Could a master blacksmith make a zipper?

[Coredump]

There three different questions here. *Can* it be done. *Would* someone think of it. *Should* I let it happen?

Can? Sure, why not. You may want to talk with a locksmith about it. Or a very specialized blacksmith.

Would? Probably not. It took hundreds of years, an industrial revolution, and automated machines for it to be thought of on Earth, and even then just barely. And why would someone think of it? Remember, in out time, things are often thought of to *create* a market. Middle ages were a different thought process.

Should? Sure, why not? Just make it a 'dwarven' thing. And maybe Elves think it is stupid. Or if that is too obvious say the halflings invented it as a toy... or whatever.
Most fantasy is loosely based on midievel Earth, but that doesn't mean you can't have differences.


Allow PC in introduce zipper? No.
Allow zippers to be part of world? Sure.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The real questions is why? Without mass mechanical reproduction the zipper is a ridiculously expensive and elaborate contraption to replace a few cheap buttons. Could work well for a pirate with a hook for a hand, but otherwise its just an anachronism.

STATUS!

One of the most common ways to display superiority of wealth, power or even technical skill is to spend ridiculous amounts of money doing things in an impractial way- long pointy shoes, dresses with long trains & the Victorian fantasy castles (called follies) that were popular among certain lords & ladies spring to mind.

Imagine the elf or dwarf (with their lifespans and reputations as craftsmen, they'd probably be first) who comes to court in attire that used zippers...it would drive the other courtiers NUTS!

What better way to brag "I'm richer/better than you" than to own something that almost no one else does?

 

[tonym]

...Imagine the elf or dwarf (with their lifespans and reputations as craftsmen, they'd probably be first) who comes to court in attire that used zippers...it would drive the other courtiers NUTS!

Thanks for all the replies--they have been illuminating and helpful.

Dannyalcatraz mirrors my own thinking. I wasn't thinking of a PC inventing a zipper. I was thinking of having an NPC belonging to one of the longer-lived races invent zippers.

I was thinking that a zippered pocket might be a nifty way to indicate that the wearer of the garment was on the cutting-edge of fashion, was wealthy-enough to afford a zipper, and was friendly with elves (or whatever race invented zippers).

Which brings me to another question...

What race would be the most likely to invent zippers? I'm leaning towards elves, but if the first zipper was made to zip-up boots, then perhaps a dwarf would've done it...

I guess gnomes could have invented zippers, as long as they were for something silly, like zipping closed their socks so spiders couldn't crawl in them while they weren't being worn.

What do you think? Elf, gnome or dwarf. Or human.

Tony M

 

[Umbran]

I find that anachronisms have a habit of breaking players out of character, which isn't always what you want to do.

I might suggest taking the same idea, and giving it a solid tweak to keep it in line with the fantasy genre - for instance, instead of a "zipper", you say it is a highly complicated wire clasp, worn both as a way to keep pockets closed and as a brooch.

 

[tonym]

Good idea, Umbran, and a chance for more flavor.
It could be called something like...a dwarven buttonless closer. Or a pocket clencher. Or a Gundilian fastener. Hmm...

Tony M