Möbius Zips

Upon finding various references (articles) in the literature to ‘Möbius Zips’, and although not of any great intrinsic importance, I consider that it would be amiss of me to pass by without a study of sorts, or perhaps more accurately, a survey. To that end, I thus address the concept. However, seemingly as ever, within the Möbius study overall, what at first seems a simple, straightforward study has (time-consuming) complications. Typically, the zip is embedded within an Afghan Bands presentation, rather than mathematics. An open question is whether to discuss this separately or together. There are advantages and disadvantages in both. Upon reflection, I discuss both.

The concept was first seen in mathematics by Cliff Long in 1971, and again by Jean J. Pedersen in 1972 (referencing Long). Both were brief excursions of a single page.

In the magic literature, a prominent magician, Ed Eckl, in 1977, is generally given the credit for the concept with the magic association. Possibly, this was based on Long, as he mentions the early 1970s, which correlates. Simply stated, these are the main ‘original’ people involved.

As might be expected for such a niche study, the literature is decidedly sparse, although it has aroused both mathematical and magical interest, albeit usually of a very brief nature. Indeed, both Long and Pedersen's contributions are of a single page, and even then, ‘bloated’ by the addition of a photo, albeit dedicated. An indication of the lack of interest is that, according to AI, Martin Gardner, who documented every imaginable physical model of the Möbius strip from 1956 onward, never mentions zippers—not even in his exhaustive 1960s columns on paper‑cutting, topology toys, or flexagons. If anyone would have recorded it, it was Gardner.

Putting an exact number of distinct references is not straightforward. Many web references are so minor in extent as to be insignificant, and magic references are often ‘vague’. Of an approximation, there are no more than ten.

Before the study, I was completely unaware of ‘zip nuances’. After all, a zip is a zip, isn’t it? But no, it's not as simple as that! By now, as with other ‘unaware’ studies, I should have realised. I was ‘alerted’ to this by Long and Pedersen, both referring to ‘jacket types’. Prevos refers to a ‘bottom separating zipper’. Investigating further, Hello Sewing and AI give nine different categories, of which the most relevant here appears to be separating vs. non‑separating. A clear distinction is made. A further thought came to mind, after reading the Morris patent, where he uses ‘slide fasteners’, is that the US may use different terms, but no, the term is common to both the UK and the US.

A nice feature of the concept is that (a) it is not wasteful of material (as with cut paper), (b) it is more permanent than a paper model, and (c) it is a quicker procedure when demonstrating the cuts.

A hindrance to the study is a lack of access to all materials. In particular, Gardyloo by Ed Eckl, commonly (incorrectly) cited as the originator, or at least the populariser. I could obtain it at a reasonable price, but I did not deem it important enough to pursue. For an article in print, yes, but not for a personal piece of writing.

Although the study is indeed thorough, it is not quite of the same standard as other studies. To do so would perhaps take the best part of a week, or more, and quite simply, such an expanse of time cannot be justified for the inherent low worth. 

A thought was when the zipper came into being, of what we recognise today, which would at least give a lower bound of this possibility. This appears to be by Gideon Sundback in the 1910s, although precursors can be seen. However, according to AI, before the 1960s, zippers of the day were unsuitable:
The likely reason no earlier examples exist. Before the 1960s, continuous zippers (open‑ended, separable, long enough to form a loop) were not common household items. Most zippers were: short, non‑separable, metal, expensive. The widespread availability of long, flexible, inexpensive nylon zippers in the late 1960s made the idea practically possible for the first time.

This aligns perfectly with Long’s 1971 timing.

Summary

The sparse literature is indicative of the general lack of interest. Cliff Long, in 1971, was the first mathematician to conceive the idea, and Ed Eckl, in 1977, was likely an Afghan Bands derivative. There is little more to say!

