Discovering toothpaste tube

Did you ever wonder why do we have toothpaste in a tube? Why is tube designed in such a way?

In the late 19th century there were variety of big jars, where family members used to dip their brushes. There was no concept of the toothpaste tube. Back in 1892, Lucius Tray Sheffield, observed collapsible metal tubes for paints and inks. He communicated his observation to his father Dr. Washington Wentworth Sheffield, who invented modern toothpaste.

These collapsible provide more hygienic dispenser and hand to carry. Additionally it consume less horizontal space and more of vertical space. Dr. Sheffield began producing tubes of tin. His grandson took a step further and created a company to manufacture tubes.

The present situation helps us understand how leveraging idea from totally different domain is how helpful. Without this invention we would have been still using the jars. How difficult it would have been to have that jar especially in this pandemic.

Observing the surrounding really helps us. There is always something we can learn and apply in cross domains. Observation is just a skill that needs to be nurtured like any other skill. The more we utilize it, the better observer we become.

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