The History of Electrical Tape

What would you do if there was no vinyl electrical tape?

If you’re an electrician or a contractor, life without this sticky companion might sound like a nightmare, but for those living just 100 short years ago it was a reality, because electrical tape simply didn’t exist.

In fact, the vinyl electrical tape that we all know and love came into existence more than 70 years ago, when 3M inventors Snell, Oace, and Eastwold created it and saved electricians from the weak, corrosive and rot-prone tape of yore, which was made of tar-coated cotton with a vulcanized rubber adhesive.

Learn more about the evolution of electrical tape with the timeline below.

1902 Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. Opens for Business

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. (now known as 3M) establishes itself as a mining operation; sandpaper is their first commercial product.
1925 Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co. Invents Masking Tape

Now that automobiles are more common, customers demand more color options. Masking part of a car with cloth surgical tape gives auto makers nothing but grief.
1940s WWII Demands Make Innovation an Absolute Necessity

World War II spawns many, many innovations in the industrial world that include the invention of PVC, plasticized vinyl.

1944 3M Pioneer Chemist Esther Eastwold

One of the 3 scientists credited with the invention of Vinyl Electrical Tape, Esther paves the way with her discovery of an adhesive-friendly plasticizer.
1945/46 3M invents Scotch Brand No. 33 Electrical Tape

3M applies for a patent in January 1946 and No. 33 Tape (originally white or yellow in color) becomes the new standard for insulating electrical connections.

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1960 Scotch Brand No. 33 is a Household Name

Ads appear in the Saturday Evening Post and Life magazine; this TV commercial colorfully illustrates just how handy 3M Plastic Vinyl Electrical Tape can be.
1966 3M Scotch Brand No. 33 Tape Becomes "Super"

3M introduces the new and improved electrical tape "Super 33". Now black for UV resistance, it has a new operating temperature rating up to 176ºF.

1969 3M Vinyl Electrical Tape Makes the Grade with a PLUS

3M Vinyl Electrical Tape takes another leap forward to 33 PLUS. It boasts a surprising upper operating temperature rating of 221ºF.
1975 Making Conforming a Good Thing

3M launches the 1st highly conformable, all-weather Linerless Rubber Splicing Tape as Scotch® 130C…but don't forget to overwrap with 3M Vinyl Electrical Tape.
1976 Continuous Improvement & Regal Family History

A look at the lineage of Scotch® Super 33+ Vinyl Electrical Tape provides insight into the previous 30 years of improvements.

1985 3M improves on Vinyl Electrical Tape Yet Again

3M sets the standard yet again with the new and improved "Super 33+" vinyl electrical tape that has even greater elasticity.
2016 Happy 70th Birthday Vinyl Electrical Tape!

3M CELEBRATES their invention of Vinyl Electrical Tape. Tape that transformed the electrical industry almost overnight is definitely worthy of a birthday party!