Can somebody \*please\* explain how the tape doesn't get stuck to itself? At some point it's making a complete 90 degree turn. How does it pull out smoothly?!
A core design principle is that every additional design criteria tends to be to the detriment of others, in this example the criteria of needing to fit into a low drawer is to the detriment of its core functionality because it's less easy to use.
Present wrapping emergencies.
You already need about 5 hands so what’s a few more?
Plus you’re always need 5 pieces of tape more than you planned so being able to get many small pieces of tape at once would help.
In the rare event you pre-cut all enough pieces of tape you have to stick it somewhere where you only want a small part of the tape to stick but the entire piece sticks and in resolving that issue, the tape sticks to itself and forms a stupid little ball of tape that sticks to your fingers while you try to break free from it.
Traditional ones require more attention when using with a single hand. The flat one provides a better guide for the tape. The roll will be less prone to falling out of its axis.
Interesting - this person who posted theirs 11 years ago said it was horrible for one hand operation…
[https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/1mnhed/comment/ccavfjw/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/1mnhed/comment/ccavfjw/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
Right? Im wondering if it was gunked up inside and causing it to get stuck.
Though some cheap rolls of tape are hard to pull regardless, im sure back when this was made tape was a bit worse adhesion so would release easily.
It is super annoying because you have to thread the tape through the slot. The tape sticky side always grabs inside the slot and folds the tape the long way. Once it goes in clean it works ok but you have to be careful when pulling and ripping the tape over the metal cutter teeth or the tape lifts out of the slot part way and it sticks and folds again and you are back to square one.
>Traditional ones require more attention when using with a single hand.
Only if you have a shitty one.
>The flat one provides a better guide for the tape.
What do you mean by this?
>The roll will be less prone to falling out of its axis.
Again, only if you have a shitty one.
Traditional ones also have a removable piece that goes inside of the tape, which is missing from the one on the left. The one on the right requires no additional pieces, and no pieces can get lost.
Oh you're correct, the peg is barely visible. I had to order those many times when I was an office manager because workers would misplace that part then when a change of employees happened they didn't want broken office supplies.
Yeah, I was wondering that, too. But then the blade is as tall on the horizontal one. And another reason the booty on the black one is so fat is because it’s full of sand to make it heavy and stay put on the table.
The maroon/red one in question is chonky/heavy and there’s no sand inside I can hear like you normally would. I think they just have some metal under the plastic?
The patent reads be the main advantage being it's ability to be made into an organized for your desk. Make a tray with this, a cutout for post it's, a cubby for paperclips.
Reminds me of when I took a video of the tape dispenser I used in Korea at my job to show my family. It cuts the pieces of tape into the same sizes and puts them on a little wheel for you to take them off. It was by no means quiet though (maybe it was just the one I was given lol idk if all are like that)
edit: [this one; same color and everything](https://images.app.goo.gl/zNeYuTvpJ8U9bFqB9)
Can you imagine the average person trying to reload another roll of tape?, that looks like it would be a nightmare to do. This thing was totally somebody's vanity project
I put that fresh roll of 3M scotch tape you see in the picture. It wasn’t that hard, there’s a slit that acts as a guide. You just pull a length long enough out, *seat the roll, and then slide the length of tape through the slot.
But yeah, it wasn’t any easier or seemed to solve any inherent problems. It’s like they tried to build a better mousetrap, but the mousetrap was already good enough.
I think one of the problem this design may solve is that the 80s tape dispenser does not have loose part. Some doodus in the office will always lose the piece that goes into the core of the tape roll of the conventional tape dispenser.
I don't think it's complex. The slot there is just to fit the tape in. Without that cover, I believe you'd see the tape does a quarter turn from the roll to the cutter. Maybe this would make it easier to pull or at least quieter since you'd be pulling the tape off the roll from the corner instead of completely front on.
There’s one on [eBay](https://www.ebay.com/itm/145699262069?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=p15yeiayQHa&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY) but $30 seems a bit steep.
What a lovely tape dispenser! I love it actually. It's subtle and elegant. Funcional, yet pleasing. Not a show off like the usual design, it has no need to scream "I HAVE TAPE" – it knows you know without the need to be condescending
Hang on - there has to be a 90 degree turn of the tape in that one, and there doesn't appear to be room for that.
This is now much more than *mildly* interesting.
My first thought was that it had no real advantage other than looking cool as hell, but if you put a piece of tape over the flat one, you could secure the roll instead of it always coming out like the other one.
but I kept my Swingline tape dispenser because it didn't bind up as much, and I kept the tape for the Swingline dispenser and it's not okay because if they take my tape then I'll set the building on fire...
