A bow taper having a clamping and cut-off station wherein the tape is pulled from a clamping and cut-off station to an extended position to provide a length of tape extending between said clamping and cut-off station to said extended position, and is clamped via a clamp in the station so that when the tape is applied to a case positioned to be taped by said taper on a leading corner of the case that is adjacent to said extended position tension is applied to a free span of tape between the leading corner and the clamp, cutting off tape adjacent to said clamping and cut-off station to leave a free end and releasing said clamp from clamping said tape.