Talon Zippers: History and How to Date Them
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Talon was the leading American zipper maker, descended from the Hookless Fastener Company of Meadville, Pennsylvania. A Talon pull confirms an American zipper but not a narrow date, because the brand was used from 1932 into the 1990s; the type of zipper (metal or nylon coil) narrows it more.
Company history
Our date by zippers guide and Wikipedia record that the company was reorganised as the Hookless Fastener Company and moved to Meadville in 1913, the year Gideon Sundback developed the "Hookless No. 2" with interlocking teeth. The company used "Talon" as a brand by 1932 and changed its name to Talon in 1937. In 1960 it introduced the Zephyr nylon coil zipper, which by 1962 made up a third of its sales. By the 1960s about seven in ten zippers were Talon. Talon left Meadville in 1994, US manufacturing ended in 1998, and the name now belongs to a different company.
Label timeline
| Label or clue | Approximate dates | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Hookless Fastener Co. | 1913 to 1937 | Before the Talon company name |
| "Talon" on the pull | From 1932 | Not a pre- or post-1937 test |
| Talon, Inc. | From 1937 | Company renamed |
| Talon Zephyr nylon coil | From 1960 | Coil zippers in ready-to-wear |
| US manufacturing ended | 1998 | Later Talon zippers are not US made |
What it helps date
- A metal zipper in a dress side seam fits the late 1930s to 1960s; nylon coil means 1960 or later: date by zippers, vintage label lookup.
- Era hubs: 1940s, 1950s, 1960s.
Sources
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Guides that mention Talon
- 1940s Vintage Clothing: How to Date and Value ItDate and value 1940s clothing: L-85 and CC41 wartime rules, rayon and early nylon, side metal zippers, key labels, and 2026 price ranges.
- 1950s Vintage Clothing: How to Date and Value ItDate and value 1950s clothing: New Look to sack silhouettes, early synthetics, metal zippers, ILGWU and fibre labels, and 2026 price ranges.
- 1960s Vintage Clothing: How to Date and Value ItDate and value 1960s clothing: early-60s polish to mod and hippie looks, new synthetics, coil zippers, label laws, and 2026 price ranges.
- 1970s Vintage Clothing: How to Date and Value ItDate and value 1970s clothing: hippie, prairie, disco and designer-jeans looks, polyester and Qiana, care labels from 1972, and 2026 price ranges.
- How to Date Vintage Clothing by the ZipperUse zipper type, placement, brand and material to date vintage clothing: metal Talon zippers, side-seam closures, the 1960 nylon coil, and concealed zips.
- How to Photograph, Measure and List Vintage ClothingA practical checklist for photographing, measuring and describing vintage clothing so it sells faster, gets found in search and avoids returns.
Related
- How to Date Vintage Clothing by the ZipperUse zipper type, placement, brand and material to date vintage clothing: metal Talon zippers, side-seam closures, the 1960 nylon coil, and concealed zips.
- Vintage Label Lookup: Date Clothing by Label, RN and Union TagFree printable vintage label dating cheat sheet with union label versions, RN and WPL numbers, care and fiber law dates, ZIP codes and zipper clues.
- ACWA Union Labels: History and How to Date ThemDate men's suits, coats and shirts by the ACWA union label: the first label of 1916, the 1949 design with and without the registered mark, and ACTWU.
- Adrian Labels: History and How to Date ThemAdrian Original and Adrian Custom labels explained: Gilbert Adrian's move from MGM costume design to his own Beverly Hills house, and suit values.