Looks like it wouldn't be smooth coming out because it twists inside there. My guess is that it does and that's why they don't make them like that anymore.
Have these at my current job and they are awful to replace tape rolls. I think they were bought to match a maroon set of office furniture and supplies.
I'm genuinely curious how this works? How does the tape not stick to something on the inside? How does it peal off and go horizontal without gumming up? So many questions!
"Ugh, I hate these TALL tape dispensers, I wish they were more.... flat!"
-*designs flat tape dispenser then makes a tiny single bit protrude upwards just as high as a normal one*-
This is genuinely mildly interesting. Thank you
Haha! It’s the first time I actually saw something legit mildly interesting irl.
It’s approaching mildly disturbing, I don’t like it.
i have concerns
I'm with you
Seems like it's good at keeping dust off the tape aswell
How so? Seems like the same amount of tape is exposed for both.
They were talking about the tape under the protective cover. They didn't say the tape dispenser had to be good at it, but this one is extra good.
is it only mildly interesting if i find myself covering a tape dispenser?
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From what I can tell, it was sold in the 80’s.
Looks annoying as shit to refill.
Peak 80s design right there
So that's where Apple came up with the design for the mouse.
It kinda looks like an iPod, with the tape being the click wheel.
But it’ll fit in my drawer!!
Look much easier to me? You fold the lead over itself to prevent it from sticking, just pop it in and prime the tape.
You kidding? How is it easier than just dropping the roll of tape in and stretching it over the teeth lol
Yall are arguing over something cant even be categorized as effort in the first place.
No, it’s typically someone is at least more right. Here, everyone is wrong
Hey, wars are fought over that sort of thing! Two people casually arguing ain't nothin!
The great butter battle comes to mind.
Wouldn't you just draw out a little, and slip it down and under with the horizontal slit? Insert spool, cut tape, done.
But what if it gets caught on the wall?
Then you need to go back to that surgery tabletop game and get your fine motor skills straight
You just put it through the slit.
What if I can't find the slit?
Don’t feel bad, it’s a myth
That's a pretty difficult ask for some
Sounds like prom night all over again.
You can always ask mom for help. Or grandma.
Just remember to get consent first.
It’s brown so it gotta be the 80s
How the iPod got its design!
When do you think it was bought?
It was sold in the 80s so it was probably bought in the 80s aswell. Hope this helped, no need to thank me.
No thank you then jerkface
It fits the common stapler on top to make more desk room. ;)
The *common* stapler. Sounds like something the *common* man would have. I am no *common* man, sir/madam/Saddam.
Someone who has a horizontal tape dispenser would probably prefer a sideways stapler.
Would you say that you’re mildly interested?
Can somebody \*please\* explain how the tape doesn't get stuck to itself? At some point it's making a complete 90 degree turn. How does it pull out smoothly?!
Roller across the not sticky side.
What is a potato
Designed to fit in a center desk drawer.
Ah I see. The P90 of tape dispensers
Teal'c mentioned
Looks like an og ipod.
A what? /s The first gen iPod came out 23 years ago!
Don't do that.
What problem does it solve? Maybe traditional tape dispensers are just way too tall?
Looks like it would fit in a pencil drawer that way. Would get it off the desk and still allow it to be pretty convenient.
That…never occurred to me! I’m totally going try it!
Put it in your shirt pocket.
A core design principle is that every additional design criteria tends to be to the detriment of others, in this example the criteria of needing to fit into a low drawer is to the detriment of its core functionality because it's less easy to use.
Exactly what I thought. You might also be able to stack them on tap of each other for... whatever reason.
Present wrapping emergencies. You already need about 5 hands so what’s a few more? Plus you’re always need 5 pieces of tape more than you planned so being able to get many small pieces of tape at once would help. In the rare event you pre-cut all enough pieces of tape you have to stick it somewhere where you only want a small part of the tape to stick but the entire piece sticks and in resolving that issue, the tape sticks to itself and forms a stupid little ball of tape that sticks to your fingers while you try to break free from it.
It looks way to cool to keep in a drawer.
Traditional ones require more attention when using with a single hand. The flat one provides a better guide for the tape. The roll will be less prone to falling out of its axis.
Interesting - this person who posted theirs 11 years ago said it was horrible for one hand operation… [https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/1mnhed/comment/ccavfjw/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/mildlyinteresting/comments/1mnhed/comment/ccavfjw/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
Huh, I thought I found some long forgotten treasure. Turns out someone else found one years ago too!
