Adding Zipper pulls ?

[TLW '90]

Anyone like to personalize their jackets by adding zipper pulls ?

I definitely do.

 

[navetsea]

I like to have just teardrop shape zipper pull made from the same leather joined with eyelet or rivet, just like what mass produced jacket makers do from mall jackets to Schott, not so keen on the long strap with knot like what MTO makers usually do. Because that zipper pull will age faster from being handled, and become a sample of how the rest of the jacket would follow.

I think unique zipper pull like how you use that socket is cool, and giving the jacket some personality. Almost like sewing a patch or adding a pin, but not damaging.

However lately my jackets is more busy with things on it, many eyelets, rivets, snaps, decorated pull will push it overboard. If i would have a minimalist pocketless cross zip or without zipper on the pockets then something unique on the zipper might be cool.

 

[TLW '90]

View attachment 367841 I like to have just teardrop shape zipper pull made from the same leather joined with eyelet or rivet, just like what mass produced jacket makers do from mall jackets to Schott, not so keen on the long strap with knot like what MTO makers usually do. Because that zipper pull will age faster from being handled, and become a sample of how the rest of the jacket would follow.

I think unique zipper pull like how you use that socket is cool, and giving the jacket some personality. Almost like sewing a patch or adding a pin, but not damaging.

However lately my jackets is more busy with things on it, many eyelets, rivets, snaps, decorated pull will push it overboard. If i would have a minimalist pocketless cross zip or without zipper on the pockets then something unique on the zipper might be cool.

I get that .
Many jackets don't need anything.

 

[GHT]

My wife has repaired or replaced many a jacket's zipper for friends. A friend of ours now sports a unique zipper pull on his jacket.

 

[TLW '90]

During the winter months at work I wear this '85 dated woodland m65 my dad gave me, and for a zipper pull I made a leather holder for a 1944 1 franc coin my grandfather saved from the underground pub he ran with his brother in Paris during his post war occupation duties.
Before this it was on the '77 dated m65 my dad was issued at BT but that jacket has seen better days so I have mostly retired it.

Of course it has sentimental value, but I'm also a lover of axes so I find it to be a very cool coin in general.

 

[jonbuilder]

I stick with the leather pulls

 

[handymike]

I think that a leather jacket should be customized a bit- especially when you’re younger. Make it your own! The great thing about having one is that it’s yours alone...There is plenty of time for more conservative jackets when you’re older.

 

[GHT]

There is plenty of time for more conservative jackets when you’re older.

Do you mean a fabric, blazer style jacket? In the 60's there was for a time, a fad for blazer style leather jackets. I was mindful that my father spent four years as a POW, so anything that remotely resembled a black leather trench coat would be crass and insensitive on my part. I do remember buying something not dissimilar to this:
https://www.ukleatherjackets.co.uk/men/mens-tan-leather-blazer-grosvenor.html

 

[handymike]

Ha, no I mean that my first leather jacket had pins, mementos, drawings, and whatever else I felt like attached to it. I wore the hell out of it, and loved it- it really told my story of the time. Now (34years later) I have 6 hanging in the closet, all in almost pristine condition without any adornment...I custom dye them, make leather pulls, and condition them, but I struggle to wear them. They are just clothing- not the same love as my original. I’d feel weird wearing it today, but I still have it.

 

[TLW '90]

Do you mean a fabric, blazer style jacket? In the 60's there was for a time, a fad for blazer style leather jackets. I was mindful that my father spent four years as a POW, so anything that remotely resembled a black leather trench coat would be crass and insensitive on my part. I do remember buying something not dissimilar to this:
https://www.ukleatherjackets.co.uk/men/mens-tan-leather-blazer-grosvenor.html

I think he just means something without a lot of flash and potential nonsense.

I'm not talking adding studs or paint or anything here though, just a zipper pull to personalize the jacket in a subtle way.
For me it's generally something personal, sentimental, or just related to one of my hobbies that I use as a zipper pull.

 

[TLW '90]

My wife has repaired or replaced many a jacket's zipper for friends. A friend of ours now sports a unique zipper pull on his jacket.

View attachment 367845

Now that's cool.

My dad has one of his last pairs of dog tags where his last name was misspelled, I think that would make a pretty cool zipper pull if he's willing to part with one of 'em.

I have at one time used a p38 can opener as a zipper pull too.
A lot of military stuff can make a great zipper pull.

I remember the guy at the local surplus store had a grenade pin for a pull on his jacket.
I've seen many dummy cartridge zipper pulls too.

 

[TLW '90]

 

[belfastboy]

I have a collection of antique African trading beads picked up in Morocco in the 1960's. I use them exactly like you for my zipper pulls but I use a coloured round leather thong.

 

[TLW '90]

I have a collection of antique African trading beads picked up in Morocco in the 1960's. I use them exactly like you for my zipper pulls but I use a coloured round leather thong.

Got any pictures, that sounds pretty nice.

This glass bead came off a broken cheap gift shop necklace I got from the zoo as a kid.

 

[TLW '90]

I just made this one out of a vintage master lock key that was in my grandfather's toolbox when I inherited it, I'm going to put it on the JWM cruiser jacket I'm getting ready to buy.

 

[TLW '90]

 

[navetsea]

that aluminum? I think brass one looks better

 

[TLW '90]

View attachment 374154 that aluminum? I think brass one looks better

No, I didn't have any on hand so I made it from a piece of windshield wiper insert.
I save the stuff whenever I can, because it has so many uses.
You are right thoug, brass does look better than the stainless ones.

This one has has a wider footprint than usual, and that's good because it fills up the zipper hole better.
I hate when a pull has a lot of room to slide around and ends up sitting in the corner of a square zipper hole.

 

[navetsea]

wash basin plug and chain has many part usable for zipper DIY pull, good anti corrosion for start, that ball dogtag style chain is long, and good quality can be used for several pullers, the flat clamp or S link on each end obviously useful too.

battery powered stuff like toys, TV remote, flashlight sometime have contact point made from copper or brass, that has been tarnished/ patinated from years of running low electric current, they look beautiful brown sometime greenish too, just need some light hammering into shape with mallet and pliers, I think.

 

[TLW '90]

wash basin plug and chain has many part usable for zipper DIY pull, good anti corrosion for start, that ball dogtag style chain is long, and good quality can be used for several pullers, the flat clamp or S link on each end obviously useful too.

battery powered stuff like toys, TV remote, flashlight sometime have contact point made from copper or brass, that has been tarnished/ patinated from years of running low electric current, they look beautiful brown sometime greenish too, just need some light hammering into shape with mallet and pliers, I think.

Old incandescent D cell flashlights are a good source as well, but I don't have any more modern plastic ones to sacrifice.
I don't want to sacrifice the vintage metal rayovacs because they're worth upgrading to led.