Richard Gurley Drew, an American inventor born on June 22, 1899, in St. Paul, Minnesota, left an indelible mark on everyday life through his work at 3M. His career, which began in 1921, was characterized by innovation, leading to the creation of two ubiquitous adhesive products: masking tape and cellophane tape. Drew's ingenuity not only solved practical problems for industries like automotive painting but also laid the groundwork for 3M's diversification
and success, particularly during challenging economic times. He passed away on December 14, 1980, in Santa Barbara, California, leaving behind a legacy of practical invention.
Early Career and the Birth of Masking Tape
Drew joined 3M in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1921, at a time when the company was primarily a manufacturer of sandpaper. His initial role involved working with sandpaper production. It was during the testing of 3M's new "Wetordry" sandpaper at various auto shops that Drew identified a significant problem. He observed that the popular two-tone auto paint jobs of the 1920s presented difficulties for painters, especially when trying to achieve clean lines at the border between the two colors. The existing methods for masking off areas were inadequate, often leading to paint bleeding or damage when removed.
Recognizing this need, Drew dedicated two years to research and development in 3M's laboratories. His efforts culminated in 1925 with the invention of the first masking tape. This initial version was a two-inch-wide tan paper strip featuring a light, pressure-sensitive adhesive. However, the very first trial run of this tape revealed a flaw: the adhesive was only applied along the edges, not in the middle. This design caused the tape to fall off the car, prompting a frustrated auto painter to famously tell Drew to "take this tape back to those Scotch bosses of yours and tell them to put more adhesive on it!" The term "Scotch" in this context was used to mean
