I am so happy to have discovered The Los Angeles Obscura Society, I love visiting factories, even more so if it is something close to my heart – like zippers.
U Can is the last remaining zipper factory in the west, only 3 others exist back east. Most zipper production is done in China and to a much smaller extent – Japan.
HIram and his brother Malan now run the factory. Their father Paul got into the business in the mid 1980’s and worked hard to keep this kind of small manufacturing here in America. I always say, hard working immigrants are the biggest American Patriots.
These spools are the tape, on their way to dying vats to be dyed in whatever color the client wants.
The science of color can fill volumes, what I used to do by sight when I worked for a fabric converter is now done with computers.
Not only is the tape dyed, the sliders start out looking like this.
They too go through a paint process, similar to auto paint. On a good zipper, the slider the color will not chip off.
Pink or red? It’s matters to the client.
In time for the 4th of July, it’s nice to see a patriotic bucket.
Metal or plastic, two materials for the teeth.
This machine has put the teeth on the tape.
Joining the zipper, often a client wants a long continuous zipper that they will then cut down to size.
In other cases, the whole zipper is assembled before being cut.
Sliders
End stoppers.
UCan has survived the move of all other manufactures to China, they do so by making a superior product, working closely with clients as well as being able to get the product into the clients hands as quickly as possible.
I have never used one of their zippers, they aren’t for sale for the home sewer, that is fine, I can use cheap Chinese zippers. I do find it interesting that in small steps, manufacturing is coming back to the US. I’ve seen it with Fabric companies as well. the whole south Eastern part of downtown is made up of small manufacturing, may it grow and prosper.
Leah