duck tape? gaffers/gaffer tape?

[Jonathan Lighter]

No "pusser's tape" in OED.

JL

Michael McKernan <mckernan at LOCALNET.COM> wrote:
---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Michael McKernan
Subject: duck tape? gaffers/gaffer tape?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jonathan Lighter wrote:

>OED has "gaffer tape," but only back to 1977. I think a search would be
>in order.
>

there is also a military origin story for it, undated but very similar to
duck/duct tape.

http://jyw.tacorp.net/interviews/neal7.html

>On the story of Gaffer Tape:
>
> Gaffer tape was originally conceived for a military contract as a
>joint requirement of the Royal and US navies, The requirement
> was a self adhesive tape with very high wet strength, very good
>contact adhesion, and very good physical strength. The Ministry
> designation is typical of government type things and it is designated
>by the MOD (Ministry Of Defence) as "Tape, self adhesive,
> emergency repair, 4 inch (this varies) Roll, black".
>
> Now this is a bit of a mouthful and consequently the forces have
>developed their own names for it. The Royal Navy call it
> Pusser's tape, (pusser as in "us" and NOT as in puss, like pussy cat)
>a Pusser being the slang name for a storeman or
> Quartermaster, who of course guards it with his life and never gives
>you any! (which is why they are called storeman and not
> suppliers) The Army call it Mine tape, because it is particularly
>good for waterproofing land mines and for insulating wiring on
> demolition charges (Also sometimes called demolition tape) The
>Airforce call it Bodge tape, because it is excellent at doing
> Bodge jobs or bodge ups. ( an english term for a jury rig)
>
> I have seen many an aircraft, including jets, flying with Bodge tape
>repairs to both inside and out. In bomb disposal we used it
> extensively and even bound the
> sleeves and ankles of our Chemical suits as extra protection. A lot
>of film people are ex servicemen and they carried it into the
> business and of course it is perfect for the scenery and set builders
>known as Gaffers, hence Gaffer tape.
>
> It is now available in all colours including cammo green, white and
>sand and silver for joining vent ducting, hence Duct tape.
> There is a lesser strength version in silver which is used for
>ducting, as it is cheaper, which is where the sticky tape name comes
> from. It is also available outside the forces now and is particularly
>good for temporarily repairing a broken radiator hose on your
> car, and I have heard a garage mechanic refer to it as Rad tape, is
>this a new name in the making?

Michael McKernan

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com