On this day in 1841 John Rand got a patent for the first collapsible roll-up tube. The tube was used for everything from toothpaste and glue to ointments and caulk. Today, tubes still are used for many things and you see them everywhere. Even though Rand's first tubes were made of soft lead rather than today's soft vinyl plastic hybrids, the problems were the same. Within weeks, caps were glued and stuck in place, making an indestructible bond and barrier between man and his roll-up tube's contents. When you first open a tube, coat the threads with petroleum jelly for a smooth on-and-off lifespan -- until the contents are used up. And that's the On The House tip for today.