Richard Gurley Drew

Richard Gurley Drew (June 22, 1899 – December 14, 1980) was an American inventor who worked for Johnson and Johnson, Permacel Co., and 3M in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he invented masking tape and cellophane tape.In response, after two years of work in 3M's labs, Drew invented the first masking tape (1925), a two-inch-wide tan paper strip backed with a light, pressure-sensitive adhesive.In its first trial run, it fell off the car and the frustrated auto painter growled at Drew, "take this tape back to those Scotch bosses of yours and tell them to put more adhesive on it!During the Great Depression, people began using Scotch tape to repair items rather than replace them.This was the beginning of 3M’s diversification into all manner of marketplaces and helped them to flourish in spite of the Great Depression.
Saint Paul, MinnesotaSanta Barbara, CaliforniaInventorJohnson and JohnsonPermacelSt. Paul, Minnesotamasking tapecellophanesandpaperRoaring Twentiespressure-sensitive adhesiveScotch Brand cellulose tapesellotapeGreat DepressionNational Inventors Hall of FameThe New York Times