Sellotape
Encyclopedia
Sellotape is a British brand of transparent, cellulose
-based, pressure sensitive adhesive tape, and is the leading brand of clear, pressure sensitive tape
in the United Kingdom
. Sellotape is generally used for joining, sealing, attaching and mending. The term has become a genericised trademark in Britain and Serbia
, and is used much in the same way that cellophane
and scotch tape
came to be used in America, referring to any brand of clear adhesive tape.
The name ‘Sellotape’ was coined in 1937 by Colin Kininmonth and George Gray, who made the product by applying rubber
resin to cellophane
film. The name was derived from "Sellophane", which itself was derived from Cellophane, at that time a trademarked name, with the "C" changed to "S" so that the new name could be trademarked.
The tape was originally manufactured in Acton
, West London. From the 1960s to 1980s, the Sellotape company was part of Dickinson Robinson Group, a British packaging and paper conglomerate. In 2002, it was bought by Henkel
Consumer Adhesives.
Sellotape Industrial was bought by Scapa Group plc in 1997, and their products continue to be to manufactured at its factory in Dunstable, Bedfordshire
Sellotape Original is made using cellulose film derived from wood pulp. The cellulose film decomposes naturally in soil, and is naturally easy tear and non-static.
The Sellotape brand now covers a variety of tape products, and the word is frequently used to refer to other adhesive tapes in many countries due to its market exposure. As an example of a genericised trademark, it has an entry in the Oxford English Dictionary
.
, in their song "Endtapes," made famous by the Twilight Saga's Breaking Dawn. The "three-piece band formed in 2007 in North Wales" begins this song with lyrics, "Sellotape an end to" repeatedly. It is now becoming searched on search engines and the meaning of Sellotape is being researched.
For use in song lyrics, See also:
Cellulose
Cellulose is an organic compound with the formula , a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to over ten thousand β linked D-glucose units....
-based, pressure sensitive adhesive tape, and is the leading brand of clear, pressure sensitive tape
Pressure sensitive tape
Pressure-sensitive tape, known also in various countries as PSA tape, adhesive tape, self-stick tape, sticky tape, or just tape, is an adhesive tape that will stick with application pressure, without the need for solvent, heat, or water for activation...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Sellotape is generally used for joining, sealing, attaching and mending. The term has become a genericised trademark in Britain and Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, and is used much in the same way that cellophane
Cellophane
Cellophane is a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose. Its low permeability to air, oils, greases, bacteria and water makes it useful for food packaging...
and scotch tape
Scotch Tape
Scotch Tape is a brand name used for certain pressure sensitive tapes manufactured by 3M as part of the company's Scotch brand.- History :The precursor to the current tapes was developed in the 1930s in Minneapolis, Minnesota by Richard Drew to seal a then-new transparent material known as...
came to be used in America, referring to any brand of clear adhesive tape.
The name ‘Sellotape’ was coined in 1937 by Colin Kininmonth and George Gray, who made the product by applying rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
resin to cellophane
Cellophane
Cellophane is a thin, transparent sheet made of regenerated cellulose. Its low permeability to air, oils, greases, bacteria and water makes it useful for food packaging...
film. The name was derived from "Sellophane", which itself was derived from Cellophane, at that time a trademarked name, with the "C" changed to "S" so that the new name could be trademarked.
The tape was originally manufactured in Acton
Acton, London
Acton is a district of west London, England, located in the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross.At the time of the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people...
, West London. From the 1960s to 1980s, the Sellotape company was part of Dickinson Robinson Group, a British packaging and paper conglomerate. In 2002, it was bought by Henkel
Henkel
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA is an multinational company headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany.The company operates in three business areas: Home Care , Personal Care ,...
Consumer Adhesives.
Sellotape Industrial was bought by Scapa Group plc in 1997, and their products continue to be to manufactured at its factory in Dunstable, Bedfordshire
Sellotape Original is made using cellulose film derived from wood pulp. The cellulose film decomposes naturally in soil, and is naturally easy tear and non-static.
The Sellotape brand now covers a variety of tape products, and the word is frequently used to refer to other adhesive tapes in many countries due to its market exposure. As an example of a genericised trademark, it has an entry in the Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
.
Use In Popular Song Lyrics
"Sellotape" is also a term used in a recent song by the band named The Joy FormidableThe Joy Formidable
The Joy Formidable are a three-piece band formed in 2007 in North Wales and currently located in London, England. The band consists of Ritzy Bryan , Rhydian Dafydd , and Matt Thomas ....
, in their song "Endtapes," made famous by the Twilight Saga's Breaking Dawn. The "three-piece band formed in 2007 in North Wales" begins this song with lyrics, "Sellotape an end to" repeatedly. It is now becoming searched on search engines and the meaning of Sellotape is being researched.
See also
- Scotch TapeScotch TapeScotch Tape is a brand name used for certain pressure sensitive tapes manufactured by 3M as part of the company's Scotch brand.- History :The precursor to the current tapes was developed in the 1930s in Minneapolis, Minnesota by Richard Drew to seal a then-new transparent material known as...
- Duct TapeDuct tapeDuct tape, or duck tape, is cloth- or scrim-backed pressure sensitive tape often sealed with polyethylene. It is very similar to gaffer tape but differs in that gaffer tape was designed to be cleanly removed, while duct tape was not. It has a standard width of and is generally silver or black...
- Masking tapeMasking tapeMasking tape is a type of pressure sensitive tape made of a thin and easy-to-tear paper, and an easily released pressure sensitive adhesive. It is available in a variety of widths. It is used mainly in painting, to mask off areas that should not be painted...
For use in song lyrics, See also:
- The Joy FormidableThe Joy FormidableThe Joy Formidable are a three-piece band formed in 2007 in North Wales and currently located in London, England. The band consists of Ritzy Bryan , Rhydian Dafydd , and Matt Thomas ....