Sellotape

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sellotape is a European brand of transparent, cellulose-based, pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, and is the leading brand of clear sticky tape in the United Kingdom. Sellotape is generally used for joining, sealing, attaching and mending. It is also referred to as cellophane 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 process they used was based on a French patent. 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. The Sellotape brand now covers a variety of tape products, and is frequently used in place of the word 'tape' in the United Kingdom due to its market exposure.

In New Zealand, the name "Sellotape" is also used as a colloquialism for the adhesive tape, and is manufactured locally by Henkel New Zealand. It is the biggest selling brand of adhesive in that country.

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, a magical product called "Spellotape" is used to hold together Ron Weasley's broken wand, with limited success and Harry's glasses due to Dudley's bullying in the first movie until Hermione fixes them.