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A huge thank you to Prof. Robert Friedel for his invaluable expertise and contributions to this video.

Check out Friedel’s book here - ve42.co/FriedelZipper

Massive thanks to IPFL for fabricating our giant zipper - ve42.co/IPFL

The giant zipper was adapted from an original design by LoboCNC - ve42.co/LoboZipper3D

We’d also like to thank everyone at YKK who helped organise our call, especially Sophia Seco, Engin Ertugrul, Christelle Malot and Matthew Rawstron.

Finally, a big thank you to Christopher Anderson, Anna Oros and Pressley Stevens of the Allegheny College Library for sending us footage of Whitcomb Judson’s original fastener in action.

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0:00 The First Zipper

2:51 Who invented the zipper?

4:20 How does a zipper work?

5:51 The Zipper Maker Machine

7:46 Why is it called a zipper?

9:32 The Novelty Of A Zipper

12:57 The Most Popular Zipper Doesn’t Have Teeth

14:08 Zippers Have A Lock

15:31 Why do zippers have YKK on them?

18:39 How To Fix A Zipper

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References and Visuals can be found here - ve42.co/ZippersRefs

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Special thanks to our Patreon supporters: Adam Foreman, Albert Wenger, Alex Porter, Alexander Tamas, André Powell, Anton Ragin, armedtoe, Balkrishna Heroor, Bertrand Serlet, Blake Byers, Bruce, Charles Ian Norman Venn, Daniel Martins, Data Don, Dave Kircher, David Johnston, David Tseng, EJ Alexandra, Evgeny Skvortsov, Garrett Mueller, Gnare, Hayden Christensen, Hong Thai Le, Ibby Hadeed, Jeromy Johnson, Jesse Brandsoy, Jon Jamison, Juan Benet, Kelcey Steele, KeyWestr, Kyi, Lee Redden, Marinus Kuivenhoven, Mark Heising, Martin Paull, Meekay, meg noah, Michael Krugman, Moebiusol - Cristian, Orlando Bassotto, Parsee Health, Paul Peijzel, Richard Sundvall, Robson, Sam Lutfi, Shalva Bukia, Sinan Taifour, Tj Steyn, Ubiquity Ventures, Vahe Andonians, wolfee

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Writers: Daniel Leonard & Gregor Čavlović

Producer & Director: Daniel Leonard

Presenter: Gregor Čavlović

Editor: Trenton Oliver

Animators: Domonkos Józsa, Fabio Albertelli & Andrew Neet

Illustrators: Jakub Misiek & Emma Wright

Additional Editor: James Stuart

Researchers: Callum Cuttle & Sophia Rose

Camera Operators: Gregor Čavlović & Henry van Dyck

Thumbnail Designers: Abdallah Rabah, Ren Hurley & Ben Powell

Production Team: Josh Pitt, Matthew Cavanagh, Anna Milkovic, Katy Southwood, Glen Griffiths & Jess Bishop-Laggett

Executive Producers: Derek Muller, Gregor Čavlović & Casper Mebius

Additional video/photos supplied by Getty Images & Storyblocks

Music from Epidemic Sound