Duct tape – two small words, with a world of descriptions.

Duct tape is believed to be about 70 years old. There are so many web sites for this product – you might want to check some of them out through your web search engine. There is even a duct tape club!

Originally, duct tape was pretty simple. At least simple in its identification – it was gray and it would stick to about anything.

Today, amazingly enough, duct tape comes in over 20 colors. Width size of the tape will vary too. You may purchase 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-inch duct tape, with other options out there also.

Venture into any garage or kitchen “miscellaneous” drawer and you will most likely find a roll of this tape. Here is a sampling of the types I found when I went through my garage:

• ACE brand, white, 2-inch. Duck Tape, registered trademark of Manco, Inc. Precaution stamped on inside of roll; “Not to be used on heating appliances. Suitable for use in no more than 80 degrees C (176 degrees F). Made in the U.S.A.”
• Nashua brand, silver, 2-inch. Simply marked on inside of roll “Made in U.S.A.”
• Bull Dog Tape, silver, 2 inch. Bull Dog Tapes brand, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is stamped on the inside of the roll.

I bet you that I could even locate some more rolls, if I ventured through more of the stuff in the garage!

The uses of duct tape are endless. From the information I have gathered, during WW II, the military enlisted the company Johnson and Johnson Permacel Division to create a waterproof tape to help keep moisture out of ammo boxes – thus the name, duck tape. After the war, the tape was used on AC ducts to join them together and so was called duct tape. The tape is known by either of its names and has several manufacturers.

Here are some of the many jobs duck (duct) tape has performed faithfully over the years:

• As mentioned above, keeping moisture out of ammo boxes and joining duct work in AC systems.
• Patching bullet holes in military helicopters.
• Holding car parts together.
• Closing boxes before storage.
• Holding eye glasses together.
• Securing kids’ building structures that are made out of cardboard boxes.
• Patching holes in walls and doors.
• Hanging signs and banners.
• Fixing a broken broom, shovel or tool handle.
• Repairing gutters.
• Securing exterior Christmas lights.
• Fixing broken cabinet doors or drawers.
• Holding luggage together.
• In July of 2002, a large flag was made from this tape to celebrate its 60th anniversary.
• Clothes, yes even clothes have been made from duct tape, mostly for contests!
• Holding just about anything together.
• And last, but not least, all the jobs YOU have finalized with duck tape.

The true history of duck (duct) tape can be rather sketchy to determine. Best bet is the WWII theory. If you really stop and think about duct tape, it is amazing. Maybe it should be considered as one of the wonders of the world.

Meet Barbara