Paper tape supply, was Re: paper tape for GNT 4601

--- Roger Holmes <roger.holmes at microspot.co.uk> wrote: I would be interested in knowing more about the state of supply for papertape media worldwide. I have become quite concerned about availability going forward. In the states, I know of only two suppliers, Western NC and Trybus. It appears that Trybus has closed in recent months, leaving only Western NC. Trybus owned the rights to manufacture the Arvey brand of Mylar tape, and I believe was the sole source for Mylar tape of any kind. I spoke with a lady at Western NC, who confirmed that they acquired the Trybus inventory, but that no new tape is being made. As for actual paper tape, there is only one mill that supplied both Trybus and Western NC. Western NC says they plan to carry it as long as they can get it, and they don't have any indication when the mill might drop it. They tell me, though, that paper tape usage is down to a trickle. I notice that both Western NC and Trybus dropped the blue and red tape colors about a year ago. I imagine that not much of this stuff is being made anymore. I imagine that many paper suppliers ought to be able to provide tape on a custom basis, given a sufficiently large order, but I was led to believe that the specs for such tape as laid out in the relevant standards were a bit difficult to fulfil, particularly for oiled tape. Time to stockpile tape. I just ordered another case --Bill