Timeline (Select)

1971. Cliff A. Long, ‘Zip the Strip’. Mathematics Teacher

1972. Jean J. Pedersen, Another “Zip the Strip”. Mathematics Teacher

1977. Ed Eckl, Gardyloo. Ed Eckl’s First Lecture Notes

1980s. Excelsior Productions in the 1980's as "Moby Zyp"
1983. Daniel L. Morris, ‘Möbius Strip Puzzle’, Patent  4,384,717
c. 1992. Klamm Magic

2016, David Richeson, ‘Zip-Apart Möbius Bands’. Division by Zero.
2018. Peter Prevos, ‘The Afghan Zipper’. 1.31 video
2018. Peter Prevos, The Möbius Strip in Magic – A Treatise on Afghan Bands.

Bibliography

Anon. ‘Types of Zippers [The Ultimate Guide to Zippers]’ Hello Sewing. Not Dated

A good, popular guide for the uninformed.

https://hellosewing.com/types-of-zippers/

Anon. ‘The Möbius Zip’. Science on Stage Ireland, Video 6.07. See 3.54
Standard paper cutting before moving on to zips. Nothing new.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftUPwTzPX9I

Ashforth, Pat and Steve Plummer. ‘Möbius Bands’. Not dated. 2 pp.

Möbius bands made from strips of paper, are great fun to play with. The disadvantage of the paper versions is that once they have been cut the original is lost. We came up with the idea of making them from double-ended zips so that they can be ‘cut’ apart and put back together again.

Möbius strips of zips, in the style of Long. 16 photos. Asforth and Plummer do not cite earlier instances; the impression they give is that this is their original idea. A brief history of the Möbius strip is given. 

http://www.woollythoughts.com/mobius.html 

Busby, Jeff  (Reviewer). Möby-Zyp by Ed Eckl January, 1983, Epoptica (Issue 3), p. 162. NOT SEEN

Seemingly only available through magic sources, at $399!

https://www.conjuringarchive.com/index.php/list/person/1507

Eckl, Ed. Gardyloo. Ed Eckl’s First Lecture Notes, Unikorn Magik (sic), 1977, 32 pages, see p. 30. NOT SEEN

Page 30 The Mobius (sic) Zip
https://magicref.net/magicbooks/books/eckledgardyloo.htm

Heusler, S., & Ubben, M. ‘Quantum physics at your fingertips – from paper strips to zippers’. Didaktik der Physik Frühjahrstagung, 2023.
2.2. Zippers instead of paper strips
Zippers make it much easier to “cut” or “rip” the twisted tapes, and it is relatively easy to rejoin the separated tapes. In addition to the zipper, the simple strip requires some hook-and-loop fasteners and textile adhesive. It is recommended to use two zippers of the same model but different colors, which can be recombined to two two-color zippers. The model identity is important so…
Quantum physics and zippers combined!

KT Magic Auction. ‘Moby-Zip by Ed Eckl - Excelsior Production’. June 5, 2022.

Afghan Bands without the work

With this very special long very visible zipper you will be able to do the classic Afghan Bands style effect.  The nice thing is not having to get the right kind of cloth, make cuts and do glue ups as you would have to with the Afghan Bands effect.  For those not knowing, the bands effect would start with one loop and as you tear it apart it becomes two linked loops.  Another is that when you tear a band apart it becomes a larger continuous band.  This zipper is specially made with snap fasteners on the ends which enable the effect.  It is very well made and the sturdy cloth part is 1 1/4" wide with the band itself being 30 1/2" long.  There are a number of gags that the zipper itself being what it is will lead to.  Included is the 18 page pamphlet with handling and funny lines.  

Condition very fine.

Includes a cover picture of the Excelsior pamphlet. Alludes to the Arghan Bands' background.

https://ktmagicauction.com/Listing/Details/332333/MobyZip-by-Ed-Eckl-Excelsior-Production

Long, Cliff A. ‘Zip the Strip’. Mathematics Teacher. Vol. 65, No. 2, January 1971, p. 41.

MOST of us have been intrigued at some time or other by the Möbius strip—a one-sided, one-edged, bounded surface.1

The usual demonstration is to take a strip of paper, fasten the ends together as illustrated, and then proceed to cut along the dotted curve.

