Tipp-Ex - History

History

The Tipp-Ex company was founded in 1959, in Eltville, Germany, by Wolfgang Dabisch. Shortly after that a Tipp-Ex Contribution company was founded in Frankfurt, Germany, by Otto Carls. The first product was an innovative correction paper for use with typewriters. The name "Tipp-Ex" given both to the company and the product was based on the use of this product — "Tipp" is the German word for "type", and "ex" is Latin for "no more".

As a result of the invention of Tipp-Ex, it became possible to erase a typographical error typed with a typewriter. The typewriter would be backspaced to the letter that was to be changed, the correction paper would be placed in front of the ribbon, and the mistyped letter would be re-typed. The system only worked if the typewriter repositioned the re-typed letter in exactly the same place as originally typed, which could be problematic if returning to a previous line.

Demand for this correction paper grew very quickly and brought interest from both German and international distributors.

In 1965, Tipp-Ex launched a correction fluid and quickly developed a full range of correction fluids for different uses. Sold in more than 150 countries, Tipp-Ex became a unique European brand.

In 1992 Tipp-Ex introduced its first correction tape, followed in 1995 by the successful Pocket Mouse correction tape. In 1998, the correction pen was launched and in 1999 the Mini Pocket Mouse correction tape. The range was extended to erasers, and in 2000, the new foam applicator was adapted to all the correction fluid bottles.

In 1997, Société Bic acquired Tipp-Ex. Tipp-Ex is now the leading European correction products brand and is the tenth most recognized German brand name in the world.