description Richard Gurley Drew Overview
Richard Gurley Drew was an American engineer working for the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) who made significant contributions to adhesive technologies. He invented masking tape in 1925 to provide auto painters with a clean edge for two-tone paint jobs, and subsequently developed transparent cellulose tape, which was marketed as Scotch tape in 1930. These inventions established foundational product lines for 3M and fundamentally changed industrial and household fastening methods.
help Richard Gurley Drew FAQ
What did Richard Gurley Drew invent?
Richard Gurley Drew invented masking tape while working for 3M. In 1925, he developed it to help automobile painters create clean edges for two-tone paint jobs.
Why was masking tape important to automobile painters?
Before masking tape, painters had difficulty separating two paint colors without damaging the first coat. Drew's tape provided a temporary boundary that could be removed after painting.
What company employed Richard Gurley Drew?
Drew worked as an engineer for the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, now known as 3M. His adhesive work became part of the company's long history of practical consumer and industrial products.
Did Richard Gurley Drew invent Scotch Tape?
Drew is strongly associated with the development of 3M's masking tape and later adhesive products. The Scotch brand emerged from 3M's broader tape research, but masking tape was his key 1925 breakthrough.
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