The result, surprising to some, is that on completing the cut only one strip is obtained rather than two. Modifications of this demonstration include cutting the strip along a curve one-third of the way across the strip and of giving the original strip more than one-half twist before cutting it down the middle. 

Discarded zippers (the jacket variety) make excellent permanent models for these demonstrations and are intriguing for students who wander in and find them on the desk. The simple sewing involved can be done easily with results as shown.

—

1. See D. Hilbert and S. Cohn-Vassen, Geometry and the Imagination (New York: Chelsea Publishing Co., 1952), p. 305.

The first known reference, and so of the utmost historical importance. Illustrated, with a photo. Long proposes using zippers for Möbius strip demonstrations instead of paper. Of note is the reuse issue and permanency, which Long specifically refers to.

Quite why Long references the Hilbert book is unclear. Possibly, this was with cutting the strip into thirds, but if so, I can't find it. There is nothing to associate the zip aspect with. Likely, this was for describing the properties, of which any book would have sufficed.

Note that this was not an isolated text on the Möbius strip by Long; he has two other articles, although without a zip reference

Also see Pederson (‘Another Zip the Strip’) for another zip (one-page) article, where he credits Long.

Bio. Cliff began teaching mathematics at Bowling Green State University in 1959, and he taught there for the next 35 years—serving on Faculty Senate. BGS

Martin, Andy. ‘Elephant Fly by Stoner’s Inc, Klamm Magic, Ed Eckl’. Martin's Magic Collection. Not Dated. NOT SEEN

(c. 1977,1992)
This is a version of the Afghan Bands which is based upon the mathematical principle known as the Mobius Strip discovered by mathematicians in 1865 and adopted by magicians by the end of the 19th century. A description of the Afghan Bands appears in Later Magic by Professor Hoffmann (1904) and also in Vol. 4 of Tarbell (1927).  I learned about the Afghan Bands from Marvin Kaye’s excellent book: The Complete Magician (1973) the routine for which was created by Phil Foxwell  though there was no credit given to Mr. Foxwell.

Early versions were done with paper, then cloth and c. 1977 Ed Eckl published in his Gardyloo lecture notes the zippered version which he marketed through Excelsior Productions c. 1983 as Moby-Zyp. By using a zipper you are always ready to go and there is no set-up or replacements required.

Klamm Magic c. 1992 created their own version (without consent from Ed Eckl or Excelsior Productions). Dick Stoner sold the Klamm Magic version with his own routine: Did you ever see an Elephant Fly?
Effect: Two long loops of paper (or cloth) are cut (or torn) lengthwise to produce typically,
first the expected two separate loops, then, surprisingly, two interlocked loops, and finally a single double-length loop.
(Gary Ward – Linking Ring, April 1994)
Text Source: askalexander.org – click for details
Described as: The Largest Online Collection of Rare, Vintage, and New Magic! My main goal for MartinsMagic.com has been to grow the online collection with as many examples of fine quality magic props from the last seventy years that I can find and purchase…
Martin seems to credit Gary Ward and Ask Alexander as the text source, although not exact in the case of Ward. Gives a good history, although it appears to be unoriginal. Shows Prevos video, 1.32
https://www.martinsmagic.com/allmagic/comedy/elephant-fly-by-stoners-inc/

Morris, Daniel L. ‘Möbius Strip Puzzle’, Patent  4,384,717, May 24, 1983. Filed  November 12, 1981.

Although clearly zippers are used, the exact term is used just once, with ‘slide fasteners’ preferred (19 times).

The earlier references of Long and Pedersen are not mentioned. Mentioned by Peter Prevos and Clifford Pickover, p. 49.

Pedersen, Jean J. Another “Zip the Strip”. Mathematics Teacher, November 1972, p.669

IN Clifford A. Long's article, "Zip the Strip," in the January 1971 Mathematics Teacher, he indicated modifications of the Möbius-strip demonstration-that is, "cutting the strip along a curve one-third of the way across the strip and giving the original strip more than half a twist before cutting it down the middle."

