History of Liquid Paper

Bette Nesmith Graham of Dallas (1924-1980) learned to type after leaving school, and some years later, while working as a secretary at a bank in Texas, she observed sign writers panting over mistakes. She hated making mistakes on the new electric typewriters that came out in the early 1950.

In 1951 Bette started mixing water-based paints in her kitchen using blender to match the paper and used a watercolor brush at the office to cover problems.

She worked to make the fluid faster drying. Soon every secretary in the building wanted a bottle of ‘Mistake Out’.

Failing to sell the formula to IBM, she began distributing it through her own business. In 1956, her Mistake Out Company was launched, and Bette and her husband, Bob devoted themselves to it full-time.

Sales were slow until an office supply magazine touted her product; General Electric placed the first big order.

By 1977, five hundred bottles of Liquid Paper were selling around the world every minute. In 1979, the Gillette Corporation purchased the rights to Liquid Paper reportedly for a handsome $47.5 million. Liquid Paper now owned by Newel Rubbermaid
History of Liquid Paper