Tolex is a trade name for a flexible, waterproof, vinyl material used as a cover material for books, upholstery, guitar amplifiers, cases, and other products.
[1] Tolex was filed as a trademark on August 30, 1945 by the General Tire, and was registered as "a plastic sheet and film material for book binding and case covering for speakers and amplifiers".
[2][3] TOLEX is a Canadian trademark and brand of OMNOVA Solutions, Fairlawn, Ohio, now part of Synthomer.
Tolex was also used in Packard automobiles, hearses, and ambulances, and in marine applications, such as Chris-Craft boats and other watercraft.
Musicians sometimes use "Tolex" as a generic description for any vinyl type covering on an amplifier or guitar case, but most are not actually Tolex brand, except for Fender- and Rickenbacker-related products.