Mathematics teachers may be interested in knowing that the essence of all the modifications mentioned may be shown on a single model constructed from two zippers of the jacket type of lengths and 2x respectively. Of course if is any positive number, it should work, but as a practical matter, among suitable jacket zippers, the 10-inch and 20-inch lengths are the easiest to find.

To assemble the model mentioned above, first form the Möbius strip with the zipper of length and sew it as shown in Long's article. Next unzip the Möbius strip (to make it easier to handle at the sewing machine in the next step). Then sew the zipper of length 2x to the edge of the unzipped configuration that does not involve the teeth (or coil) of the zipper. (A sewing machine of the zig-zag type is most helpful for this step.) Complete the model by sewing each side of the longer zipper to itself at the ends.

If the two zippers used to construct the model are of different colors, the model, once unzipped, is fairly easy to reconstruct. If a harder model of the puzzle type is desired, zippers of the same color should be used. The total cost of such a model is under two dollars.

It is interesting to conjecture how Möbius (1790-1868) would have liked this model. However, it would have been impossible for him to construct one, since the original slide fastener, forerunner of our modern zippers, was not patented by Whitcomb L. Judson until 1893. And even then, Judson's slide fastener was not marketed until 1905, when it was sold, under the name "C-curity," for skirt plackets and trouser flies.1 1. Jones, Stacy V. The Inventor's Patent Handbook. New York: Dial Press, 1966. P. 13.

The second known reference and so is thus of historical importance. Regarded as a ‘reply’ to Cliff Long’s earlier article. Practical advice is given throughout. Although both are short, a single page, Pedersen’s is a more in-depth treatment.

Pickover, Clifford A. The Möbius Strip: Dr. August Möbius's marvelous band in mathematics, games, literature, art, technology, and cosmology. New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 2006.

Mentions in passing the Daniel L. Morris, ‘Möbius Strip Puzzle’, Patent 4,384,717. A search for zip

found only one instance, in a different context.

Prevos, Peter. ‘The Afghan Zipper’. 19 March 2018. 1.31 Video

The Afghan Zipper is a topological magic trick that uses the Möbius Strip principle to create the illusion of magic. This trick is the most recent innovation in the Afghan Bands, one of the most well-known magic tricks.

The basic plot of this minor mystery is that the magician cuts a circular strip of paper lengthwise in half. Instead of producing the expected two separate rings, the magical version results in a band twice the size of the original. The magician repeats these actions and creates two linked rings or even a long loop with a knot. Performers initially used paper of cloth bands to perform this trick.

The Afghan Zipper

Using a zipper to create reusable Möbius strips first appeared in the magic literature in 1977 by Ed Eckl in his Gardyloo lecture notes under the name Möby Zip. The trick was briefly marketed in the early 1980s by Phil Wallmart's and Rick Johnson's Excelsior Productions. In 1992 Klamm Magic advertised their version as the Afghan Zipper which used Velcro ends.

Gives a very good magic history. No mention is made of the Long or Pedersen articles.

https://horizonofreason.com/shop/afghan-zipper/

Prevos, Peter. The Möbius Strip in Magic: A Treatise on the Afghan Bands. Third Hemisphere Publishing, 2018. See pp. 10, 22–23, 32–33.

E-book. Gives a good listing of magic sources, crediting Ekl, 1977, and then Wallmart and Johnson Excelsior, ‘early 1980s’, Klamm Magic, 1992, and Dick Stoner, 1992. Prevos recommends a ‘bottom separating zipper’. No mention is made of Long and Pederson as precursors.

Prevos, Peter. ‘The Afghan Zipper’. Magic Perspectives, 2018. 2 pp.

Effect.

The magician shows a zipper…

A dedicated discussion.

Prevos, Peter. Afghan Zipper: Topological magic with Haberdashery. Horizon of Reason. 19 March 2018. Last Updated 17 January 2021. 3 pp.

