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Named after the chief electrician on a movie or TV set, gaffer tape shares its lineage with the more common duct tape. Ross Lowell introduced gaffer tape in 1959 by using the adhesive from a Johnson & Johnson tape called Permacel and backed it with a fabric material instead of plastic like duct tape.
As a result, it’s easy to rip to the correct length, resistant to heat, and flexible enough to wrap tightly around practically anything.
Lowell (who passed away in February 2019) will be remembered for a wide variety of accomplishments in the movie industry, including his Oscar-winning lighting design and creation of the Tota compact lighting system.
