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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Man Who Invented Scotch Tape
http://priceonomics.com/the-man-who-invented-scotch-tape/On a surface level, Scotch tape may seem like just about the most boring product in the world. Though it can be found in nearly 90% of American households and is used for everything from wrapping gifts to repairing ripped dollar bills, we'll forgive you for never being curious about its origins. But stick with us: this gets interesting!
The story of Scotch tape is one of incredible determination and risk-taking -- and its invention was thanks to a banjo-playing, college-dropout, misfit engineer who believed in his ability to invent.
He ended up not just pioneering Scotch transparent tape and masking tape, but revolutionizing the way that his company, 3M, treated creative people.
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His boss, William McKnight, the same man whod initially ordered Drew to cease his inventing efforts, still didnt see the potential in this new tape, and refused to purchase a machine that would allow for its mass production. Instead of acquiescing, Drew got creative: as a researcher, he had the right to secure purchases of up to $100, so he bought the machine in parts in a series of $99 orders, then constructed it himself. When Drews boss later found out what Drew hed been up to, he rewarded him for his tenacity by establishing a new managerial mandate at 3M: If you have the right person on the right project, and they are absolutely dedicated to finding a solution leave them alone. Tolerate their initiative and trust them.
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note: this is a very good read
niyad
(113,552 posts)Octafish
(55,745 posts)Great story and, as a person who worked a couple of holiday breaks in an auto-body shop as a youth can attest, worth knowing. Persistence.
underpants
(182,879 posts)My wife cracks up at my tape obsession thanks for the post.
etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)vanlassie
(5,683 posts)Kick and Rec
jwirr
(39,215 posts)way that 3M was started. Interesting company with many really useful products.
logosoco
(3,208 posts)Amazing what people can come up with when they are given free reign and encouragement! And money wasn't even the end game!
Omaha Steve
(99,711 posts)hootinholler
(26,449 posts)It's still a cool story.
marble falls
(57,204 posts)erronis
(15,328 posts)Amazingly researchers have found that one of the best ways to get single-layer graphene (one atom thick) was to stick this stuff on a block of pure carbon graphite and win the Nobel Prize.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-graphene-story-how-andrei-geim-and-kostya-novoselov-hit-on-a-scientific-breakthrough-that-changed-the-world-by-playing-with-sticky-tape-8539743.html
The generic name "transparent tape" is ubiquitous, but I find myself using duct-tape and binder clips a lot more around the house.
longship
(40,416 posts)Ay! Matey!
zappaman
(20,606 posts)Bonobo
(29,257 posts)ErikJ
(6,335 posts)Post-it notes were huge too.
grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)our system.
NaturalHigh
(12,778 posts)Thanks for posting.
Buns_of_Fire
(17,195 posts)Happiest times in my working life. More got done, too.
Then came along the professional beancounters, and their type eventually left or were fired.
Today, if you attempt the tenacity and freedom-to-make-mistakes that they enjoyed, you're much more likely to get fired than promoted. Sad.
LiberalArkie
(15,728 posts)been.