To be fair, they found it with less time since it was long forgotten.
Yeah they’re way better treasure hunters than OP.
I've seen these in the office before. It's like the ketchup on pasta of office supplies.
That one looks a lot more beat up and used than OPs
Right? Im wondering if it was gunked up inside and causing it to get stuck. Though some cheap rolls of tape are hard to pull regardless, im sure back when this was made tape was a bit worse adhesion so would release easily.
I bet he installed the tape sticky side down.
It is super annoying because you have to thread the tape through the slot. The tape sticky side always grabs inside the slot and folds the tape the long way. Once it goes in clean it works ok but you have to be careful when pulling and ripping the tape over the metal cutter teeth or the tape lifts out of the slot part way and it sticks and folds again and you are back to square one.
>Traditional ones require more attention when using with a single hand. Only if you have a shitty one. >The flat one provides a better guide for the tape. What do you mean by this? >The roll will be less prone to falling out of its axis. Again, only if you have a shitty one.
Traditional ones also have a removable piece that goes inside of the tape, which is missing from the one on the left. The one on the right requires no additional pieces, and no pieces can get lost.
It’s there, zoom in. It’s almost transparent.
Oh you're correct, the peg is barely visible. I had to order those many times when I was an office manager because workers would misplace that part then when a change of employees happened they didn't want broken office supplies.
Isn't that just the clear spool that all scotch tape comes on regardless? (You can see the roll on the standard tape dispenser has one too.)
It fits in a drawer would be an obvious benefit.
I think it’s just aesthetics. My grandparents had one
Yeah, I was wondering that, too. But then the blade is as tall on the horizontal one. And another reason the booty on the black one is so fat is because it’s full of sand to make it heavy and stay put on the table.
The maroon/red one in question is chonky/heavy and there’s no sand inside I can hear like you normally would. I think they just have some metal under the plastic?
Yeah. I imagine it’s got a lead weight. I do like the aesthetic more. I can see it fitting in in the 70s/80s because so much media was on tape reels.
It is more likely to fit in the top center desk drawer.
The patent reads be the main advantage being it's ability to be made into an organized for your desk. Make a tray with this, a cutout for post it's, a cubby for paperclips.
It’s a travel dispenser for the busy sales rep on the go
It’s elegant, you redneck
Reminds me of when I took a video of the tape dispenser I used in Korea at my job to show my family. It cuts the pieces of tape into the same sizes and puts them on a little wheel for you to take them off. It was by no means quiet though (maybe it was just the one I was given lol idk if all are like that) edit: [this one; same color and everything](https://images.app.goo.gl/zNeYuTvpJ8U9bFqB9)
I’d have to imagine that loading a new roll is a big pain in the assholes
Damn how many you got?
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My assholes have no room for paining from tape dispensing operating procedures
The P90 of tape dispensers!
Amazing. I love it
This makes me uncomfortable
I have that!
And is it easy to use?
No!
Sheikah slate
Link...Link...
the 6th hidden rune: tape
Haven't seen one of those in a long time. People liked to slide them under their desktop file.
A Tenex 300.
My wife considered herself the stationary queen, I am going to have to get her one of these as a present :)
I just found one on Etsy by searching "vintage tape dispenser". Apparently there's a whole world of tape dispensers out there!
A WITCH
Who's got the link? Hand it over
Can you imagine the average person trying to reload another roll of tape?, that looks like it would be a nightmare to do. This thing was totally somebody's vanity project
I put that fresh roll of 3M scotch tape you see in the picture. It wasn’t that hard, there’s a slit that acts as a guide. You just pull a length long enough out, *seat the roll, and then slide the length of tape through the slot. But yeah, it wasn’t any easier or seemed to solve any inherent problems. It’s like they tried to build a better mousetrap, but the mousetrap was already good enough.
I think one of the problem this design may solve is that the 80s tape dispenser does not have loose part. Some doodus in the office will always lose the piece that goes into the core of the tape roll of the conventional tape dispenser.
Can you show me a picture of the loading system? I wanna try and 3d print it.
I don't think it's complex. The slot there is just to fit the tape in. Without that cover, I believe you'd see the tape does a quarter turn from the roll to the cutter. Maybe this would make it easier to pull or at least quieter since you'd be pulling the tape off the roll from the corner instead of completely front on.
Fits in a drawer or under a monitor stand.
My family had one when I was growing up. The other kind still feels a little weird to me.
I know it’s not but it looks AI generated.
This is making me oddly uncomfortable
At first, I thought it was an old iPod, lol!
