Historical information

Elastoplast is the brand name for a type of bandage with an absorbent centre and sticky edges, also known in Australia as a Band-Aid. The inventor of the Band-Aid was Earle Dickson, a cotton buyer for the American company Johnson & Johnson. Dickson’s wife Josephine often acquired small injuries while doing housework, and Dickson tired of helping her dress wounds. He came up with the idea of sticking pieces of gauze a length of sticky tape so she could self-apply dressings. Johnson & Johnson began producing this type of dressing, branded as ‘Band-Aid’ in 1921. In 1928 Smith & Nephew of the UK began producing similar bandages branded as ‘Elastoplast’.

Significance

This item is significant for its rarity due to age. It provides potential for interpretation as a part of Wodonga's social history.

Physical description

A red Elastoplast First Aid Dressings tin with hinged lid upon which manufacture information is printed.

Inscriptions & markings

On lid of tin: "Plastic/Elastoplast/First Aid/Dressings"