Editing Gaffer tape (section)

== History ==

The precise origin of the name is unknown, one hypothesis being that it is named for the [[Gaffer (filmmaking)|gaffer]] (chief [[lighting technician]]) on a [[film crew]].<ref name=wisegeek>{{cite web|title=What is Gaffer's Tape?|url=http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-gaffers-tape.htm|website=wiseGEEK|access-date=22 February 2015}}</ref> When cables are taped down on a stage or other surface, either to prevent tripping hazards or conceal them from view of the audience or camera,<ref>{{ citation | title = Church of the Holy Gaffer Tape - Top Tips for Gaffer Tape | url = http://www.exposure.co.uk/eejit/gaffer/index.html | access-date = 2007-10-29 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071112133251/http://www.exposure.co.uk/eejit/gaffer/index.html |archive-date = 2007-11-12}}</ref> they are said to be ''gaffed'' or ''gaffered''.<ref name="howgaff">{{ cite web | title = Gaffing cable to the floor | url = https://www.controlbooth.com/threads/gaffing-cable-to-the-floor.7668/ | website = ControlBooth | access-date = 2016-03-09 }}</ref>

Gaffer tape was invented in 1959 by [[Ross Lowell]], director, cinematographer, and founder of Lowel-Light.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lowel.tiffen.com/about.html|title=About Lowel Light|website=lowel.tiffen.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226155223/http://lowel.tiffen.com/about.html|archive-date=2019-02-26|access-date=2019-12-02}}</ref> Lowell reworked [[Johnson & Johnson]]'s Permacel [[duct tape]] product by combining the Permacel adhesive with a silver fabric backing to create gaffer tape which could hold a flat metal plate to a window. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pdnpulse.pdnonline.com/2019/02/obituary-ross-lowell-founder-of-lowel-light-and-creator-of-gaffer-tape-92.html|title=Obituary: Ross Lowell, Founder of Lowel-Light and Creator of Gaffer Tape, 92|date=2019-02-20|website=PDNPulse|language=en|access-date=2019-02-21|archive-date=2019-02-26|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190226070935/https://pdnpulse.pdnonline.com/2019/02/obituary-ross-lowell-founder-of-lowel-light-and-creator-of-gaffer-tape-92.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>