Dating Outerwear by zipper design

[photo2u]

How much time is involved doing by hand? I do have a sewing machine that can do it. I'm going to learn how to replace zippers this winter!!! I have several jackets that I can practice replacing zippers. I'm going to do it!! I need to do something more creative than just buying and selling jackets.

You do not need a machine. It takes me about 1 hour to do a zipper. There are various steps I follow before I start working on a zipper. As a beginner I would think it could take up to two hours. It all depends on how patient you are. All you require to learn how to properly stitch leather is on YouTube.

 

[tmitchell59]

This is a California Sportswear Police jacket with the 50s label. I was surprised to see the original zipper is the "big" Talon. I had not encountered a Californian with this zippers. I knew the jacket was purchased by a Korean War Vet who was a police officer in Florida. Though I got no dates.

It is near mint condition so I have no doubt the zipper is original

Note Talon markings on the pull and the stop and arched cut out.

I researched this 50s Hercules with braided trim after seeing it with a "big" Talon zipper. I had not noticed such a zipper on a 50s era Hercules. This style of jacket goes back to 1955 and is most often found in Steerhide. I followed the jacket though until 1958 and the jacket description says "Giant" zipper! This is the first mention of a "giant" zipper. I assume they were new. I have found this giant zipper on another braided trim Hercules. Altough difficult to see in pics, the stop has Talon down the middle.

This is a beautiful Kurland-Star Sportswear jacket that has all the quality of of 50s jacket. It has the Big Conmar zipper. Another good example of Conmar imitating Talon, note different cut out. Conmar down the middle of the stop.

These Big zippers did go through changes and I will have to follow up on that.

I'm now defining these zippers as beginning c.1958

 

[tmitchell59]

The other braided trim with a big zipper.

 

[tmitchell59]

I forgot the "Giant" zipper description from the 1958 Sears catalog.

 

[photo2u]

This is a California Sportswear Police jacket with the 50s label. I was surprised to see the original zipper is the "big" Talon. I had not encountered a Californian with this zippers. I knew the jacket was purchased by a Korean War Vet who was a police officer in Florida. Though I got no dates.

It is near mint condition so I have no doubt the zipper is original

Note Talon markings on the pull and the stop and arched cut out.

View attachment 379189

View attachment 379190

I researched this 50s Hercules with braided trim after seeing it with a "big" Talon zipper. I had not noticed such a zipper on a 50s era Hercules. This style of jacket goes back to 1955 and is most often found in Steerhide. I followed the jacket though until 1958 and the jacket description says "Giant" zipper! This is the first mention of a "giant" zipper. I assume they were new. I have found this giant zipper on another braided trim Hercules. Altough difficult to see in pics, the stop has Talon down the middle.

View attachment 379191

View attachment 379193


This is a beautiful Kurland-Star Sportswear jacket that has all the quality of of 50s jacket. It has the Big Conmar zipper. Another good example of Conmar imitating Talon, note different cut out. Conmar down the middle of the stop.

These Big zippers did go through changes and I will have to follow up on that.

I'm now defining these zippers as beginning c.1958

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Those square box talons are so strong Terry! Here are some of my stronger number #10 zips. Talon made so many in this size but not all top quality. Not showing are the REAL big mothers that come out some day out of their caves. LOL I will be posting more images of jacket with the zips.

 

[JMax]

50s Cycle Champ. According to Tanaka, the 3d edition of the jacket. My favorite. Here are the zips on it— Conmar main and serval sleeve.

 

[jonbuilder]

Awesome!! Then I can start sending jackets your way to work on. Lol.

I call second in line

 

[JMax]

Taubers Crown/C&C main and Talon sleeve

 

[photo2u]

Awesome!! Then I can start sending jackets your way to work on. Lol.

Friend, You can do it! Specially the ones with no lining on the way.

 

[JMax]

Guidemaster by Wolf. Blue wool lining version.

 

[Modified_last_call]

Nice Talon from my Hercules A2

 

[Fyve_by_Fyve]

Here's a Serval zipper that I have on an old cafe racer jacket. I'm guessing this would be 1940's . . . ish?

 

[Behemott]

Hello,

This is an interesting thread for someone like me that appreciates jacket and its hardware.

Here are two 30's (guesstimate) zippers that probably came from side pockets or carry bag...? They are like 6 inches in length and closed ended. I also find it peculiar that they were probably glued to the garment, no apparent sewing hole. I bought them from ebay a couple of years ago. I am planning on using a slider on a jacket one day...

D

 

[Will Zach]

Beauties.

 

[jeo]

Talon hallmark dating guide

 

[tmitchell59]

Talon hallmark dating guide

View attachment 524712

Examples

 

[Bennarion]

Hi. Can you tell me in what year this zipper was produced?

 

[handymike]

has anyone seen these chest zips before?

I believe the jacket is a Brooks…it has the correct liner material in the pockets (black poly)…BUT… it has these chest pulls, and Serval sleeve zips. The main zipper is a Talon. The collar snaps don’t say Brooks, but are made by RAU.

Any thoughts?

 

[semolina_pilchard]

Could anybody please help with dating this Lightning Fasteners (Canada) zipper?

It has a 1927 patent date on the back side. I found that LF was in a few court cases over patents but don't know anything about the zipper pull used over time and when zippers had 1927 on the back, and LF on the stop box.

 

[Leigh H]

Could anybody please help with dating this Lightning Fasteners (Canada) zipper?

It has a 1927 patent date on the back side. I found that LF was in a few court cases over patents but don't know anything about the zipper pull used over time and when zippers had 1927 on the back, and LF on the stop box.

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i believe its 40s
https://forums.vintagefashionguild.org/threads/dating-a-suede-jacket-with-lightning-zipper.70224/

and here
https://www.poppysvintageclothing.c...ski-jacket-hobby-togs-by-phimac-canada-size-m