If you are over the age of 40, you have probably seen the television commercials with children singing: "I am stuck on BAND-AID cause Band-aid's stuck on me." In 1920 a young married couple, Earle and Josephine Dickson were intrigued with trying to find out if they could develop an adhesive bandage. The curiosity of the newlyweds paid off and along with "Johnson and Johnson," they are responsible for the most popular brand of adhesives in the world.
September 1920 was a very good year
Earl and Josephine Dickson were not married long before they were dealing with a recurring dilemma.
It seems Mrs. Dickson was constantly getting scrapes, and scratches, around their home, and burns when cooking. She was so prone to minor accidents that they needed a way to tend to her wounds which she so often acquired. Earle was a cotton buyer for Johnson And Johnson, so the couple experimented with trying to find a way to make improvised bandages of the sticky nature.
The couple used sticky tape and sterile bandages that had been trimmed down. Over a period of time, the Dicksons realized that by using a lot of sticky tape and a long roll of bandages, they developed multiple pads. They used small pieces of crinoline to keep the tape from sticking before they were ready to use it. Earle and Josephine realized they were on to something big and in September 1920, they collaborated with Thomas Anderson along with "Johnson and Johnson which resulted in the very first adhesive bandage being marketed.
BAND-AID is the most popular brand worldwide
Initially, the BAND-AIDS were made by hand and were not very popular. In 1924 however, "Johnson and Johnson" began using a machine to produce the adhesive bandages, and as they say, "the rest was history." The first decorative bandages sporting cartoon characters came along in 1951.
During World War II millions were shipped overseas for the soldiers. This is what really boosted sales.
BAND-AID brand was the inventor of adhesive bandages and continues to be the leading seller today with more than 100 million sold worldwide. Who could have imagined that an accident-prone, newlywed housewife would be the reason for a product that is still going strong close to 100 years later?
Earle Dickson's concern for his wife Josephine's frequent accidents and burns led to a product that will benefit mankind until the end of time. There is even talk that the flu vaccine may soon be administered by a band-aid.
