Zippers

[Dinerman]

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Sunback honoured:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/apr/24/gideon-sundback-celebrated-google-doodle

 

[PKM101]

great thread!

When did aluminum zippers hit the scene?

 

[Dinerman]

 

[Mario]

In an attempt to identify the meaning of the BcWrN abbreviation I just called up the German Textile Musem in Krefeld and talked to the head of the restauration department. Guess what? She doesn't have a clue either - and even asked me to let her know should I find any substantial information about the BcWrN tag. [huh]

 

[Baron Kurtz]

A haul of British separating zippers from a local charity shop sewing supplies section. These are all from the 40s or 50s.

Lightning. There were 3 of this model, 2 green tape, 1 khaki tape.

Aero

Ace:

The Haul:

 

[herringbonekid]

i'm envious of your haul Baron !
what length is the short brown one ? (did Aero leathers take their name from the zips ?)

 

[Sloan1874]

The level of detailing is fantastic, with the deco sun motif. Great find!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

hbk, no I think Aero named themselves after the American WWII leather jacket manufacturer. The short brown one is 13.5" from stopper box to stop teeth, the tape is a few inches longer. it's the only one that's too short, really, for a jacket, even for me.

There were also a bunch of non-separating zippers of similar era that I picked up. A bunch I left, too, more suited to dresses than workwear/menswear.

 

[esteban68]

something I've never even thought about buying even though I see them often in charity shops, I think in future I'll be buying some!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

A comparison. Check out the stopper box similarities between a 1940s British Lightning and a wartime German (DRP Nürnberg) ZIPP.

Lightning

ZIPP

 

[Dinerman]

I have a jacket with a post-war German Zipp zipper in it. It's missing probably a quarter of the teeth and still zips up without any problems. You get one tooth slightly misaligned in a Talon and it's game over.

Since its over in Outerwear and it's not about Aero leathers, its not getting much play, but some of you might be interested in a piece I put together about Hookless and Talon zippers the other day. http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?72287-Talon-Zippers

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Yes, I saw that. Very interesting. Have you looked into the Gideon Sundback/Canadian Lightning angle? There are some interesting stories about the worldwide patent rights etc. in "Talon, A Romance of Achievement"

p.s. Yes, I have similar experience with ZIPP re: lost teeth and retained functionality.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

The non-separating zippers from my charity shop haul.

 

[esteban68]

some beauties there BK, I guess the DOT one stands for 'Devoid Of Trouble' which was used on many products including motorcycles back in the day in 'Great Britain'.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Not sure. lots of Dot zippers turn up on British gear of the day … the Dot zippers used on Irvin flying jackets (particularly the stopper boxes) are works of light industrial art.

 

[Dinerman]

Kwik. Around 1934-37

 

[JennieRage]

Can someone help determine the age of this zipper please? It has a Talon slider ( 1/2 inch long) and a Lightning pull. The length as a whole is 1 inch. The back is marked 6 1 B.
Thank you in advance.

 

[Terminator]

I just received a Black’s of Greenock smock which was advertised as being 1960s with a Lightning zip. In fact, the zip just says L on both sides. Can anyone confirm whether this is or isn’t a Lightning (UK) zip? Interestingly, the zip inside the hood is an Aero!