What makes an item interesting enough that drives people to learn all about its history and origin? Perhaps something great and impactful, such as an ancient civilization, or the deeds of great heroes? Either way, not too many people look into the history of the mundane, but you’d be surprised how many items have a surprisingly interesting and thought-provoking history.
For example, have you ever thought about the history of mundane items such as the zip tie? Also known as the cable tie (among many others), the zip tie is one of the more common items in a household, and it has plenty of surprising uses. While you can argue it’s much more exciting to talk about ancient civilizations, let’s give the zip tie a chance and dive deep into its history! Who knows, it might just change your mind.
Who invented the zip tie?
The inventor of the zip tie is Marcus C. Logan, who was working under the electrical company Thomas & Betts. The reasons behind the invention lies in keeping cables tightly wound together, an issue he saw for himself when he visited a Boeing aircraft facility.
The zip tie’s key contributors (and evolution)
- DuPontAn American manufacturer responsible for the invention of nylon
To talk about the zip tie, we’ll first have to talk about one of the most crucial materials that go toward the development of zip ties. The American manufacturer DuPont is responsible for the creation of this extremely useful thermoplastic.
- Thomas EdisonInventor of the electrical cable
The reasoning for the creation of the zip/cable tie is to help hold electrical cables together — something that many workers had a challenging time with. Thomas Edison is credited as the inventor of the electrical cable, which he patented. While a known cheat and swindler, he was still an inventor at heart.
- Marcus C. LoganInventor of the zip tie
Marcus was visiting a Boeing construction facility when he noticed that most of the workers were having a challenging time tying cables together. In many cases, they would injure themselves. It was this scene that drove Marcus to research as much as he possibly could to find a solution. Eventually, the cable tie was invented.
- Thomas & BettsThe company responsible for manufacturing the product
While Marcus C. Logan was the inventor of the zip tie, it was the company he worked for that eventually patented and manufactured the product. Thomas & Betts used his invention, known as the Ty-Rap, to help aircraft manufacturers. Eventually, in an attempt to cut costs and keep things as efficient as possible, the materials used to create the zip tie were replaced with nylon.
When was the zip tie invented?
The zip tie was invented by Marcus C. Logan in 1956 as a means of helping aircraft workers accomplish their task without risk of injury. While it was invented in 1956, it was introduced to the public by Thomas & Betts in 1958.
A brief history of the zip tie
It might seem like the zip tie is just another ordinary item with a straightforward history tied to it (no pun intended). However, the invention of the zip tie is quite a bit more interesting than most people give it credit for. To understand the zip tie as we know it today, it’s a good idea to start with the invention of nylon, an extremely useful thermoplastic. Nylon was invented in 1935, and has since been used in a variety of applications, considered one of the most useful materials of the modern world.
The reasoning for the creation of the zip/cable tie is to help hold electrical cables together — something that many workers had a challenging time with. Thomas Edison is credited as the inventor of the electrical cable, which he patented. While a known cheat and swindler, he was still an inventor at heart. It was at this point that Marcus C. Logan, an employee at Thomas & Betts, saw just how much of a challenging time workers had trying to bundle aircraft cables together. In many cases, they would injure themselves. It was this scene that drove Marcus to research as much as he possibly could to find a solution. Eventually, the cable tie was invented.
While Marcus C. Logan was the inventor of the zip tie, it was the company he worked for that eventually patented and manufactured the product. Thomas & Betts used his invention, known as the Ty-Rap, to help aircraft manufacturers. Eventually, in an attempt to cut costs and keep things as efficient as possible, the materials used to create the zip tie were replaced with nylon. The original zip tie used a more expensive combination of plastic and a metal hook. The nylon rendition is much like the zip ties we know today.
The zip tie timeline
- 1880The invention of the electrical cable
The reasoning for the creation of the zip/cable tie is to help hold electrical cables together — something that many workers had a challenging time with. Thomas Edison is credited as the inventor of the electrical cable, which he patented.
- 1935The invention of nylon
One of the most crucial materials that go toward the development of zip ties. The American manufacturer DuPont is responsible for the creation of this extremely useful thermoplastic.
