Accidental Inventions : Liquid Paper
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
United States
February 1, 2021 1:00pm CST
The term "liquid paper" wasn't known to me until today. I, like most people here, know this as "white out". It's a liquid formula that adheres to and covers up a mistake on a piece of paper.
But how was it invented?
I think the who is more fascinating than the why. Do you know who Bette Nesmith Graham is? Probably not, but I bet you know of her son. Miike Nesmith was a member of The Monkees. (Now I have daydream believer in my head)
Mama Nesmith came up with the idea of bottling white paint to correct typing mistakes. She was a horrible typist, but she was desperate to keep her job to support young Mike. Well, that's where the bottle of white paint came along and the rest is history...
13 people like this
15 responses
@MommyOfEli2013 (89678)
• Rupert, Idaho
1 Feb 21
That's very interesting to learn! And I think I have known it is as liquid paper somewhere....sounds familiar.
3 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Feb 21
@MommyOfEli2013 Yep very cool and now they have the kind that your roll on like tape.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Feb 21
Yeah, it does sort of sound familiar but at the same time I was't sure whether that was because the name just fits or what.
2 people like this
@MommyOfEli2013 (89678)
• Rupert, Idaho
1 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum Oh yeah, that makes sense...but it is still cool
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
1 Feb 21
Yes I remember Mike..wow this is something alright thanks Amber..
3 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
1 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum I am still smiling it is so sweet
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Feb 21
@RebeccasFarm I love learning about stuff like this. I am going to probably keep up with these discussions for awhile at least.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Feb 21
It made me smile when I read it.
2 people like this
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
2 Feb 21
Yes white out use to be one of my friends I used it a lot
2 people like this
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
2 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum I don’t either
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Feb 21
I remember using it a lot too. Now I don't have any use for it.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Feb 21
@Tina30219 I wonder if it will become obsolete because people just aren't using it. It wouldn't surprise me if everything was electronic in the future.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Feb 21
I think it's an excellent invention too. i love knowing that it was invented by a single mother.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502573)
• Italy
2 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum Many very useful invention come from women, like the paper coffee filter, a German housewife named Melitta Bentz.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Feb 21
I figured it was just thought up by some ink company out there..
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Feb 21
@TheHorse 'Fraid so, but the market is still open for crazy tapes. Lots have been invented in the past few years. Saw a commercial for Alien Tape just yesterday.
@TheHorse (238326)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum I'd like to think something "elementary" and make some bucks. Has Scotch tape been invented yet?
2 people like this
@UriahAnne (701)
•
2 Feb 21
Now I know.thanks for the idea.nice one. I got a tip.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Feb 21
I thought it was very interesting and yoru welcome.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Feb 21
@UriahAnne We should never stop learning. Thank You! Have a good day.
@UriahAnne (701)
•
2 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum yes it's interesting nice link you have.. It's another knowledge.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209009)
• United States
1 Feb 21
Well how about that? You learn something new everyday! Also, it gives merit to the idea "Necessity is the mother of invention."
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Feb 21
It absolutely does! I was pretty pleased to find out this was invented by a woman just trying to keep her job in an environment I am sure was stressful.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Feb 21
Yes, I think it would have been. I wonder if they used a brush like how it's packaged now or if they used their fingers.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Feb 21
Yeah it is. I never really considered where it came from but I really love that it was invented by a woman trying to keep her job.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
1 Feb 21
I thought it was amazing. A woman saw something she uses every day and thought it would be perfect to clear away mistakes.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222527)
• United States
2 Feb 21
Amazing. I never would have guessed that Mike Nesmith's mother invented liquid paper. Interesting.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Feb 21
I wonder if she ever saw her child becoming famous.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Feb 21
Now they have it in this stripe / tape form which is cool.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
2 Feb 21
@CarolDM Also there's the erasers that erase ink now. Lots of clever inventions. I watched a video on how those erasers were made.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
2 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum I have some I use at home, it is great.
1 person likes this
