duck tape? gaffers/gaffer tape?

[Wilson Gray]

On Jul 25, 2005, at 6:58 PM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>
> Subject:      Re: duck tape? gaffers/gaffer tape?
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> No "pusser's tape" in OED.
>
> JL
>

_"Purser's_ tape," possibly? I once reconstructed the name "Fawstuh" as
"Foster," only to find out that it was actually "Forster."

-Wilson

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