.5 million miles of Scotch tape annually at its production facility in Hutchinson, Minnesota.

Richard Drew

Richard Drew joined 3M in 1923 and began work in the Saint Paul, Minnesota office. In 1925, Drew developed a 2-inch wide strip coated with a light adhesive, which became Scotch masking tape.

Origin of the Name

The masking tape's first test was to protect detailing on a car being painted, but the tape peeled from the car while the painter was working, prompting him to tell Drew to tell his Scotch bosses to put on more adhesive. "Scotch" was a slur implying stinginess and the incident inspired the masking tape's name as well as the cellophane tape released in 1930.

Subsequent Success

Scotch tape became popular among Depression-era consumers who used it for packaging, and in making minor repairs to clothing and household goods. Scotch tape became such a fixture of American households that it became referenced in popular media. "Saturday Night Live's" 1978 "Scotch Boutique" sketch featured Gilda Radner as a clerk in a store that only sold Scotch tape.

References

• Rampant Scotland: Did You Know? - Scotch Tape
• Lemelson-MIT Program: Inventor of the Week: Richard Drew (1899 - 1980)
• Scotch: Tape Innovation Timeline
• Saturday Night Live Transcripts: The Scotch Boutique

Resources

• The Great Idea Finder: Masking Tape