Zippered Seat Cushion pull tab

[Michael O.]

I have spent all morning going through old posts to no avail. I'm wishing to know the time frames for the "flat tab" metal zipper pull tab...if this type was used at all ? (early MB and VEP GPW?) and the more common wire zipper pull tab...see photo...(post Slat/VEP to mid series production?). I'm just wondering about the different styles of pull tabs that actuate the zippers. Thanks in advance!

[Jon S]

Hi Michael! Supposedly, the zippers with the flat tab were used on VEP GPWs. I think AAW 1 had a section relating to cushion zippers and I think Chuck has researched this also. I have not seen any physical documentation---- ever... If there was a picture of a flat tab zipper, I'm sure someone could make a reproduction. I'm also pretty sure that no canvas reproducer has ever offered a tabbed zipper on their product. My idea of it was that it was a large oval tab, but I don't have a clue, really...

[majmacs]

I visited Paolo's shop a few weeks ago outside Florence. His sister Paola gave me a tour of the unorganized but incredibly amazing machine shop/parts warehouse. Saw the new sprung seat cushion jigs and specifically a box of NOS tab zippers from WW2 which i told was were rediculously expensive to procure. I have some pictures (taken with permission somewhere) but not of the zipper pulls..
Patrick

[Chuck Lutz]

Zipper LF to RR.jpg (21.84 KiB) Viewed 366 times

Talon Style FLAT Zipper.jpg (39.76 KiB) Viewed 366 times

Rear Seat Cushion #2.jpg

(240.73 KiB) Downloaded 249 times

Several companies made seats, Universal and I believe Atlas-Royersford among possibly more as well as those made in-house at Ford. I have found the WIRE tab with leather pulls on them and have seen photos of the FLAT pull that is fixed to the zipper feeder itself.

There should still be some threads that have pics if photobucket hasn't ditched them here on g503.

[Jon S]

Hey Chuck! Thanks for posting the pic of the Talon zipper tab! Most of us probably had winter coats with a pull tab like that back in the 50s and 60s...

[Chuck Lutz]

I had that pic of the rectangular pull tab but believe that others were slightly WIDER at the end you grabbed ahold of.