- 1956 to 1958The invention and introduction of the zip tie
Marcus was visiting a Boeing construction facility when he noticed that most of the workers were having a challenging time tying cables together. In many cases, they would injure themselves. It was this scene that drove Marcus to research as much as he possibly could to find a solution. Eventually, the cable tie was invented. In an attempt to cut costs and keep things as efficient as possible, the materials used to create the zip tie were replaced with nylon.
Where was the zip tie invented?
The zip tie was invented in Memphis, Tennessee.
The importance of the zip tie
- Allowed aircraft workers to build with less risk
The point of the zip tie’s creation was to ensure that aircraft workers didn’t have to worry when they were working on aircraft cables. These cables had to be wound together in an inefficient manner before the invention of the zip tie, and Marcus C. Logan would use it as inspiration for his invention.
- The move to nylon was the best move the zip tie could make
The reasoning behind the switch to nylon was due to the zip tie costing too much to make, among others. When they made the switch to nylon, it turned the zip tie into a household name. These days, just about everyone has zip ties somewhere around the house.
- Can be used for a surprising number of things
So long as you had a zip tie, you could potentially deal with plenty of issues around the house. It can be used to hang objects or closed, or can even be used as makeshift shoelaces if you’re planning on hiking and want quick replacement laces.
- An evergreen invention
Nylon zip ties are so useful that it can be hard to imagine getting most things done without it. It’s used in construction, DIY projects, and is extremely handy when you need to hold anything together.
The zip tie by the numbers
- 100000000000The number 100 billion might seem mind boggling (that’s because it is), but that’s the estimated number of zip ties produced every year. It’s not a number most people can really comprehend, especially since that number is repeated annually. That just goes to show how useful zip ties really are.
- 86The inventor of the zip tie, Marcus C. Logan, died at a ripe old age of 86. Throughout his life, Marcus continued to develop various products, and was largely successful with marketing.
- 1958On June 24 1958, Thomas & Betts patented the zip tie, with Marcus calling it the Ty-Rap. It immediately caught on, and quickly became a household name due to its many uses.
- 1937The year that DuPont developed nylon, one of the most useful thermoplastics of the modern age. Without the development of nylon, the zip tie would not have been nearly as popular.
Five facts about the zip tie
- Child-proofing with zip ties
Did you know that you can effectively child-proof your home with the use of zip ties? Some curious kids will often open any cupboard or cabinet they can reach — and probably eat whatever they find. You can use zip ties to fasten the handles of cabinet doors.
- The eight types of zip tie
There have been many different types of zip tie available to the masses since its inception. This includes the standard tie, the releasable tie, mounted-head zip ties, the push-mount cable tie, self-adhesive tie, stainless steel zip ties, reusable cable ties, and the double-headed cable tie.
- The zip tie for gardening
It might come as a surprise, but zip ties do much more for gardening than most people realize. With the use of zip ties you can help affix plants and flowers together, which can help them stand and keep their form. They can even be used to make bouquets.
- The best makeshift shoelaces
Planning on a hike? Most people who go for hikes have multiple shoelaces in case that shoelaces they’re using breaks during the trip. If you don’t want to have to go through the effort, you can instead use the ziploc as makeshift shoelaces!
- The potential reusability
There are reusable zip ties for those who want to use their zip ties over and over. However, just about every zip tie you can purchase is reusable, provided you have a little tool that can help undo the zip tie’s locking mechanism. There’s no need to cut zip ties to undo the strap!
FAQ about the zip tie
- What did people use before the zip tie?
It really depends on the industry. For example, if it’s just tying household items together, any kind of small rope or string can do the job. Tying cables together however was much more dangerous before the zip tie.
- Can I reuse the zip tie?
If you buy the reusable zip tie, it’s easy to undo the clasp. That said, it’s possible to also reuse the regular cable tie, though it’s more challenging to unfasten the strap.
- Just how many uses for the zip tie are there?
That’s a pretty loaded question, as people are still finding ways to use the zip tie to this day! There are so many uses that you could probably find a few unique ones by just giving it some thought and thinking outside the box.
- Will zip ties ever be trumped by a better invention?
There’s always the possibility, though zip ties are so useful that it’s hard to imagine something like that happening anytime soon!
