I think that this is an early patent drawing for the first zipper fastener. This article provides background information:
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa082497.htmIt seems that the original design didn't work well. The improved design used rectangular teeth instead of curved hooks, and is pretty much the same zipper that is still in use today.
The original hook zipper looks like a simple device that could be hand built from cast pieces, but it would be very work-intensive. Maybe someone could sculpt a model and then cast the entire apparatus in rubber, then paint and detail it to look like the real thing. It could be attached to a garment as decoration rather than as a functional closure.
