The first paint tubes were patented in 1841 by John G. Rand and used by Winsor & Newton, manufacturers of artists’ materials in London.

Although those first tubes were made of metal, patents show that some time before the second world war, tubes made at least partly of “Celluloid, Cellophane or regenerated cellulose, cellulose acetate or other suitable cellulose derivatives or thermoplastic materials” became available.

It wasn’t until the late sixties, however, that toothpaste tubes made partly of plastic became a household item, and all-plastic toothpaste tubes were introduced only in the 1990’s.

Most of the time, metal tubes are closed by folding the end a few times. This closure method dictates the form: the end of the tube is therefor straight. When plastic tubes became common, they too had a straight end – although they were not folded, but hot-sealed shut. The form was no longer fully determined by technological principles – but nevertheless remained unchanged for decades.