Heddels

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Tumblr
  • Google Plus
  • Soundcloud
  • Vimeo
  • Youtube
  • Snapchat
  • RSS
  • Home
  • FAQ
  • Sale Finder
    • Sale Finder
    • Sale Finder Shortlist
    • Sale Finder Gallery
  • News
    • Announcement
    • Events
    • Latest News
    • New Releases
    • Weekly Rundown
  • Fades
    • Fade Friday
    • Fade of the Day
    • Send Us Your Fades
  • Education
    • 101 Primers
    • History
    • How To
    • Op-Ed
  • Buying Guides
    • Five Plus One
    • Lists
    • Reviews
  • Profiles
    • Item Number One
    • Brand Profiles
    • Interviews
    • Store Profiles
  • Tools
    • Store Guide
    • Dictionary
    • Denim Finder
  • Shop
  • Store Guide
  • Denim Finder
  • Dictionary
  • The Basics
  • Brand List
  • About Us
  • Contact Info
Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter

Heddels

  • Home
  • FAQ
  • Sale Finder
    • Sale Finder
    • Sale Finder Shortlist
    • Sale Finder Gallery
  • News
    • Announcement
    • Events
    • Latest News
    • New Releases
    • Weekly Rundown
  • Fades
    • Fade Friday
    • Fade of the Day
    • Send Us Your Fades
  • Education
    • 101 Primers
    • History
    • How To
    • Op-Ed
  • Buying Guides
    • Five Plus One
    • Lists
    • Reviews
  • Profiles
    • Item Number One
    • Brand Profiles
    • Interviews
    • Store Profiles
  • Tools
    • Store Guide
    • Dictionary
    • Denim Finder
  • Shop
The History of Zippers: Talon, Universal, and Gideon Sundback

The History of Zippers: Talon, Universal, and Gideon Sundback

May 4, 2014 | History | by Austin Bryant
Comments

These days, zippers are so commonplace on clothing that they largely go unnoticed–until they stop working that is. Few realize how much of a breakthrough they were roughly a century ago, and how they changed the construction of not only clothing, but also luggage, camping gear, and sporting goods in general. The company that eventually came to be known as Talon dominated the zipper market for much of the 20th century, and had a huge role in marketing and popularizing the “clasp locker.”

Now popular in repro garments, Talon zippers originally started under a different name entirely. Whitcomb Judson, often credited as the true inventor of what came to be known as the zipper, originally presented the grand idea at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair under the Universal Fastener Company. Unfortunately for him and unknowing consumers, it was a bit of a dud. While the idea was there, the marketing and practicality was not, and the zipper failed to catch on.

Gideon Sundback’s original patent

Not ones to accept defeat, the zipper men moved to Hoboken, New Jersey and brought on Gideon Sundback, the man who would come to define the modern zipper in 1906. Sundback was a Swedish-American electrical engineer and essentially the father of the zipper we see today. After ingratiating himself with the company through his good skills (and by marrying the plant manager’s daughter), Sundback devoted himself to improving the fastener.

By December 1913, Sundback not only perfected the zipper but also the machine that built them–now the “clasp locker” was ready for primetime. Sundback and FM&M didn’t actually coin the term “zipper”–that honor goes to one of their first clients, the B. F. Goodrich Company, who invented the term to advertise its use on their rubber boots. The names quickly became synonymous, and it began to appear on tobacco pouches and boots across the country, but it took another 20 years for the garment industry to adapt the zipper for use on jeans, jackets, and trousers.

What's the Deal with Talon Zippers?

Gideon Sundback and his legacy

Talon dominated the zipper market up until the 1980’s, when Japanese manufacturer YKK seized the zipper throne and has held it since. Talon is still rightly celebrated by nostalgists and historical purists, as it’s a window to America’s manufacturing past. While vintage shopping, it wouldn’t be shocking to find a classic Talon zipper on a perfectly-aged Schott NYC leather jacket and you can still see them today on repro jeans from Levi’s Vintage Clothing, Lee 101, and Sugar Cane.

So next time you look to examine your zipper, give thanks to Gideon Sundback that we can all close our clothes a little bit easier.

Tags: Denim, fastener, history, sundback, talon, universal, zipper
27
SHARES
ShareTweetSharePostEmail




Related Articles

A-Brief-History-of-Garment-Worker-Labor-Rights-in-the-United-States-Image-via-Labor-Arts.

A Brief History of Garment Worker Labor Rights in the United States

history-of-the-watch-cap-jacques-couteau-image-via-broject

History of the Watch Cap – From Monmouth to The Monkees

Evolution-of-Hiking-Boots-Prolific-hiker-and-founder-of-Vibram,-Vitale-Bramani-(second-from-right).-Image-via-Heddels.

The Evolution of Hiking Boots

Fade of the Day - Rogue Territory Stanton 15 oz. (4 Years, 4 Washes, 1 Soak) back top pockets

The History of Sashiko – Repair, Decoration, and Martial Arts

Getting Started

New here? Have a look at our seminal guides to get you started.

