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Dating Outerwear by zipper design

tmitchell59

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,710
Location
Illinois
Duplicate(ish) question.
I just picked up an older jacket (supposedly from the 1960s with Conmatic cuff zips, but who knows...) with this short main pull. I am used to the longer, spelled out "Coats Clark" version and was wondering if this short "CC" one was older, newer or just a smaller option.

I notice that mine is a slightly different shape.
Langlitz%20Cascade%20Vintage%20Racer%20C%26C%20main%20pull-M.jpg

I have never seen these style of coats and Clark's zippers. I too am more familiar with the long pull with the name down the middle. They have the look of talons use in the 50s and 60s on many motorcycle jacket sleeves.
 

ShadowBoxer

Familiar Face
Messages
58
Location
Los Angeles, California
The plot thickens.
Just received this and got a closer look.

So maybe this is not a newer Coats Clark but instead an older Crown?
1E4ACEDD-1EAF-4424-9A58-86CAE3C1E791-L.jpg

The seller seemed to think this was a 1960s Cascade but considering the Crown main zip and Conmatic cuff zips I’m starting to feel like it might be late 1950s.
Anyone have any ideas?
 

After the Fox

New in Town
Messages
27
Location
London U.K
Scovill is still in business, and are still making zippers for military and civilian jackets.
http://www.scovill.com/product/other-trim-resources/zippers/

hi, checking through this and the zipper guide I can't see any Lightning pictures/dating - trying to find approx date of a Lightning zipper - searched the Forums and your guide but that seems to be Talon only, and photo in old forums are now out of focus.. anyway wonder if you can help, have an old WW2 irvin with lightning zip which looks to be replacement, wonder when earliest done - or please point me to a guide if available that I can check myself,
IMG_3508 (533x800).jpg

thanks so much
 

jonbuilder

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,563
Location
Grass Valley CA Foothills
This is a Coats & Clark zip on a horsehide Lanklitz Cascade with an early white silk label, not the green label. I have seen web pictures of green-labeled Langlitz with the spring-loaded Crown zips like the ones on my Star glove jackets.
dY0A5uOuQLyq+VdHUFtXzg.jpg
 
Messages
10,607
Talons on my two Oakbrook jackets. The pull on the steer hide jacket was replaced with a similar YKK.

B4641AEE-0C8E-4425-9271-EB0977D0E97B.jpeg
D6C63CE7-6AEA-4ADB-9698-C58B94A19813.jpeg
B643F35C-AB99-491B-9B01-AB84BFF43D44.jpeg


Conmatic on my Satin-Twill Oakbrook

B7BB1780-C854-410D-9D66-AFB443C80FE9.jpeg


Steerhide is early 60s. Satin mid to late 60s
 
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tmitchell59

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,710
Location
Illinois
1950s Talons are the easiest to identify and were consistent through the era.

Note: The "other" common zippers often were a reflection of a Talon and can be dated by that similarity. A 50s Conmar is going to look very much like a 50s Talon, except the name.

This is the Standard 1950s Talon zipper. Note the plain Stop box, and the "rounded" edges on the pull. If there are differences to break down what Year in the 50s, I not aware of them.


ABE32BF8-88B3-44C7-B5A9-84C53991A78B_LI.jpg


Note again the "rounded" edge on the pull

upload_2021-11-11_10-59-58.jpeg



This is the Talon that preceded it. I call this post-war late 40s. Note the "square" end on the pull, not rounded like the pull above. The stop box has Talon down the middle. These Talons vanished around 1951.

Note: You will Conmar, Serval, with similar designs. Their name written down the box and more squared pulls. I will post some examples.



upload_2021-11-11_11-2-35.jpeg


upload_2021-11-11_11-14-58.jpeg


Note: There are models with the 40s Talon stopbox and the "new" rounded pull.
 

tmitchell59

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,710
Location
Illinois
Great picture of the earliest Talon. Most of these are quite rare. These are all early 30s. I have encountered one of these early zippers. If you have one of these zippers you probably have a very cool garment.



upload_2021-11-11_11-20-41.jpeg



Zippers were not commonly used until c.1931. I'm going by the first mention of a zipper in the Sears catalog.

upload_2021-11-11_11-27-53.jpeg
 
Messages
10,607
Talon and sleeve zip Ideal on my Vintage Cooper MC jacket. 70s at the earliest but likely 80s/90s

D7D7FE57-0FFB-46E6-86BB-A0BD09E84B46.jpeg
26FF7554-F482-42AC-B19F-0B7328E5770F.jpeg
 
Last edited:

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