The Afghan Zipper is a topological magic trick that uses the Möbius Strip principle to create the illusion of magic. This trick is the most recent innovation in the Afghan Bands, one of the most well-known magic tricks…The Afghan Zipper

Using a zipper to create reusable Möbius strips first appeared in the magic literature in 1977 by Ed Eckl in his Gardyloo lecture notes under the name Möby Zip. The trick was briefly marketed in the early 1980s by Phil Wallmart's and Rick Johnson's Excelsior Productions. In 1992 Klamm Magic advertised their version as the Afghan Zipper which used Velcro ends.

Background. The Horizon of Reason is a blog about the limits of rationality. In an era of post-truth, fake news and conspiracy theories, the Horizon of Reason explores the ethereal regions between the logical and illogical and investigates the fertile grounds between rationality and irrationality. (Horizon of Reason)

https://horizonofreason.com/shop/afghan-zipper/

Richeson, David. ‘Zip-Apart Möbius Bands’. Division by Zero. 11 April 2016. (Blog)
I’ve taught topology many times. One of the highlights for the students (and for me) is the investigation of the Möbius band—the one sided, one edged, non-orientable surface with boundary. On the day we introduce the Möbius band I bring many strips of paper, clear tape, and scissors and have the students make conjectures about what would happen if we taped and cut apart various topological shapes. Here are some activities that are fun to do:...Last week I attended the 12th biennial Gathering 4 Gardner conference—a wonderful meeting of people interested in mathematics, puzzles, games, magic, and skepticism. One of the speakers (Iwahiro Hirokazu Iwasawa) suggested making zip-apart Möbius bands. Genius! And perfect timing (since I’m teaching topology this semester)...
A nice, popular treatment. The impression given by Richeson is of a new concept (i.e. unaware of the earlier work of Long and Pedersen). Of note is that he differentiates between suitable types of zip, which I hadn’t realised.
As an aside, there is nothing on zips in his Möbius strip discussion in Euler’s Gem.
Iwasawa was a new name to me. His main interest is in manipulative puzzles. Khuong Nguyen’s page shows his zipper interest:
https://divisbyzero.com/2016/04/11/zip-apart-mobius-bands/

Richeson, David. ‘The Magnificent Möbius Band’. Division by Zero. 29 March 2020. (Blog)
If you would like another take on this idea, you can read my post about making bands (https://divisbyzero.com/2016/04/11/zip-apart-mobius-bands/). zip-apart Möbius
A brief mention in passing. Shows the same picture from the 2016 posting.
https://divisbyzero.com/2020/03/29/the-magnificent-mobius-band/

Ward, Gary. The Story of the Afghan Bands. The Linking Ring, 74(4):60–61, April 1994, p. 61.
Perhaps the most commercial application of the Mobius strip principle was developed by Ed Eckl and marketed by Excelsior Productions in the 1980's as "Moby Zyp." This version utilized a long zipper with snap fasteners on the ends of the zipper strips. This item was marketed by several dealers, (without consent of either Mr. Eckl or Excelsior Productions), using velcro instead of the snap fasteners. However, many of the copies utilize zippers which are too short.
A zip mention within a general overview of the Afghan Bands. Gives a good history of the Möbius strip and zips.

Xman. ‘Mobius (sic, throughout) Zipper’. Instructables, Text and 2.08 Video.

This is exactly what you think it is: a zipper that is also a Mobius strip. The cool part is that you can play around with splitting the strip down the middle, since you can't un-cut a paper Mobius strip but you can un-unzip (commonly known as "rezipping" or simply "zipping") a zipper.

Video!

Materials:

A zipper: make sure you get the kind that splits into two halves, not the kind that stays together. I got em at SCRAP.

Tools:

Needle & thread. Or a sewing machine.

Step 1: Sew the Zipper Together

[Images]

Just take the zipper and make a Mobius strip with it, sewing the ends together. Not really that much to say here. Don't sew the two halves of the zipper together.

You can also take multiple zippers and sew them together next to each other, and make something you can split multiple times!

Now you're done. Go play with it!

A nice presentation. Of note is that it specifies the type of zip to obtain.
https://www.instructables.com/Mobius-Zipper/ 

Page History

Created 24 February 2026, from an essay study of the same title of 23, 26–30 January 2026, from which I edited out the personal notes and made minor changes to the text.