Let's start with a little info on Adhesive tape. Duct tape (the WWII military version) was first created and manufactured in 1942 (approximate date) by the Johnson and Johnson Permacel Division. Its closest predecessor was medical tape. The original use was to keep moisture out of the ammunition cases. Because it was waterproof, people referred to the tape as "Duck Tape." Also, the tape was made using cotton duck - similar to what was used in their cloth medical tapes.

> Military personnel quickly discovered that the tape was very versatile and used it to fix their guns, jeeps, aircraft, etc. After the war, the tape was used in the booming housing industry to connect heating and air conditioning duct work together. Soon, the color was changed from Army green to silver to match the ductwork and people started to refer to duck tape as "Duct Tape."

 Things changed during the 1970s, when the partners at Manco, Inc. placed rolls of duct tape in shrink wrap, making it easier for retailers to stack the sticky rolls. Different grades and colors of duct tape weren´t far behind. Soon, duct tape became the most versatile tool in the household.


CAMO HISTORY

 Camouflage is the method which allows an otherwise visible organism or object to remain indiscernible from the surrounding environment. Examples include a tiger's stripes and the battledress of a modern soldier. Camouflage is a form of deception. The word camouflage comes from the French word 'camoufler' meaning 'to disguise'. A Man came up with camouflage from nature itself. In the late 1800's, an American artist named Abbott Thayer observed that many animals were shaded darker on the their backs to a whiter shade on their bellies. A variety of animals have the ability to blend into their surroundings to protect themselves. There are a variety of cold weather animals that have their fur turn to white during winter months and returning to brown for the summer months. Today's camouflage patterns use many of the same priniciples graduating from dark to light creating a shadow effect breaking up the camouflage pattern. Camouflage was first used as a military advantage in World War I when airplanes started to use reconnaissance to spot the enemy.

 By World War II, camoflage had expanded to nearly every activity from snow camouflage in arctric regions to smoke screens to conceal cities. Runways of airfields painted to look like a series of roads. A shipyard would be hidden by stretching camouflage netting over the harbor. Many different types of camouflage could be readily detected with infrared film. In 1957, the United States came up with a paint that was a more effective camouflage against infrared giving us the advantage.


HOW IT'S MADE:

 Duct tape is a strong tape that is composed of three layers. The top layer (1) is a resilient plastic (Polyethelyne). The bottom layer (3) is a rubber-based adhesive. The middle layer (2) is a fabric mesh. Duct tape was manufactured by pressing these three layers together. Now, some manufacturers have created a process that makes the same strong, three layer tape in just one step. While there are stronger tapes (like filament tape), duct tape, when doubled over onto itself can pull a 2000 lb. car out of a ditch, and has the distinct benefit of not requiring any other tools to cut it - you just rip it with your bare hands.

WORDS OF WISDOM:

 "One only needs two tools in life: WD-40 to make things go, and duct tape to make them stop--G. Weilacher

DID YOU KNOW?:

 You can find duct tape in a range of colors. A whole line of "plain" colors like red duct tape, yellow duct tape, green duct tape, blue duct tape, brown duct tape, and black duct tape, and "Xtreme" colors (like the dayglow colors of the seventies); blaze orange duct tape, lime green duct tape, citron yellow duct tape, and (a favorite of the ladies) hot pink duct tape! some “Camo Tape” which has a “real tree” camouflage design that is great for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts.

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