Talon Zipper
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing, Apparel accessories |
| Predecessor | Universal Fastener Company, Automatic Hook and Eye Company, Hookless Fastener Company |
| Founded | 1893 |
| Founder | Lewis Walker |
| Headquarters | Meadville , United States |
Key people | Larry Dyne (CEO), Colin Dyne (former CEO) |
| Products | Zippers (metal, vintage style, DrXTalon series, bottom jean, workwear line, flame resistant, plastic molded, coil, electroplated coil, water resistant), trims (labels, metal fasteners, patches, heat seals, tapes and cords), PPE (face masks, face shields, gloves) |
Number of employees | ~150 (1991) |
| Website | www |
Talon holds the distinction of being the inaugural manufacturer of slide fasteners, widely recognized as zippers. Established in 1893 under the name Universal Fastener Company, its original focus was on producing hookless fasteners designed for footwear. The firm moved to Meadville, Pennsylvania in 1913, becoming the first company dedicated to zipper production. Throughout the 1960s, Talon maintained a leading market position, supplying approximately seventy percent of all zippers sold.
Business history
In 1891, inventor Whitcomb L. Judson from Chicago developed a hook-and-eye fastening mechanism featuring a sliding component intended to simplify shoe lacing. Following its presentation at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, Lewis Walker, a corporate lawyer from Meadville, Pennsylvania, invested capital and established the Universal Fastening Company, becoming its principal shareholder.
The initial product by Judson, known as the Clasp Locket, proved inefficient as each hook and eye had to be sewn by hand. In 1904, the company was reorganized as the Automatic Hook and Eye Company and relocated to New Jersey. Judson continued his innovations with the 1905 introduction of the C-Curity Placket Fastener, which featured smaller hooks attached to fabric strips but required removal prior to laundering, limiting consumer appeal. Eventually, Judson’s interest in fastening devices waned.
In 1906, Lewis Walker brought engineer Gideon Sundback on board to enhance the C-Curity design. Sundback introduced significant improvements and developed machinery critical for large-scale manufacturing.
Move to Meadville
The company rebranded as the Hookless Fastener Company in 1913 and shifted operations to Meadville. That same year, Sundback created Hookless No. 2—a fastener consisting of interlocking metal scoops (teeth) affixed to cloth tapes and connected by a slider—closely resembling today’s zipper design.
Despite this advancement, sales remained modest until World War I increased demand for zippers in military equipment such as money belts, life jackets, and aviation garments. By 1919, Locktite tobacco pouches incorporated zippers extensively, representing seventy percent of Hookless Fastener Company’s output and substantially boosting revenue.
Zipper name trademarked by Goodrich
In 1923, the B.F. Goodrich Company introduced rubber galoshes equipped with slide fasteners marketed as Zipper Boots to emphasize quick closure. Goodrich secured a trademark for the term Zipper in 1943; however, this trademark expired in 1986 without renewal, allowing other manufacturers to utilize the name commercially.
Talon becomes new company name
Following Lewis Walker’s death in 1937, the Hookless Fastener Company adopted the name Talon, inspired by bird talons. By 1940, Talon employed approximately 6,700 workers across Meadville, Erie, and other sites, generating profits of $5 million. During World War II, Talon obtained military contracts supplying zippers and firearm components.
After the war, Talon’s requirement for skilled tool and die makers led to an apprenticeship initiative that helped establish Meadville’s reputation as "Tool City USA," with numerous former apprentices founding local tooling enterprises. By 2003, more than 130 tooling and machine shops operated within Crawford County.
In 1960, Talon introduced the Zephyr zipper featuring a nylon filament coil that provided enhanced flexibility and a narrower profile. By 1962, Zephyr represented one-third of Talon's annual zipper sales totaling 500 million units. The company diversified by acquiring Universal Button Company, expanding into metal buttons, hooks, eyes, and snaps—yet zippers continued to constitute eighty percent of total sales.
Nonetheless, growing international competition gradually eroded Talon's profitability. By the late 1970s, employment in Meadville fell to around 500 workers and declined further to approximately 150 by 1991. To reduce expenses, Talon opened manufacturing plants in North and South Carolina before eventually ceasing operations in Meadville in 1994.
Cessation of U.S. Manufacturing
In 1998, Talon formed a partnership with Grupo Industrial Cierres Ideal, a prominent Mexican industrial group, which resulted in the shutdown of all manufacturing operations within the United States. Subsequently, in 2001, Tag-It Pacific Inc, established by entrepreneurs Harold and Colin Dyne, acquired the Talon brand. The company underwent a rebranding in 2007, adopting the name Talon International. Under the leadership of CEO Colin Dyne, Talon expanded its production footprint to Asia, evolving into a global supplier initially focused on brass-formed wire Jean zippers. Presently, Talon stands as a leading manufacturer of various closed and open-end zippers and holds numerous patents related to zipper attachments. The current CEO is Larry Dyne, son of Harold Dyne and sibling to Colin Dyne.
Zippers
- Metal Zippers
- Vintage Style Zippers
- DrXTalon Series
- Bottom Jean Zippers
- Workwear Line: Work Zip
- Flame Resistant (FR) Zippers
- Plastic Molded Zippers
- Coil Zippers
- Electroplated Coil Zippers
- Water Resistant Options: AquaTight Water Resistant Coil Zippers
- KidZip Collection
- FootZip Range
Trims
- Paper Marketing Materials
- Labels
- Metal Fasteners
- Patches
- Heat Seals
- Tapes and Cords
- Packaging Solutions
Distribution Network
Talon’s zipper products primarily cater to the apparel manufacturing industry and are distributed through strategically located centers in the United States, Europe, Hong Kong, and China. These distribution points enable service to global markets such as Taiwan, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Dominican Republic, and regions within Central America.
COVID-19 Response
In April 2020, Talon International pivoted part of its manufacturing capabilities toward producing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for both medical personnel and general use. Their product range includes medical-grade three-ply face masks and face shields, cloth masks, gloves, alcohol wipes, hand sanitizers, as well as insulated gowns. A share of the profits from PPE sales was contributed to Feeding America.