  • The Three Tiers of Welted Boots and Shoes: Entry, Mid, and End Level
  • Complete Guide to Boot Care
  • Guide to Leather Wallets
  • Three Tiers of Raw Denim
  • Best Entry Level Raw Denim Jeans
  • An Overview Guide to Leather Grades
  • Your First Pair Of Raw Denim
  • Guide to DIY Denim Repairs
  • Essential Raw Denim Breakdown
  • Clean and Wash Your Raw Denim
  • Rundown on Selvedge Denim

Free Daily Newsletter

Join over 10,000 subscribers and sign up for our free daily newsletter!

Sales Finder Shortlist

Our weekly exhaustive list of all the best sales on the web.

Latest Edition - Feb 15, 2019

Brands Directory

Our picks for the best makers and manufacturers around the globe.

  • 3sixteen
  • 3sixteen+
  • 3×1
  • 45rpm
  • Acne
  • Ande Whall
  • A.P.C.
  • Baldwin Denim
  • Beams
  • Big John
  • Bluer Denim
  • Brooklyn Denim Co.
  • Buzz Rickson
  • Carhartt
  • Civilianaire
  • Denham
  • Dickies 1922
  • Eat Dust
  • Evisu
  • Eternal
  • Freenote Cloth
  • Full Count
  • G-Star
  • Hiut
  • Imogene + Willie
  • Imperial
  • Iron Heart
  • Japan Blue
  • Jean Shop
  • Kamikaze Attack
  • Kapital
  • Kings of Indigo
  • Knickerbocker Mfg
  • Lee
  • Lee 101
  • Levis
  • Levis made and crafted
  • LVC
  • Left Field NYC
  • Momotaro
  • Mr. Freedom
  • Naked & Famous
  • Noble Denim
  • Norman Porter
  • Nudie Jeans Co
  • Old Blue
  • Oni
  • Pike Brothers
  • Pointer Brand
  • Pure Blue Japan
  • Railcar Fine Goods
  • Raleigh Denim
  • Red Wing
  • Real Japan blues
  • Rogue Territory
  • Roy
  • Ruell and Ray
  • RRL
  • Samurai Jeans
  • Shockoe Atelier
  • Skull Jeans
  • Stevenson Overall Company
  • Studio D’Artisan
  • Sugar Cane
  • The Denim Store
  • The GRO Project
  • The Hill-Side
  • Tellason
  • Taylor Stitch
  • Tender
  • The Flat Head
  • The Strike Gold
  • The Stronghold
  • Thorogood
  • The Real McCoys
  • Unbranded
  • United Stock Dry Goods
  • WH Ranch Dungarees
  • Williamsburg Garment Company
Show Full List

Popular

  • Fade-of-the-Day---Banana-Republic-Slim-Straight-Selvedge-(7-Years,-1-Wash)-front

    Fade of the Day – Banana Republic Slim Straight Selvedge (7 Years, 1 Wash)

    5 Comments
  • beyond-apc-new-standard-iron-heart-ihs666-xhs-lead

    Slim-Straight Jeans Beyond the A.P.C. Petit New Standard

    4 Comments
  • Fade-Friday---The-Worker-Shield-Twindigo-(15-Months,-7-Washes,-Unknown-Soaks)-front-back

    Fade Friday – The Worker Shield Twindigo (15 Months, 7 Washes, Unknown Soaks)

    2 Comments

Latest Fades

  • Fade-of-the-Day---Levi's-501-STF-(5-Years,-5-Washes,-1-Soak)-front-back

    Fade of the Day – Levi’s 501 STF (5 Years, 5 Washes, 1 Soak)

    No Comments
  • Fade-of-the-Day---Unknown-Vintage-Sherpa-Vest-(10+-Years)-front-back

    Fade of the Day – Unknown Vintage Sherpa Vest (10+ Years)

    No Comments
  • Fade-of-the-Day---Levi's-501-(10-Months,-8-Washes,-3-Soaks)-front-back

    Fade of the Day – Levi’s 501 (10 Months, 8 Washes, 3 Soaks)

    2 Comments

Heddels

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Tumblr
  • Google Plus
  • Soundcloud
  • Vimeo
  • Youtube
  • Snapchat
  • RSS
  • Help & Info
    • About
    • Advertising
    • Contact
    • Newsletter
    • Policy & Disclosures
    • Privacy and Terms of Service
    • Shop
    • Sitemap
    • Writing
  • News
    • Announcement
    • Events
    • Latest News
    • New Releases
    • Weekly Rundown
  • Fades
    • Fade Friday
    • Fade of the Day
  • Education
    • FAQ
    • 101 Primers
    • History
    • How To
    • Op-Ed
  • Buying Guides
    • Five Plus One
    • Lists
    • Reviews
  • Profiles
    • Item Number One
    • Brand Profiles
    • Store Profiles
    • Interviews
  • Tools
    • Sale Finder
    • Store Guide
    • Dictionary
    • Denim Finder

Free daily newsletter

News, giveaways, and more sent right to your inbox!

(c) 49 Oz. 2011 - 2019