Earle Dickson

Earle Dickson (October 10, 1892—September 21, 1961) was an American inventor best known for inventing adhesive bandages in the US. He lived in Highland Park, New Jersey, for a large portion of his life.

Earle Dickson
Earle Dickson as a young man
Born(1892-10-10)October 10, 1892
Grandview, Tennessee
DiedSeptember 21, 1961(1961-09-21) (aged 68)
Kitchener, Canada
NationalityAmerican
OccupationEngineer
Spouse(s)Josephine Knight
Engineering career
InstitutionsJohnson & Johnson
ProjectsBAND-AID
adhesive bandages

Biography

Dickson was a cotton buyer at the Johnson & Johnson company.[1] His wife, Josephine Knight, often cut herself while doing housework and cooking.[2] Dickson found that gauze placed on a wound with tape did not stay on her active fingers. In 1920, he placed squares of gauze in intervals on a roll of tape, held in place with crinoline.[2] James Wood Johnson, his boss, liked the idea, and put it into production. In 1924, Johnson & Johnson installed machines to mass-produce the once handmade bandages. Following the commercial success of his design, Dickson was promoted to vice president.

References
  1. Antonelli, Paola (2005) Humble masterpieces: everyday marvels of design HarperCollins, New York, page 175, ISBN 0-06-083831-0
  2. Staff (1964) "The Story Behind Band-Aid Brand" Changing Times; The Kiplinger Magazine December 1964: p. 32


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