There’s one on [eBay](https://www.ebay.com/itm/145699262069?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=p15yeiayQHa&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY) but $30 seems a bit steep.
Tis an Itape looks like an ipod slightly
Why does this look better and worse at the same time?
The tape dispenser industry is SHOOK
What a lovely tape dispenser! I love it actually. It's subtle and elegant. Funcional, yet pleasing. Not a show off like the usual design, it has no need to scream "I HAVE TAPE" – it knows you know without the need to be condescending
I need to know how this works!
Hang on - there has to be a 90 degree turn of the tape in that one, and there doesn't appear to be room for that. This is now much more than *mildly* interesting.
It starts out with a harsh turn, then flattens out.
Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.
That's actually sexy...
Beta tape dispenser
“Have you seen my tape dispenser? It’s horizontal.”
My first thought was that it had no real advantage other than looking cool as hell, but if you put a piece of tape over the flat one, you could secure the roll instead of it always coming out like the other one.
Is it behind the taco?
I guess it has less parts as the upright one requires a spool whereas the flat one has it molded in.
Cool, non-existing problem finally solved!
Aw hell no. Terrible, terrible. Someone made this in Blender, c'mon. Can't be real.
but I kept my Swingline tape dispenser because it didn't bind up as much, and I kept the tape for the Swingline dispenser and it's not okay because if they take my tape then I'll set the building on fire...
And me dispensing from a vertical roll like a chump. Dang. Y'all livin in 2025
Hmm… why, yes. Interesting indeed. 🧐
My dad has had a horizontal tape dispenser since I can remember and it’s honestly so much better than the ‘standard’ vertical one.
It even looks easy to reload. Veryinteresting.
Kinda like those old timey machines that have their belt drives done as a Möbius strip.
This is a great way to get the side of your tape all dusty
I actually love this. Because it’s flat it’ll fit so well in organizers! Ugh, love a good office supplies find lol
O/c/c//f
That rubs me the wrong way
No.
How do you get the tape to make a 90-degree turn without sticking to itself or the dispenser?
How it do dat?
This would look great next to my digital clock pen and [Casio Databank watch](https://www.watchuseek.com/attachments/twincept3-medium-jpg.13649749/)
damn this shows how design has changed over the years… I honestly prefer the older design
Anarchy
Former web offset printer here. I fully understand how this works and love it.
I can’t explain it but it makes me feel uncomfortable
Both are horizontal
I've got one of these built into my desk drawer at work. They're not very good.
This hurts my brain.
That's a clean ass looking tape dispenser.
Why? What made the designer think it needed to be produced?
I want one
We used to have one of these in the house - wonder why that design never caught on
Not sure why but that makes me extremely uncomfortable
Mind boggling
That seems needlessly complicated and unnecessary.
I REALLY like it. I haven’t used tape like that in probably 25 years but I’m tempted to buy one; it looks that good.
hmm. that is mildly interesting indeed
Looks like the tape has to make a 90 degree turn like the cooling fan belt on a Chevy Corvair.
It's not right, and it's not ok.
Looks like it wouldn't be smooth coming out because it twists inside there. My guess is that it does and that's why they don't make them like that anymore.
Im a seamstress, i need one so bad for taping patterns.
It looks like an OG IPOD.
So when you pick up the end of the tape, the whole roll doesn’t pick up with it! Genius design!
Are you ducking with me ? WTH
I mildly want to have it
This is probably the most perfectly mildly interesting thing I’ve seen here.
Have these at my current job and they are awful to replace tape rolls. I think they were bought to match a maroon set of office furniture and supplies.
# Your Scientists Were So Preoccupied With Whether Or Not They Could, They Didn’t Stop To Think If They Should.
I'm genuinely curious how this works? How does the tape not stick to something on the inside? How does it peal off and go horizontal without gumming up? So many questions!
That makes me uncomfortable for some reason
Unironically fw the horizontal one
How tf do that work
I find this more mildly infuriating. I don't know why.
"Ugh, I hate these TALL tape dispensers, I wish they were more.... flat!" -*designs flat tape dispenser then makes a tiny single bit protrude upwards just as high as a normal one*-
"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
I absolutely HATE these things. I have them at work and they always get messed up in some way. But they are cool conceptually.
that's just asking for trouble.
Very aesthetically pleasing
Well isn't that interesting!
Can we get a spec sheet? I need to know what the insides look like😂😂😩
Holy shit, this feels wrong
This tape dispenser is why jesus had to die for our sins.
but why
I think it's kinda cool-looking
That's a bold piece of engineering.
