Dimitri Burkhard
Apart from cellophane, the invention of the zipper is a nice example of what happens when Swiss and Americans collaborate. But more on cellophane later.
First patented in the United States in 1851, the "pre-zipper" differed from today's model in that each hook was movable along the seam.
In other words, zipping your jacket would involve aligning all the hooks on either side before "hooking" them. Too much work, if you ask me!
So about 70 years later, a Swiss jurist was approached by a sales rep from the US who was trying to sell off the zipper idea. A year or so later in St. Gallen, Dr. Martin Winterhalder had perfected the technology and had invented the so-called coil zipper, which we still use today!
Pretty neat, huh?
David Feng
What about the PANArt ‘Hang’? Surely this is the most famous Swiss invention of the 21st century.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but the zipper was invented in Canada!
I think we are talking about a technicality, but you are correct that the basic idea of attaching two pieces with hooks was invented in North America. As outlined in the article, though, the improved coil zipper which we are still using today was invented by Dr. Martin Winterhalder in St. Gallen.
[…] have a knack for inventing cool gadgets? Among others, they have churned out Swatch watches, the zipper or even […]