Talon Zipper
Encyclopedia
Talon Zipper was a company founded in 1893, originally as the Universal Fastener Company, in Chicago
. They later moved to Hoboken, New Jersey
, and finally to Meadville, Pennsylvania
. It was in Meadville that the zipper as we know it was invented, until then they were producing hookless fasteners for boots and shooes. Here, the zipper was mass produced beginning in the 1920s. The high demand for zippers created favorable conditions for the Talon Company, and so became Meadville's most crucial industry. The company encountered significant difficulties after it was sold to Txtron industries in 1978, eventually ending up bankrupt. Today, nothing remains of Talon in Meadville except for a few run down buildings. However as a result of the need for close tolerances and tool and die makers, a cottage industry of tool and die shops was established which resulted in Meadville being nicknamed Tool City with more tool shops per capita than any place else in the United States. Other early names included the Automatic Hook and Eye Company, and the Hookless Fastener Company. They were the first zipper
manufacturing company. The brand is now part of TagitPacific.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. They later moved to Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
, and finally to Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is generally considered part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State and is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania...
. It was in Meadville that the zipper as we know it was invented, until then they were producing hookless fasteners for boots and shooes. Here, the zipper was mass produced beginning in the 1920s. The high demand for zippers created favorable conditions for the Talon Company, and so became Meadville's most crucial industry. The company encountered significant difficulties after it was sold to Txtron industries in 1978, eventually ending up bankrupt. Today, nothing remains of Talon in Meadville except for a few run down buildings. However as a result of the need for close tolerances and tool and die makers, a cottage industry of tool and die shops was established which resulted in Meadville being nicknamed Tool City with more tool shops per capita than any place else in the United States. Other early names included the Automatic Hook and Eye Company, and the Hookless Fastener Company. They were the first zipper
Zipper
A zipper is a commonly used device for temporarily joining two edges of fabric...
manufacturing company. The brand is now part of TagitPacific.